I am so very sorry. I have been informed by a kind -- and very intelligent -- reader of this blog that Ann Richards was, in fact, a Democrat.
I am extremely humbled, as this is a pretty inexcusable error. If I were actually being paid to write this blog, I would be fired by whoever was paying me. And I would deserve it.
My fact checking will, in the future, be better. I wish I could blame a summer intern. But, alas, I have no one to blame but myself.
Thank-you for your forbearance. And for actually taking the time to read what I write. I know most of it is pretty much lamesauce rambling.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Amber Alerts, Our Phones, and Our Politics
Many of us had an Amber Alert delivered to our phones recently. Two children had been abducted; and authorities wanted the help of citizens to locate them. A car description and license number were issued with the Amber Alert, so that we could all be on the lookout.
When this occurred, somebody said to me, "Well, that's a little bit like 'Big Brother.'"
Frankly, I saw red.
I replied, "If it was my child, I'd sure want everybody's phone going off. And I bet you would, too." The person didn't argue.
The next day, I was getting my hair done. The subject of this Amber Alert came up in the conversation that was taking place in the salon. A lady commented that her husband had said, "It's the government." Implication being? The "bad" government, taking over the privacy of our phones.
Again, I saw red, but managed to contain myself.
Both of the people who made these comments are pretty right-leaning in their political opinions. They probably read a lot of right-leaning websites, listen to a lot of right-leaning radio, watch some right-leaning TV.
Now, I am a pretty conservative person. Outwardly, anyway. Inside, I've got a lot of hippie going on. So, I really don't completely fit in anywhere. And I kind of annoy some people. That's cool with me, though. I have a lot of nice friends who accept me as I am. I have an interesting life, full of a diversity of interesting things. And part of why it's so interesting is that I don't hang with just one type of person or group. I try to get around.
One thing I have noticed, though, in the course of getting around, is that there is a lot of suspicion going on out there, particularly suspicion of the government by right-leaning people. I'm not saying we should just accept everything the government says and does in a passive, idiotic way. I'm just saying that this suspicion seems to be getting a bit out of hand, as is illustrated by the reactions to this Amber Alert.
Because, hello people. Children were abducted by a very bad man. A mother and another child had been found dead. And, like it or not, we are a society -- a community of people. That implies that we have some responsibility for each other. That implies our government has some responsibility for us, and us for our government. A government is supposed to be concerned with The Common Good, as are its citizens. And, to me, finding kidnapped children comes under the umbrella of The Common Good. So, when the police get together with "the government" to devise a system that will quickly and efficiently notify the citizens that a child has been abducted, I say, "Rock on, Big Brother." Because, in my opinion, that's an example of government being at the service of the citizens, which is exactly what government is supposed to do. I'll happily pay a few taxes for that.
When this occurred, somebody said to me, "Well, that's a little bit like 'Big Brother.'"
Frankly, I saw red.
I replied, "If it was my child, I'd sure want everybody's phone going off. And I bet you would, too." The person didn't argue.
The next day, I was getting my hair done. The subject of this Amber Alert came up in the conversation that was taking place in the salon. A lady commented that her husband had said, "It's the government." Implication being? The "bad" government, taking over the privacy of our phones.
Again, I saw red, but managed to contain myself.
Both of the people who made these comments are pretty right-leaning in their political opinions. They probably read a lot of right-leaning websites, listen to a lot of right-leaning radio, watch some right-leaning TV.
Now, I am a pretty conservative person. Outwardly, anyway. Inside, I've got a lot of hippie going on. So, I really don't completely fit in anywhere. And I kind of annoy some people. That's cool with me, though. I have a lot of nice friends who accept me as I am. I have an interesting life, full of a diversity of interesting things. And part of why it's so interesting is that I don't hang with just one type of person or group. I try to get around.
One thing I have noticed, though, in the course of getting around, is that there is a lot of suspicion going on out there, particularly suspicion of the government by right-leaning people. I'm not saying we should just accept everything the government says and does in a passive, idiotic way. I'm just saying that this suspicion seems to be getting a bit out of hand, as is illustrated by the reactions to this Amber Alert.
Because, hello people. Children were abducted by a very bad man. A mother and another child had been found dead. And, like it or not, we are a society -- a community of people. That implies that we have some responsibility for each other. That implies our government has some responsibility for us, and us for our government. A government is supposed to be concerned with The Common Good, as are its citizens. And, to me, finding kidnapped children comes under the umbrella of The Common Good. So, when the police get together with "the government" to devise a system that will quickly and efficiently notify the citizens that a child has been abducted, I say, "Rock on, Big Brother." Because, in my opinion, that's an example of government being at the service of the citizens, which is exactly what government is supposed to do. I'll happily pay a few taxes for that.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
A Little Reflection
This is just a little reflection about something that I have been... well... reflecting on lately.
There is a wonderful priest at our parish. He is older, and full of wisdom and life experience. I love his homilies. They always leave me feeling peaceful. A few weeks ago he said (I was so impressed that I wrote it down in my checkbook register during his homily), "Sin is that which causes enmity between people." And then he said, "War is rooted in sin."
This started me thinking about the wars of the current century, including the so-called "Culture War." And I wondered if, in this "Culture War," the "issues" that we are all so concerned about are not the things which are of primary importance to us, either as Christians or as people of good will who do not call themselves "Christians." It hit me that, perhaps, what we need to be concerned about most is the enmity that has arisen in our country among people of differing viewpoints. Maybe what we need to really pay attention to is the way our opinions -- even about important things -- cause us to view one another and treat one another. So, if your neighbor -- and I am speaking of "neighbor" in the sense that Jesus did -- is a Democrat and you are a Republican, you need to treat that neighbor with respect and charity. You need to treat his or her opinions -- which he or she holds as dear as you hold yours -- with respect and charity. Because, at least according to the wonderful priest who gave this inspiring homily, our sin can be looked upon as having its beginnings in our lack of loving kindness in our attitudes, words, and actions towards others. Because it is this lack of loving kindness that leads to enmity between people. It is this lack of loving kindness that leads to war, including "Culture War."
And when the "bad guy downstairs" sees us fighting, full of impatience and intolerance and anger and hate, I bet he is laughing his ugly little ass off. Because we are playing right into his ugly little hands. Even when -- and maybe especially if -- we are convinced that our opinions are the morally correct ones.
So, let's pray a little bit for peace. Peace in our own hearts and minds. Peace with our neighbor -- whatever his or her religious or political ideology might be.
There is a wonderful priest at our parish. He is older, and full of wisdom and life experience. I love his homilies. They always leave me feeling peaceful. A few weeks ago he said (I was so impressed that I wrote it down in my checkbook register during his homily), "Sin is that which causes enmity between people." And then he said, "War is rooted in sin."
This started me thinking about the wars of the current century, including the so-called "Culture War." And I wondered if, in this "Culture War," the "issues" that we are all so concerned about are not the things which are of primary importance to us, either as Christians or as people of good will who do not call themselves "Christians." It hit me that, perhaps, what we need to be concerned about most is the enmity that has arisen in our country among people of differing viewpoints. Maybe what we need to really pay attention to is the way our opinions -- even about important things -- cause us to view one another and treat one another. So, if your neighbor -- and I am speaking of "neighbor" in the sense that Jesus did -- is a Democrat and you are a Republican, you need to treat that neighbor with respect and charity. You need to treat his or her opinions -- which he or she holds as dear as you hold yours -- with respect and charity. Because, at least according to the wonderful priest who gave this inspiring homily, our sin can be looked upon as having its beginnings in our lack of loving kindness in our attitudes, words, and actions towards others. Because it is this lack of loving kindness that leads to enmity between people. It is this lack of loving kindness that leads to war, including "Culture War."
And when the "bad guy downstairs" sees us fighting, full of impatience and intolerance and anger and hate, I bet he is laughing his ugly little ass off. Because we are playing right into his ugly little hands. Even when -- and maybe especially if -- we are convinced that our opinions are the morally correct ones.
So, let's pray a little bit for peace. Peace in our own hearts and minds. Peace with our neighbor -- whatever his or her religious or political ideology might be.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Governor Wendy Davis?
As you may or may not know, even though I am a Republican, I am a fan of the grassroots Democratic group known as Battleground Texas. I love their spirit, their energy, their idealism, their compassion, their positive attitude. They uplift my sometimes cynical, stick-in-the-mud conservative heart. I don't agree with every single one of their positions entirely, being that I'm a Republican and all. But, I do believe they are striving to make the grand state of Texas, and our country, better places to be.
This morning I learned that Battleground Texas is encouraging Wendy Davis (remember the filibustering lady in the pink shoes?) to run for governor. And if she does run for governor, and if she does win, I don't want to hear any whining from my fellow Republicans. Because it will pretty much be all their own fault.
And I think Ms. Davis has a pretty good chance of winning, if she does decide to run for governor. I had a little chat with my husband recently, and I told him this. He disagreed. He said that it would be too much of a long shot. He also thinks that it's extremely unlikely that Battleground Texas will manage to turn Texas blue. I disagreed. I have learned a little bit about this group, and they are nothing if not determined, intelligent, and organized. They know what they are up against, and they are preparing themselves to fight it out over the long haul. And if they back Ms. Davis, with all of their determined, intelligent organization, I think she has a pretty good shot at winning the Texas governorship. Especially because she is pretty determined, intelligent, and organized, herself. I mean, have you read this woman's bio? She is quite formidable.
Now, as I have mentioned before, my hubby also didn't believe me when I told him that Obama was going to win the presidency in 2008. Or 2012. So, I think if Wendy wins the governorship, he should bring me out for a nice dinner. (And if she doesn't win, I'll bring him out to dinner. It's a win-win for me, baby.) And if Battleground Texas does manage to turn Texas blue, I think he should bring me to Hawaii or on a nice cruise. (Are you feeling sorry for him yet? You probably should.)
To get back on topic, I believe "Governor Wendy Davis of Texas" might be a pretty cool thing to see. Sort of like Ann Richards, but the opposite political party. You might scoff at this. You might not have liked Ann Richards. If you don't know who Ann Richards is, she was the Republican governor of Texas when I was younger. I have to admit that I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to her politics, but I did think she was pretty awesome with her Texas accent and her tough Texan attitude and her power wardrobe. She was something to see. And if Wendy Davis wins the race for this public office, she will be something to see, too.
CORRECTION: Ann Richards was a Democrat. NOT a Republican. Mea Culpa. I have also been told, by a very intelligent reader of this blog, that she was not a very good governor.
This morning I learned that Battleground Texas is encouraging Wendy Davis (remember the filibustering lady in the pink shoes?) to run for governor. And if she does run for governor, and if she does win, I don't want to hear any whining from my fellow Republicans. Because it will pretty much be all their own fault.
And I think Ms. Davis has a pretty good chance of winning, if she does decide to run for governor. I had a little chat with my husband recently, and I told him this. He disagreed. He said that it would be too much of a long shot. He also thinks that it's extremely unlikely that Battleground Texas will manage to turn Texas blue. I disagreed. I have learned a little bit about this group, and they are nothing if not determined, intelligent, and organized. They know what they are up against, and they are preparing themselves to fight it out over the long haul. And if they back Ms. Davis, with all of their determined, intelligent organization, I think she has a pretty good shot at winning the Texas governorship. Especially because she is pretty determined, intelligent, and organized, herself. I mean, have you read this woman's bio? She is quite formidable.
Now, as I have mentioned before, my hubby also didn't believe me when I told him that Obama was going to win the presidency in 2008. Or 2012. So, I think if Wendy wins the governorship, he should bring me out for a nice dinner. (And if she doesn't win, I'll bring him out to dinner. It's a win-win for me, baby.) And if Battleground Texas does manage to turn Texas blue, I think he should bring me to Hawaii or on a nice cruise. (Are you feeling sorry for him yet? You probably should.)
To get back on topic, I believe "Governor Wendy Davis of Texas" might be a pretty cool thing to see. Sort of like Ann Richards, but the opposite political party. You might scoff at this. You might not have liked Ann Richards. If you don't know who Ann Richards is, she was the Republican governor of Texas when I was younger. I have to admit that I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to her politics, but I did think she was pretty awesome with her Texas accent and her tough Texan attitude and her power wardrobe. She was something to see. And if Wendy Davis wins the race for this public office, she will be something to see, too.
CORRECTION: Ann Richards was a Democrat. NOT a Republican. Mea Culpa. I have also been told, by a very intelligent reader of this blog, that she was not a very good governor.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Being "Called"
In the Catholic social circles in which I often find myself, there is a lot of talk about being "called."
Being called to a religious vocation.
Being called to marriage and/or parenthood.
Being called to the single life.
Being called to homeschooling.
Being called to a certain career.
Being called to a certain place to live.
Being called to start a school -- whether that be on the elementary, secondary, or college/university level.
And, yes, I think God does call people to things. But, if we believe we are being called to something, or if we are living a certain lifestyle to which we believe we have been called, humility is very important.
Because, sometimes, it might be easy to confuse our own desires or tastes or psychological dispositions with being "called." For example, some people say that God places certain desires in our hearts because He wants us to carry them out. At times, this may be true. But, this belief could also lead to some dangerous things -- depending on the state of our mental health, among other factors.
So, back to humility.
And I am thinking today of one certain type or aspect of humility -- the humility of listening to other people, even (and maybe especially) if they are critical of us.
If we can't thoughtfully listen to someone's criticisms of and probing questions about our important life decisions -- the things to which we believe we have been "called" -- maybe this is an indication that we are acting more out of our own will than God's. I'm not saying it is pleasant to be criticized or questioned. I am not saying that others will treat us in a respectful way when they wonder what in the heck we are thinking when we want to homeschool or start a university or whatever. And if the person questioning us is not of our faith -- or any faith at all -- it might be very easy to dismiss him or her. The thing is, though, God does send us other people to help us along the way, even people who are atheists or who are making certain choices that some might view as morally objectionable. So, it might be a good idea to quiet our hearts and listen to these people, to give them thoughtful answers to their questions, to prayerfully ponder their criticisms in our hearts. Because, at least in my own life, I have found that people who have been critical of me have often had good points -- points which, sometimes to my regret, I do not fully appreciate until it is too late to avert a negative consequence. Listening to those who are not fully approving of us has another benefit. It may not cause us to change our plans, but it might help us to enact those plans in a way that is wiser.
Having humility in the face of others' seemingly critical questioning is also helpful as we live out the lives or decisions to which we believe we have been "called." For, even if we have made a generally good decision about the direction of our life, it is very easy to stumble along the way, to get off-track. And there is a special danger if we have the idea that we have been called to something by God. Having this belief can cause us to become a bit proud, a bit arrogant, a bit conceited. We might start looking at our critics as being tools of the "dark side," sent to throw us off of the "path of righteousness." We might start looking at natural obstacles as supernatural, causing us to make poor decisions, leading us to throw good people "under the bus," as we forge ahead in the doing of "God's work."
To tell you the truth, I have become increasingly skeptical about people telling me that they are "called" to something by the Lord, except in the case of a religious vocation. But, even in the case of such a vocation, I am more comfortable with being told by a person, "I believe God may be calling me to the priesthood/religious life. I am going to prayerfully explore the possibility," rather than someone boldly stating, "I am being called to the priesthood/religious life," with no doubt or hesitancy, whatsoever. Because, to me, the doubt or hesitancy is what belies the attitude of humility -- the realization that it might not be God, but the person himself, who has a certain desire.
And as far as other things go -- other life choices which do not involve actual religious vocations -- it is my opinion that God offers us a choice out of many legitimate possibilities. I don't think He's up in Heaven going, "Out of all these hundred choices, I want you to make choice number three." Or, "You picked Sam instead of Matt? You've got to be kidding Me. Matt is the one I intended for you." I really don't believe that's the way God works. So, whether you homeschool or send your kids to school (public or private), whether you attend that Catholic college or San Diego State University, whether you marry Sam or Matt or nobody at all, whether you have one child or three or ten, whether you are an administrative assistant or a movie producer, have a little confidence that God can be pleased with you in any of these things. Just love Him. And know He loves you. And do the best you can. #pax
Being called to a religious vocation.
Being called to marriage and/or parenthood.
Being called to the single life.
Being called to homeschooling.
Being called to a certain career.
Being called to a certain place to live.
Being called to start a school -- whether that be on the elementary, secondary, or college/university level.
And, yes, I think God does call people to things. But, if we believe we are being called to something, or if we are living a certain lifestyle to which we believe we have been called, humility is very important.
Because, sometimes, it might be easy to confuse our own desires or tastes or psychological dispositions with being "called." For example, some people say that God places certain desires in our hearts because He wants us to carry them out. At times, this may be true. But, this belief could also lead to some dangerous things -- depending on the state of our mental health, among other factors.
So, back to humility.
And I am thinking today of one certain type or aspect of humility -- the humility of listening to other people, even (and maybe especially) if they are critical of us.
If we can't thoughtfully listen to someone's criticisms of and probing questions about our important life decisions -- the things to which we believe we have been "called" -- maybe this is an indication that we are acting more out of our own will than God's. I'm not saying it is pleasant to be criticized or questioned. I am not saying that others will treat us in a respectful way when they wonder what in the heck we are thinking when we want to homeschool or start a university or whatever. And if the person questioning us is not of our faith -- or any faith at all -- it might be very easy to dismiss him or her. The thing is, though, God does send us other people to help us along the way, even people who are atheists or who are making certain choices that some might view as morally objectionable. So, it might be a good idea to quiet our hearts and listen to these people, to give them thoughtful answers to their questions, to prayerfully ponder their criticisms in our hearts. Because, at least in my own life, I have found that people who have been critical of me have often had good points -- points which, sometimes to my regret, I do not fully appreciate until it is too late to avert a negative consequence. Listening to those who are not fully approving of us has another benefit. It may not cause us to change our plans, but it might help us to enact those plans in a way that is wiser.
Having humility in the face of others' seemingly critical questioning is also helpful as we live out the lives or decisions to which we believe we have been "called." For, even if we have made a generally good decision about the direction of our life, it is very easy to stumble along the way, to get off-track. And there is a special danger if we have the idea that we have been called to something by God. Having this belief can cause us to become a bit proud, a bit arrogant, a bit conceited. We might start looking at our critics as being tools of the "dark side," sent to throw us off of the "path of righteousness." We might start looking at natural obstacles as supernatural, causing us to make poor decisions, leading us to throw good people "under the bus," as we forge ahead in the doing of "God's work."
To tell you the truth, I have become increasingly skeptical about people telling me that they are "called" to something by the Lord, except in the case of a religious vocation. But, even in the case of such a vocation, I am more comfortable with being told by a person, "I believe God may be calling me to the priesthood/religious life. I am going to prayerfully explore the possibility," rather than someone boldly stating, "I am being called to the priesthood/religious life," with no doubt or hesitancy, whatsoever. Because, to me, the doubt or hesitancy is what belies the attitude of humility -- the realization that it might not be God, but the person himself, who has a certain desire.
And as far as other things go -- other life choices which do not involve actual religious vocations -- it is my opinion that God offers us a choice out of many legitimate possibilities. I don't think He's up in Heaven going, "Out of all these hundred choices, I want you to make choice number three." Or, "You picked Sam instead of Matt? You've got to be kidding Me. Matt is the one I intended for you." I really don't believe that's the way God works. So, whether you homeschool or send your kids to school (public or private), whether you attend that Catholic college or San Diego State University, whether you marry Sam or Matt or nobody at all, whether you have one child or three or ten, whether you are an administrative assistant or a movie producer, have a little confidence that God can be pleased with you in any of these things. Just love Him. And know He loves you. And do the best you can. #pax
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Pope Francis "The Upstart"
In my family, we have been talking a bit about the new Pope. He has been doing and saying some interesting things -- things that piss some people off, that make others happy, that mystify many. He seems to be going in some new directions. For example, he washed the feet of women when he was first elected, breaking with tradition. He spoke of how atheists can go to Heaven. He said that gay people must not be marginalized, and even seemed to accept the idea of gay men being ordained to the priesthood. And these things make a lot of folks wonder what he is up to.
This is what I think.
First of all, I don't think he is doing anything that is out-of-step with Church teaching, if you really read the Catechism (and the New Testament).
What I think he is doing is reminding us of the true spirit of Christianity, of how Christ actually behaved -- things that some in the Church seem to have forgotten. Why have they forgotten it? The last couple of Popes, who I also truly loved, saw a Church that had begun to lose a lot of its tradition -- in the liturgy, in religious orders, in moral and social teachings, for example. These Popes, of happy memory, reminded us of those things, which was very good. But, in so doing, a division started to creep into the Church, a division which had probably always been there, but which became exacerbated. What division? The division between the more conservative Catholics and the more liberal Catholics. It is almost like these two groups don't even accept each other as true Catholics; there is a lot of looking down the nose at one group by the other. My husband, for example, told me that he heard a rather conservative Catholic commentator describe people "who are in the pews, but not in the Church." EXCUSE ME??? If your fellow baptized Catholic is sitting next to you in the pews, and has not been excommunicated by the Pope, you really shouldn't be talking that way about him. Or her. And even if he/she is excommunicated, he/she is still a baptized Catholic. On the other side of the coin, I once told a more liberal Catholic that I really love the Latin Mass and she acted like I had said the "black mass." There has also been more and more talk about a "Culture War." There has been much feeling amongst Catholics who view themselves as following the right path that they cannot work with, socialize with, live in the same neighborhoods as, or even pleasantly get along with people of differing points of view or of different lifestyles, because they are afraid of compromising their faith. And because they feel uncomfortable around these different types of people.
I think Pope Francis sees these things. And he sees the way the Church blew it in regard to priestly abuse. And he sees the other ways in which the Church has made various groups of people -- like women and homosexuals -- feel marginalized. In short, he sees the many sins and shortcomings of the Church and its clergy and its people. And he is trying to lead us forward. If we look at his example, if we truly and prayerfully look at it, I believe that we can begin to heal the rifts in the Church, we can help people to see how Jesus truly does love and accept them right where they are, and we can end the Culture War. Because even though we need to have societal discussions about many issues, a "war" probably isn't the best way to go about things. It will just leave the "defeated" feeling rebellious and plotting their uprising, while the "victors" go about gloating and maybe even oppressing. Which is what victors in a war tend to do, albeit (perhaps) unintentionally.
Yes, I think Pope Francis, with God's help, can bring many good things about in the Church. He seems to have great faith, he seems to be a man of genuine humility, and -- last, but not least -- he is the first Pope in a long time that regular people can actually understand. ;-)
This is what I think.
First of all, I don't think he is doing anything that is out-of-step with Church teaching, if you really read the Catechism (and the New Testament).
What I think he is doing is reminding us of the true spirit of Christianity, of how Christ actually behaved -- things that some in the Church seem to have forgotten. Why have they forgotten it? The last couple of Popes, who I also truly loved, saw a Church that had begun to lose a lot of its tradition -- in the liturgy, in religious orders, in moral and social teachings, for example. These Popes, of happy memory, reminded us of those things, which was very good. But, in so doing, a division started to creep into the Church, a division which had probably always been there, but which became exacerbated. What division? The division between the more conservative Catholics and the more liberal Catholics. It is almost like these two groups don't even accept each other as true Catholics; there is a lot of looking down the nose at one group by the other. My husband, for example, told me that he heard a rather conservative Catholic commentator describe people "who are in the pews, but not in the Church." EXCUSE ME??? If your fellow baptized Catholic is sitting next to you in the pews, and has not been excommunicated by the Pope, you really shouldn't be talking that way about him. Or her. And even if he/she is excommunicated, he/she is still a baptized Catholic. On the other side of the coin, I once told a more liberal Catholic that I really love the Latin Mass and she acted like I had said the "black mass." There has also been more and more talk about a "Culture War." There has been much feeling amongst Catholics who view themselves as following the right path that they cannot work with, socialize with, live in the same neighborhoods as, or even pleasantly get along with people of differing points of view or of different lifestyles, because they are afraid of compromising their faith. And because they feel uncomfortable around these different types of people.
I think Pope Francis sees these things. And he sees the way the Church blew it in regard to priestly abuse. And he sees the other ways in which the Church has made various groups of people -- like women and homosexuals -- feel marginalized. In short, he sees the many sins and shortcomings of the Church and its clergy and its people. And he is trying to lead us forward. If we look at his example, if we truly and prayerfully look at it, I believe that we can begin to heal the rifts in the Church, we can help people to see how Jesus truly does love and accept them right where they are, and we can end the Culture War. Because even though we need to have societal discussions about many issues, a "war" probably isn't the best way to go about things. It will just leave the "defeated" feeling rebellious and plotting their uprising, while the "victors" go about gloating and maybe even oppressing. Which is what victors in a war tend to do, albeit (perhaps) unintentionally.
Yes, I think Pope Francis, with God's help, can bring many good things about in the Church. He seems to have great faith, he seems to be a man of genuine humility, and -- last, but not least -- he is the first Pope in a long time that regular people can actually understand. ;-)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Battleground Texas Could Be Good For The Republicans
What is Battleground Texas? My understanding is that it is a grassroots organization dedicated to turning Texas blue (like a Smurf) by making a sustained and dedicated effort over time. And Smurfs are cool, so no insult is intended here. It is only my strange sense of humor at work. If you don't know what "turning Texas blue" means, it means transforming Texas from a long-time Republican stronghold to a place that will elect Democrats, at the local, state, and national levels.
This is quite an undertaking, if you know anything about Texas politics. A lot of Texas Republicans are dubious that it will happen. A lot of them seem to be turning a blind eye to Battleground Texas, expecting it to fade away. This is foolhardy, in my little old opinion. And I know my opinion doesn't count for much.
But, this is the thing. Have you ever read the ancient work entitled "Art Of War" by Sun Tzu? I have not read the whole thing, but I have read several parts. And it seems to me that Battleground Texas is doing everything that Sun Tzu says should be done to achieve victory; and the Republicans are displaying all of what Mr. Tzu describes as the attributes of the Losers. Check it out for yourself, if you don't believe me.
As I have stated before, I am a Republican. My husband is a Non-Partisan, meaning he is not a member of any political party. I was a Non-Partisan for a while, but it was kind of boring. By not belonging to a political party, I felt quite left out of the Big Party that is American politics. And that was just depressing. My husband, though, is kind of a "political animal." He is very interested in politics, keeping himself quite informed. And well before the election of 2008, well before Mr. Obama became the Democratic Party's presidential candidate in that election, I had a discussion with my husband. I asserted that I believed Mr. Obama had not only a strong chance of winning the nomination, but he also had a very good chance of winning the Presidency. My husband strongly disagreed. He told me that Mr. Obama had very little political experience on the national level, and he didn't believe the Democrats would nominate him. He also asserted that even if the Democrats did give him the nomination, that the American people certainly wouldn't elect such a neophyte to be their president. I told my husband that, based on what I was hearing from ordinary people, I disagreed. I felt that if Mr. Obama campaigned in a smart way, in a way that focused on the needs and concerns of regular folks, that he could, indeed, win. And he did win, because of the type of campaign that he ran. A grassroots campaign. A focused and determined campaign. And the people who were in charge of his campaign (as well as his 2012 campaign) -- many of them, anyway -- are now running Battleground Texas.
You're in for an ass-whupping Texas Republicans, if you don't open your eyes.
And it will be well-deserved.
And I, even though I am a Republican myself, will be glad to see it happen. I think it will be a good thing for the Republican Party, for Texas, and for the nation.
(Now all the Republicans are heading to my house for a tar-and-feather party. So, excuse me while I go lock the doors and windows.)
Why do I think it will be a good thing? Because over the last many years, I have become a bit disturbed by my party. It is a party dedicated to smaller government, more efficient government, the idea of subsidiarity, the fostering of the spirit of personal responsibility, valuing personal autonomy and ingenuity. These are all good things. The Democrats also hold many of these things in high regard. But, I have witnessed that, since the early 1980's, the "religious right" has come to have a degree of influence in the Republican Party that I have grown to be uncomfortable with. And along with the influence of the views of these people, perhaps intertwined with them, have come many other extreme ideas that I don't believe are representative of the views of the majority of the American people. I have heard a lot of conservative rhetoric -- embraced by many Republicans -- that I find quite distressing. I have also witnessed actions by the Republicans that seem foolhardy, uncharitable, and out-of-touch with reality.
I will just give a few examples.
The Tea Party. It is my opinion that many of their ideas are not grounded in reality and, if actually enacted, would be disastrous. For instance, I have heard that some of the Tea Partiers believe we should abolish the Department of Education. The Department of Education has been quite helpful to many families, including my own. It has assisted us greatly in sending our kids to college, for example. I also don't think doing away with The Fed is any kind of a good idea. And giving out vouchers for people to buy health insurance in retirement seems like a fool's game to me. I could go on and on... I know we could argue back and forth for days over these things, but based on the research both my husband and I have done, these are my opinions. Basically, it seems that the Tea Party wants to return things to the way they were back in 1780, or so. And that is just not going to happen. And it shouldn't happen. Our country has grown and changed too much. So has the world.
SNAP. Or food assistance for the poor. No, I don't think we should cut it. That would be heartless.
And Texas in particular? What Governor Perry and his cohorts did regarding abortion was just ill-advised. They seemed like a bunch of cruel bullies. I don't like abortion. I wish there were no abortions. But, you don't just come in and pull the rug out from under women in that manner. Abortion is legal. That is the reality. If you want to reduce it, do it in a manner that is respectful of the intelligence and dignity of women. Do it in a way that will give rise to cooperation between people of differing viewpoints. Do it in a way that is thoughtful and charitable and will foster trust between people. Dear Republicans, it just seemed like all you were doing was trying to impress each other with your conservativeness. And combined with your actions regarding medicaid and your views on other social safety net issues, you just came across as heartless. The results? A LOT of angry women. Smart, angry women. And a shitload of ammo for Battleground Texas to use against you.
These are just a few examples of things that some or many of those in the Republican party have endorsed or done that disturb me. I have also been distressed at hearing Republicans complain about people who "depend" on the government without wanting to be independent. I have witnessed first-hand how difficult it is for many people to achieve economic independence in today's world, even though they truly hope to. I have been disappointed that many Republicans fight meaningful gun control. I have been disturbed at the lack of a charitable attitude towards illegal immigrants. I also think the Republicans need to allow for higher taxes on very wealthy people, without giving those wealthy people "legal dodges" so that they can avoid paying those taxes. And I get very, very disturbed when Republicans say and do many of these things while acting as though God is on their side. I also do not like it at all when certain groups of people are marginalized by the Republican Party, especially when those groups of people don't conform to the religious ideas of many in that party. I recall that, not so long ago, many conservatives in government wanted to marginalize Catholics. And there are probably some states where that is still the sentiment. So, when I hear that someone in the GOP (I believe it was in Texas) expressed the view that the Republicans in that state don't really want black people to vote, I get kinda miffed.
So, this is why I am rooting for Battleground Texas. The Republican Party in that state -- and on a national level -- needs to be shaken up and renewed. And that may mean that a little ass-whupping is in order.
This is quite an undertaking, if you know anything about Texas politics. A lot of Texas Republicans are dubious that it will happen. A lot of them seem to be turning a blind eye to Battleground Texas, expecting it to fade away. This is foolhardy, in my little old opinion. And I know my opinion doesn't count for much.
But, this is the thing. Have you ever read the ancient work entitled "Art Of War" by Sun Tzu? I have not read the whole thing, but I have read several parts. And it seems to me that Battleground Texas is doing everything that Sun Tzu says should be done to achieve victory; and the Republicans are displaying all of what Mr. Tzu describes as the attributes of the Losers. Check it out for yourself, if you don't believe me.
As I have stated before, I am a Republican. My husband is a Non-Partisan, meaning he is not a member of any political party. I was a Non-Partisan for a while, but it was kind of boring. By not belonging to a political party, I felt quite left out of the Big Party that is American politics. And that was just depressing. My husband, though, is kind of a "political animal." He is very interested in politics, keeping himself quite informed. And well before the election of 2008, well before Mr. Obama became the Democratic Party's presidential candidate in that election, I had a discussion with my husband. I asserted that I believed Mr. Obama had not only a strong chance of winning the nomination, but he also had a very good chance of winning the Presidency. My husband strongly disagreed. He told me that Mr. Obama had very little political experience on the national level, and he didn't believe the Democrats would nominate him. He also asserted that even if the Democrats did give him the nomination, that the American people certainly wouldn't elect such a neophyte to be their president. I told my husband that, based on what I was hearing from ordinary people, I disagreed. I felt that if Mr. Obama campaigned in a smart way, in a way that focused on the needs and concerns of regular folks, that he could, indeed, win. And he did win, because of the type of campaign that he ran. A grassroots campaign. A focused and determined campaign. And the people who were in charge of his campaign (as well as his 2012 campaign) -- many of them, anyway -- are now running Battleground Texas.
You're in for an ass-whupping Texas Republicans, if you don't open your eyes.
And it will be well-deserved.
And I, even though I am a Republican myself, will be glad to see it happen. I think it will be a good thing for the Republican Party, for Texas, and for the nation.
(Now all the Republicans are heading to my house for a tar-and-feather party. So, excuse me while I go lock the doors and windows.)
Why do I think it will be a good thing? Because over the last many years, I have become a bit disturbed by my party. It is a party dedicated to smaller government, more efficient government, the idea of subsidiarity, the fostering of the spirit of personal responsibility, valuing personal autonomy and ingenuity. These are all good things. The Democrats also hold many of these things in high regard. But, I have witnessed that, since the early 1980's, the "religious right" has come to have a degree of influence in the Republican Party that I have grown to be uncomfortable with. And along with the influence of the views of these people, perhaps intertwined with them, have come many other extreme ideas that I don't believe are representative of the views of the majority of the American people. I have heard a lot of conservative rhetoric -- embraced by many Republicans -- that I find quite distressing. I have also witnessed actions by the Republicans that seem foolhardy, uncharitable, and out-of-touch with reality.
I will just give a few examples.
The Tea Party. It is my opinion that many of their ideas are not grounded in reality and, if actually enacted, would be disastrous. For instance, I have heard that some of the Tea Partiers believe we should abolish the Department of Education. The Department of Education has been quite helpful to many families, including my own. It has assisted us greatly in sending our kids to college, for example. I also don't think doing away with The Fed is any kind of a good idea. And giving out vouchers for people to buy health insurance in retirement seems like a fool's game to me. I could go on and on... I know we could argue back and forth for days over these things, but based on the research both my husband and I have done, these are my opinions. Basically, it seems that the Tea Party wants to return things to the way they were back in 1780, or so. And that is just not going to happen. And it shouldn't happen. Our country has grown and changed too much. So has the world.
SNAP. Or food assistance for the poor. No, I don't think we should cut it. That would be heartless.
And Texas in particular? What Governor Perry and his cohorts did regarding abortion was just ill-advised. They seemed like a bunch of cruel bullies. I don't like abortion. I wish there were no abortions. But, you don't just come in and pull the rug out from under women in that manner. Abortion is legal. That is the reality. If you want to reduce it, do it in a manner that is respectful of the intelligence and dignity of women. Do it in a way that will give rise to cooperation between people of differing viewpoints. Do it in a way that is thoughtful and charitable and will foster trust between people. Dear Republicans, it just seemed like all you were doing was trying to impress each other with your conservativeness. And combined with your actions regarding medicaid and your views on other social safety net issues, you just came across as heartless. The results? A LOT of angry women. Smart, angry women. And a shitload of ammo for Battleground Texas to use against you.
These are just a few examples of things that some or many of those in the Republican party have endorsed or done that disturb me. I have also been distressed at hearing Republicans complain about people who "depend" on the government without wanting to be independent. I have witnessed first-hand how difficult it is for many people to achieve economic independence in today's world, even though they truly hope to. I have been disappointed that many Republicans fight meaningful gun control. I have been disturbed at the lack of a charitable attitude towards illegal immigrants. I also think the Republicans need to allow for higher taxes on very wealthy people, without giving those wealthy people "legal dodges" so that they can avoid paying those taxes. And I get very, very disturbed when Republicans say and do many of these things while acting as though God is on their side. I also do not like it at all when certain groups of people are marginalized by the Republican Party, especially when those groups of people don't conform to the religious ideas of many in that party. I recall that, not so long ago, many conservatives in government wanted to marginalize Catholics. And there are probably some states where that is still the sentiment. So, when I hear that someone in the GOP (I believe it was in Texas) expressed the view that the Republicans in that state don't really want black people to vote, I get kinda miffed.
So, this is why I am rooting for Battleground Texas. The Republican Party in that state -- and on a national level -- needs to be shaken up and renewed. And that may mean that a little ass-whupping is in order.
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