Rant on

[JohnKleeb]

You know when someone tries to do something good like Kerry and others are doing you should acknowledge it and not be a whiny bastard just because you're not over 2004. One thing I've learned from being an alcoholic's kid is that you have to get over the past and move on with your life. It's not easy to do always believe me I know but while we shouldn't forget the past we shouldn't act like immature brats over the past. Do I wish Kerry would have won in 2004? You bet I do but do I realize that was nearly two years ago and we have to deal with as some say the hand we've been dealt. The past two years since the election have taught me a lot about American politics and human nature as a whole. People are basically assholes but yet at the same time basically good too. One of the greatest gifts I have living in a diverse part of the country is the variety of people you get to meet and talk to. Liberalism to me has always been about fighting for the common good of all people, whether they be white, black, gay, straight, young, old, etc not about being left wing as you can and dismanteling the foundations this nation stands for but doing what's right for people which is why I wish more Democrats would talk about getting our nation involved in ending the gencoide in Sudan. I think it was a blessing in disguise that I got over the lost in 2004 quickly because it enabled me to mature both politically and as a person this is what we have to keep in mind that we are all people though I have to agree with Jon Stewart's query of Dick Cheney when he interviewed the senator, is Dick Cheney a robot?. Rant off.

[fedupinBushcountry]

1. Excellent rant

I love young minds. :hug:

[JohnKleeb]

2. Thanks and I love your new sig

The Shaw quote was later used by RFK when he campaigned in 1968. It's a provocative thought really.

[fedupinBushcountry]

3. I've always had that sig

but did change avatara. I have that quote on my screensaver along with a lot of great Kerry pics, its been on my computer since Aug. '03, when I demanded my husband to put it on for me. LOL I am not to computer savvy, but have learned much in the past 3 years, fighting this uphill battle.

[JohnKleeb]

4. See this is why I am going to need glasses eventually

other than my eye stigmatism. It's been an interesting past two years really. I've become less partisan yet more stronger in my beliefs as paradoxical as that sounds. I mean this is going to sound cheesy but the way I feel about people being basically good was uhh stolen from the owner of my favorite football team. I talked with an AA friend of my dad's about politics and stuff like that. He said I sounded more like a humanist than a liberal. Could be accurate since one of my main political issues is supporting democracy all over the world and fighting for human rights I think that comes from my ethnic background honestly.

[saltpoint]

5. Way, way, way, WAY too much clarity and good purpose in there to

be a rant!

And I appreciate your post but you got a key thing wrong. You said the last two years really helped you learn things about political life and people in general, etc.

But that's true of everybody.

What's missing there is that you were in a very advanced position to begin with. The first time I read threads on DU, you were in the thick of them, making sense, talking about what was important, and EXEMPLIFYING the traits you say liberalism is about.

You haven't been one of the good guys only recently. We're bettin' you were that way all along.

More power to ya, and continue to kick butt!

[JohnKleeb]

6. Perhaps so

But I really feel the past two years I have changed from being a black and white thinker to more shades of gray. I think it's either maturity or the people I've met, movies I've seen, or music I've heard that's impacted this. I think my father's alcoholism impacted me too. God was it tough acknowledging about two years ago that he was one. I have to say AA is pretty interesting because of the philosophy that Bill W and Dr. Bob used in their writings. It's made my dad a better guy and yeah it is still a challenge but its something that has gotten better I feel. You have to clean your own closet out before trying to clean others I guess the lame cliche was right. I no longer judge people based on poltiical orientation because to me it's trival what matters most to me is that we're all people with flaws and redeeming qualities.

[saltpoint]

7. JohnKleeb, I absolutely would never subtract from the effort you've

made as you describe it. I imagine that to be a rocky road, over a sustained period of time, and never easy.

It could not have been easy to travel.

But I'm stickin' with my hunch that you brought a lot of mighty good gifts to the trip before you started out. Maybe some came to the surface quicker and maybe you're still on that road, but you bring a hell of a lot of good energy to these boards, whether you're posting on the Orioles' bullpen or on the merits of a free government.

If you ever go to work for the Republicans, we're going to kidnap you right back. So there.

[JohnKleeb]

10. as for working for the GOP thats not going to happen

No matter how politically frustrated I get I'll never forget that it was liberals that fought for workers rights and it was that issue that my ancestors who were working people democrats. Besides I am going for a govermnent job where I can use objectivity and fairness to do what is right for people.

[saltpoint]

12. I was only kidding about the GOP to make the point that we aren't

about to let you go, and that you're appreciated among us.

If you go for a government job, then government is the better for it.

Hat's off to ya.

[JohnKleeb]

13. Not just the government

the NLRB I think will enable me to help working people out.

[saltpoint]

15. JohnKleeb, we're behind you all the way. And predict your success.

It would be a fine thing to have a good soul helping others.

[JohnKleeb]

16. Thanks

Got a long road ahead though. I not only have to get my shit together here in community college but I have to graduate a regular college then go to law school.

[saltpoint]

17. Well, I'll betcha the biggest ice cream sundae in town that you make it.

[JI7]

8. hmmm

i was just reading something on Buddhism. it wasn't only about Buddhism. but it was by a Buddhist and how to deal with things and make things better. and what you said is pretty much the advice they gave. about moving on to do good things rather than getting hung up on something and being bitter and complaining about it which does nothing to help anyone .

[JohnKleeb]

9. That sounds insightful

I got a lot of respect for the Buddhist religion. I learned the things about the past mostly from my dad's AA stuff which from what I am told incorporated alot of early christian ideas.

[JI7]

11. there was some similarity to Christianity

like the Christian thing about hating the sin but loving the sinner. in the book i read it pretty much said the same thing but didn't use the word "sin". it was mostly about how just because someone may have done something bad it doesn't make them bad. that we have done bad things ourselves and we would probably not view ourselves that way yet if it's someone else we percieve things in a way to make them out to be far worse than just that one bad act they may have done.

[JohnKleeb]

14. Makes perfect sense to me

I sincerely do believe in redemption for people. It's one thing to say you're sorry but it says a lot if you try to make atones for your mistakes or sins however you want to put it.