Dr.Dross wrote:
I was raised not just a Democrat but as a naturally rebellious Irishman: authority was always to be questioned and usually resisted. Republicans were the establishment, the lowest and most callous people on earth. Yet I have to admit I was not quite clear why. Pro-union was enough in my family to vote Blue all the way. It was entrenched in my thinking from a young age that Republicans were the dupes of the rich.
When I came back from oversea's service in 1968, I was more tempered in attitude and thinking but still not really knowledgeable about the differences in parties. It did not concern me that much; I thought both sides were a little over the top, though tended to distrust the establishment (i.e., Republicans) more. In Manhattan simply on a job search, I came upon an antiwar march. I had just finished lunch and was looking for a trash bin to toss my empty bottle of soda. Then I heard a police officer yell, "Drop it!" When I quickly scanned the surrounding ground, I realized he was talking to me: he had his hand on his gun and was staring right at me. What? Then I realized his concern was the empty soda bottle. "Drop it!" he shouted. I probably should not have laughed. He was quickly joined by two other officers who seemed eager to slay their first commie. "Putting it down, putting it down," I said with one hand raised.
That was the end of the confrontation, but as I walked away a guy came up to me with a big smile, put out his hand, and said, "Welcome to the home of the free." I smiled. He introduced himself and said he was with the Quaker Marshall Program to maintain non-violence at demonstrations. Somehow he sensed that I was a recently returned Vet. I took their training and since that day until a few years ago, I was pretty much neutral about the American political landscape. Both parties, to me, did not represent the best interest of its citizenry. The emergence of the Tea Party and shameless racial attacks on the president changed that. Republicans were after divisiveness: that was abundantly clear. Fear and hate were their constant message. As Conservative media grew, so did the gulf between the parties and the American people. What to do?
I never knew politics and politicians were so corrupt, so openly corrupt. They blatantly lie everyday and their policies routinely hurt the middle class, poor, elderly, and young. This is done mostly by the Right that find fiscal concerns more important than people. Fiscal concerns are important, of course, but not above human life and dignity. It appears this is of little or no thought to them. End Meals On Wheels, after-school food programs, both of which the GOP lied and said their were no stats either helped, and you have a convert opposed to the heart against the lying, deceiving, conniving GOP.
I was raised not just a Democrat but as a naturall... (
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Curious!!!! We have a situation!!!! Are you a plagiarizer or are you just forgetful? You used this very story as the 'Humanator' except that a young Quaker woman took the can out of your hand, you fell in love, got married and lived happily ever after!!! I like that version better. I'm assuming that it is very possible that this story is actually true since two of your characters have told it. Again, Rumitoid, you never fail to amaze!!!