Little girls against the war ---->a proud grandma's photo

[rhiannon55]

http://picasaweb.google.com/rhiannon58/UntitledAlbum/photo#5108997769244472290

[Mabus]

1. What a beautiful picture

and, yes, we must stop the war for the sake of our future generations.

K&R

[rhiannon55]

6. Thank you Mabus!

This picture IS beautiful. It was taken in front of our very own Douglas County courthouse.

We should do lunch sometime...:pals:

[Mabus]

10. It'll be a while

one of cars caught fire this morning when I was taking the three dogs to the dog park. We all got out safe. The car is totaled. I'm frazzled. If you were home around 9 this morning and heard the fire trucks going through the neighborhood, that was me.

But I'd be happy to take you up on the lunch thing sometime. :hi:

[rhiannon55]

13. Oh I'm so sorry to hear that!

And yes, I did hear the sirens as I was driving to work...

I'm sorry about your car, but I'm glad that you and the poochies are okay...:hug:

[Mabus]

16. Good thing I'm not paranoid

A couple of weeks ago our house almost caught fire. The transformer behind our house blew (second time this summer) and the resulting surge fried the wires leading into our house and caught fire. My brother was here and heard a popping sound. He found flames shooting out of the wires and was able to put the fire out before the fire trucks got here. The surge was so hot it melted the wires leading to our house.

We had been out walking the dogs and we got home to a fire truck, police cars and the electric company. We had the fire guys and the cops going through yard and house for a while. Good thing I'm not paranoid or I'd begin to wonder if someone was trying to tell us something.

Come to think of it, maybe I do need a break. Let me know when you're available. I know your time is precious and scarce.

[rhiannon55]

30. Wow, you've had a fiery month

I hope that weird little run of bad luck is over.

Wanna have coffee (or a beer) at the Free State? :toast: Let's pm about it...

[CTyankee]

2. She's beautiful!

I have an 9 year old granddaughter who is an activist. She has done a poster for Darfur (at age 7), and global warming (age 8). Now she is supporting Hillary because "we've never had a woman president." And she's not shy about it!

It looks like Sage is on her way. Now there's family values!

[rhiannon55]

9. Thanks, CTyankee!

Sage is the light of my life. It sounds like your granddaughter is beautiful, too.

I agree--Protesting war and injustice in the world is a wonderful family value.

[Buzz Clik]

3. ugh. Little girls carrying protest signs? sigh.

Can't we leave the kids at home?

This is right out of the Fred Phelps playbook.

[rhiannon55]

5. ugh?

This is nothing like Fred Phelps. Peace in the world is a global, vital issue. There is no hate here, just concern and caring. I think the picture speaks of a peaceful future, because our children ARE our future.

Ugh? OMG!

[JuniperLea]

7. I sort of agree...

Fred Phelps thinks being anti-gay is a global, vital issue too. But I think the main thing is that a three-year-old knows nothing about the situation, or the sign they carry, only that someone they trust gave it to them and brought them to the protest/vigil.

I can see both perspectives.

A picture speaks a thousand words... but perspective tells you what those words are.

[Buzz Clik]

11. Maybe carrying a picture of that beautiful child would get the job done.

Just my opinion, and nothing more.

[Mabus]

8. comparing a DU'er to Fred Phelps!

That's rude. Fred preaches hate, destruction and fear. This is about peace, saving lives and the truth. The only comparison there is to the Phred Phelps Phamily is that this picture is the opposite of everything the Phelps Phamily stands for.

[Buzz Clik]

14. Breathe into a paper sack. My comparison was only the ploy of a child with a sign.

[Mabus]

17. I'd suggest the same for you because comparing anyone to Phred Phelps is an insult.

It is an insult pure and simple. Or maybe you don't understand how sick Phred and his phamily really are because if you did, you wouldn't compare anyone who posts on DU to him, them or their tactics.


Oh, and thanks for posting a gratitious picture of the Phelps Klan. It must be nice to have them available.

I live in Kansas. I detest the man. He and his phamily protested at the funeral of a friend of mine who died from AIDS. I don't have pictures of them to post on the internet. Why give them free publicity?

[Buzz Clik]

18. More DU patented outrage over nothing.

Take a fucking pill.

[Mabus]

21. Sure thing Buzz Kill

And I agree: Your faux outrage was over nothing.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. Oh grow up.

Fred Phelps? Jesus fucking Christ.

[Buzz Clik]

20. This must be Overreaction Day at DU.

But that is your forte', is it not?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

22. You're accusing me of overreacting?

Oh, that's rich.

[Buzz Clik]

34. Yeah, that would be me. Accusing you of overreacting.

Re-read your post and tell me it was measured and rational.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

43. The post was measured and rational.

You compared somebody to Fred Phelps because they've got a kid with a sign. Apparently you think the whole problem with Fred Phelps is that he has kids hold signs.

So I cursed and told you to act like a mature adult. That's a measured and rational response.

And only a fraction of what your bullshit really deserves.

[Buzz Clik]

49. No, I compared the child in the OP carrying a sign to Phelps having his kids carrying a sign.

So, save your curses and take your own advice.

[Breeze54]

32. Oh pleezzee!! I see no problem with it at all!

Get a grip!

Gheeze! My 12 yr old niece (at the time) organized her own
anti-war protest with friends and was in the local paper!

Pics and all!

[Buzz Clik]

33. 12-year-olds are developing some ablity to make their own decisions.

We cannot make the same claim about pre-school children.

Using little children in protests of any kind is bad form.

[Breeze54]

37. Yes, better to have left the child home alone!!

Kids get hurt in war, or didn't you know that?

[Buzz Clik]

38. This place has gone completely and totally insane.

:silly: :crazy: :tinfoilhat:

[tabasco]

54. Then haul ass.

Ain't nobody forcing you to be here.

[AnneD]

41. Which set of values....

do you want the kids learn. I want MY child to know her rights and to stand up for them. I have taken her to vote since she was a wee one. And she now has more than a few protests under her belt. Just because I was a single Mom didn't mean I gave up my rights to free speech and assembly. The marches were alway a valuable lesson in citizenship for her. She was very well behaved and had an understanding of why we were there. She is now 17 and she is very independent, compassionate, young person. She has attended protests on her own on many occasions and for causes near and dear to her heart.

The best time was at Camp Casey. She witnessed a group of little grandmothers (the youngest must have been in her late 60's) get called all manner of names (whores, bitches, and those were the kind words)by some bused in Bush supporters just because they had a peace sticker on their bumper. I'll never forget her turning to me in shock and saying 'Up until now I thought maybe we were a bit crazy, but if they can't show any respect to grandmothers-they don't respect anything. They are crazy and we are the sane ones.' ;)

[Buzz Clik]

47. We certainly have the right to raise our children as we see fit.

Personally, I will not use my three- or four-year-old acting as my puppet and holding up a sign at a protest that is dealing with issues she could not possibly understand.

[rhiannon55]

52. If you knew Sage, you'd know that she's nobody's puppet

At three-years-old she doesn't do anything she truly doesn't want to do. I am raising her and her baby sister, and sometimes we go around in a few circles before we settle on a plan that we both can live with. She is strong-willed and smart and loving and she goes most places with me. If I'm holding a sign, she wants to hold a sign. When she saw the one in the photo, she said "ohhh..." when she looked at the picture. She reacted like she reacts when Zoey has an owie--she looked concerned and made that sympathetic little sound.

So no, she didn't understand the 'big picture' of the picture, but she seemed to be concerned because the little girl was crying. So when I picked up my sign, she picked up that sign. She loves me and wants to please me, but she really wanted to be there with me and my cool friends. And the sign seemed to hold its own meaning for her.

[Snarkturian Clone]

42. I'm with you on this.

Let kids be kids.

[Buzz Clik]

48. Ok. I'm waiting. When are you going to tell me I should leave the country.

Or that I'm an asshole.

Are you truly supporting me on this? (yikes)

[Snarkturian Clone]

56. You are an asshole, please leave the country.

Seriously though, I do support you on this. Having older kids (12-17) at such an event is fine but indoctrination of any kind, good or bad, on a younger child is morally unjust in my opinion. Kids that age don't give a shit one way or the other- they're just into it because thier role model is into it.

[babylonsister]

4. Beautiful! I don't think kids are ever too young to learn good values, and

she's doing that. This war COULD affect her-I see nothing wrong with this AT ALL.

[rhiannon55]

12. Thank you so much, babylonsister!

You're a DUer I have great respect for, and I appreciate your words very much.

[Saturday]

15. You go little girl!!!! n/t

[H2O Man]

23. Beautiful!

Thank you for posting this!

[rhiannon55]

25. Oh H2O Man, you're welcome

And thank you!

[Donald Ian Rankin]

24. At risk of appearing a cynical old curmudgeon, this doesn't carry much weight with me.

I place far less value on small, cute children carrying signs against the war than I do on the judgement of people actually able to analyse the facts for themselves.

I don't like it when people use their children to promote causes I disapprove of. As such, I don't see how I can laud this.

[rhiannon55]

27. I think it's a great picture

Never mind that Sage didn't really understand what the picture she was holding was portraying. The juxtaposition of the two little girls speaks to me on some deep level. If it doesn't do that for you, that's okay.

Also, I wasn't 'using' her. She wanted to go with me that day. I took her. There was a stack of signs, and this is the one she picked up.

When my friend Christine send me the picture a few days later, I thought it was moving and beautiful.

You don't have to agree.

[H2O Man]

39. shallow

defined

[Stinky The Clown]

26. Your grandaughter's beautiful and you're teaching her something

You're teaching her **your** family's values, if nothing else. Like many of us, you have a need to make a public show of your opposition to (or support of) something. In this case, you oppose the war. Your granddaughter may not have a clue what that is, but you can bet she knows that Gramma had something important to say and found a way to say it.

Don't let the ankle biters get you down. We all have our ankles bitten from time to time. It passes quickly.

You did what you felt was right and wanted to share it. I'm glad you did.

[rhiannon55]

28. Thank you for your kind words

I'll admit to being a bit stunned by the negative comments. I never expected to be compared to nasty old Fred Phelps by another DUer.

I love DU, but it's a strange place sometimes.

Hugs to you....:hug:

[davsand]

29. Raising activists is a GOOD thing to do.

My kid has been on picket lines, in parades and at protests since she was tiny. My child goes to political functions and Labor event with us and that is part of what we do as a family. Literally, she was part of the campaigns while still in utero and has never stopped. She had her picture taken with Sen Durbin when she was 6 weeks old. She met and has had pictures taken with Obama, his wife Michelle and various state level politcos here in Illinois. That is what we DO. We are politicians and Labor activists and our daughter has been involved in that with us. When we visited the State Senate this last summer she was on the floor with them while they were voting. She thought it was really cool to see what her pal Mike (a state Senator) does when he's at work.

She has never been on a picket line in a full blown strike, nor has she been at a protest what I felt any concern about her safety. She has been on any number of informational picket lines and at anti war protests, and we have talked about the fact that not everyone shares the same views her parents do. We have discussed the idea that we OWE it to our country to be involved and outspoken--that it is a part of the responsibility of citizenship to stand up for what you believe in. If I teach her nothing else in life I want her to be involved and aware.

I had a real moment of Zen a couple of years ago when we were in a 4th of July parade. My child was explaining to a Congressional candidate that he needed to ration his candy throws on that particular parade route so that the kids at the end of the route would not be disappointed...

I do think that at 10 she understands a lot more about the issues than we want to think. She gets mad when she talks about people being hungry. She gets angry when she talks about kids without homes to go to. She volunteers at a local grass routes health care organization, and she talks about access to health care for the uninsured. I think she probably does a part of it to try and please us--because she knows it is something we believe in--but I think that she also does it because she feels it is something she wants to do.

YMMV, but I am just fine with kids in politics.


Laura

[rhiannon55]

36. It IS a good thing to raise activists...

I want my children and grandchildren to care about other people, and to work to end war and injustice in the world. If I can teach them such values, I will have succeeded with them.

Thank you for the testimonial. Your family rocks! Hugs to everyone. :grouphug:

[CTyankee]

46. There is the Jewish tradition of the tzadaka (sp?) box, Kids get them at the temple

from their religion classes and bring them home. Then the family decides what charity they will give money to and the money goes in the box. That way, philanthropy is taught from an early age. Altho we are not Jewish, my son in law is and they decided to raise my grandchildren in the Jewish faith (reform).

You are doing the right thing by championing the cause of peace and justice in the world and providing a good, kind and loving example to your grandchild. Remember that song from South Pacific "You've Got to be Taught to Hate"? Well, you are teaching just the opposite. Good for you!

[AnneD]

44. I posted earlier...

but I raised my daughter the same way. Her Girl Scout Silver award project was adopting a Nursing home for a year (she was 13). Her middle school project was getting suitcase for foster kids and the battered womens shelter (she was 14). Both of these projects involved meeting with community leaders to learn about the needs, raising money, organizing people, etc. Kids don't become like this overnight. She stuffed envelopes, attended school board meetings, made phone calls, stapled signs-all before she even started those projects. I didn't need to pay hundreds of dollars to send her to a 'leadership' conference. She got OJT ;). If you're gonna have 'em, raise 'em right.

[Breeze54]

31. Adorable, rhiannon55!! -- Here's my friends grandbaby!

K & R'd

[rhiannon55]

35. What a cute little guy!

Thanks for the cool photos. :hi:

[Catherine Vincent]

40. What a cutey!

:)

[rhiannon55]

45. Thanks, cat_girl

I'm pretty partial to her myself... :)

[Vidar]

50. She's lovely & obviously being brought up right.

[Mabus]

51. I am so very proud to know you

and I'm happy that you are passing on the idea of free speech and activism within your family. More than anything I am proud to have you as a friend. Blessed be my dear sweet soul. You know you can always count on me.

:hug:

[rhiannon55]

53. Oh Mabus I am so touched by your post

You are one of the coolest women in town (and I'm talking about both this little college town and the virtual village), and I am honored that you feel that way.

:hug:

edited because I can ;)

[Mabus]

55. I love you too

You and your hubby are two of the brightest lights in my life. I am honored to know you both. Me and mine hope to see you soon.