These are a few things in which I believe:

[Redstone]

-I believe that we, having made possible the election to President of the United States of a man who is not only the first non-lily-white person to have gained his country's trust enough to win that election (though his ethnicity is not the focus of this rant), but also a man of startling intelligence, energy, and passion for the idea of America (if he fails in any way, it won't be because he didn't try), that we, you and I, who helped make this happen should just shut the fuck up for a few months, stop bickering and nitpicking and eating our young and criticizing and pontificating about every single fucking thing he does, just for a little while because, for Christ's sake, he hasn't even been inaugurated yet; we worked SO hard to get the guy elected and we DID it, and now we're going to bitch-slap him for every decision he makes that we don't like?

(Just my opinion. Yours may differ, and that's OK. It's not for me to tell anyone what to think.)


-I believe that we, ALL of us in America, need to understand that our own personal opinions are not handed down by God, and therefore should not be translated into public policy or the Law of the Land. (This one probably doesn't apply to most DUers.) The fact that we, the majority of us, are heterosexual in nature does NOT give us the right to make rules or laws that exile non-heterosexuals, our own brothers and sisters, our own fellow Americans, to some bizarre and unjustified Coventry where they are not even allowed to visit their own life partners who are dying in a hospital. Do we have the right to torture people that way, just becaus they aren't like us? And we are so arrogant that we want to deny them the right to have a simple ceremony of marriage, which (guess what, rightwingers and fundies) was NOT ordained or written in stone by God Almighty, but is a purely human construct? Who the FUCK are we, the heterosexual majority, to dictate the limits of rights of people whose sexual orientation is different from ours, any more than the majority of people in America, being white, should be able to limit the rights of Americans who are NOT white? Come to Connecticut, gay folks; we'll treat you like human beings here. I wish that were the case everywhere.

(Just my opinion. Yours may differ, and that's OK. It's not for me to tell anyone what to think.)


-I believe that we, the ones who are supposed to be the flag-bearers; the ones who rose like the mythical saints who rose to slay the mythical dragons, will finally understand that myths endure because of the power of the lessons they teach. We need to learn from those lessons. We need, more than we have EVER needed to, to rise as one and bury the rotten, stinking corpse of racism, whether open or veiled in any "some of my best friends are black, but" kind of bullshit, once and for all in America. It's time to do that.

(Just my opinion. Yours may differ, and that's OK. It's not for me to tell anyone what to think.)


I believe that it's time, now more than ever, for us to be Americans. Jaded old cynical broken-bodied son of a bitch that I am, I do believe that. I believe if enough of us do that, we can make it happen. Yes, we can. I'm the least religious guy you'll ever meet, but I truly believe that if we, all of us, practice what one extraordinary man taught over two thousand years ago, and the way another extraordinary many translated those teachings about 150 years ago and distilled those teachings of tolerance, selflessness, and simple good deeds toward others in the simple phrase, "With malice toward none; with charity toward all," we would each of us not only be better in our own lives, but would make America the better place that we know it can be. If only we'll try. Yes, we can.

(Just my opinion. Yours may differ, and that's OK. It's not for me to tell anyone what to think.)

Redstone

[Bobbieo]

1. I'm with you all the way - Redstone!!!! Wegot him elected NOW let him

do his thing!!!!

[Redstone]

6. Bobbieo! Great to see you around here. God knows it's not likely that I'll live

to be your age, but if I do, I certainly hope I'll have the grace and selflessness to do what you do.

Redstone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Superbly well said, my dear Redstone!

Nothing to add but...

K&R

:patriot:

[firedupdem]

3. Great Post! K & R! n/t

[FrenchieCat]

4. That's It!

:woohoo:

K&R

[lamp_shade]

5. Amen to that. Great post.

[Window]

7. Speak my friend. K/R.

:kick:

[Redstone]

8. Hey, here I have a "lamp_shade" and a "window" both liking my post. I could probably draw some kind

of tortured metaphor from that, saying that the light that the two of you shone on my post (although, I guess, a lampshade would actually be blocking some light) meant that it was a worthwhile post on my part.

But I'd only make that kind of stretch if I were more tired and in more pain than I actually am tonight, so I'll let it go with thanking you and lamp_shade for your positive replies.

Mrs R says it's one of the most inspired pieces of writing I've done (despite the dismal reply count), and that I should filter out all the "fucks" and send it to our state newspaper as a "guest editorial." What do you think about that idea? They've actually published some of my stuff as guest editorials before...

Redstone

[Window]

18. LOL! You are so very welcome Redstone. It really is well done, and I think Mrs. R. is on to

something. You really should send a couple LTE's...it that good and then some.

Let's keep this kicked as often as possible. I, for one, will be sending this far and wide, with pleasure.

Get some rest and feel better.

:kick:

[racaulk]

9. Posts like this one keep me reading DU.

Great points all around that were very eloquently and superbly stated, Redstone. Quality post!

:pals:

K&R

[Redstone]

10. Genuinely appreciated.

Redstone

[mitchtv]

11. As a gay American, my patience is limited

as is my remaining life. I'll give him a break, about 6 month's worth. I am in no mood to wait much longer

[DarkTirade]

12. Some would consider what you suggest a 'radical' idea.

I think it's just the basic Golden Rule. Do unto others. Treat people like human beings.

And I hope I'll live to see the day when that happens.

[question everything]

13. But... but.. then we won't be able to call ourselves Democrats

or DUers..

Great post.

[SwampG8r]

14. i can add nothing because you nailed it

[The Traveler]

15. Damn well said!

I have been remembering, Redstone, the administration of one James Earl Carter ... a man who as governor of my state exerted considerable influence on me when I was in high school, and whom I hold in high regard today. Carter was, like Obama, an Outsider. But unlike Obama he largely surrounded himself with other Outsiders ... an apparently rational choice given his change oriented agenda.

But it failed miserably ... because by the time these Outsiders learned somewhat how to get things done and had forged relationships necessary to do so, Carter had run out of time. The result was the election of Ronald Reagan ...

I am not too fretful about some of these choices, though a couple have made me blink a bit. The reason I am not too fretful is because I have come to trust the man. And as FrenchieCat can testify, that trust did not come quickly and was not easily earned.

Right now, we need all hands on deck. We need to stop bickering and back our guy's play. We are 10 miles into the dark, evil woods and we won't escape in a half mile hike.

And, as you say, that is just my opinion. Yours may differ, and that's OK.

Trav

[bluedawg12]

16. Bravo! Very well said.

You nailed the danger of the tyrnanny of the majority.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. nicely said.

:patriot: :kick:

[Jamastiene]

19. Kicking because I appreciate the love from our allies in this struggle.

Thank you, Redstone. :pals: :hug: