Confessions of a Radical... OR: Why Moderates DISGUST me today

He shut me up when he called me a "radical woman."


Not that I didn't have a comeback. I always have an insult to offer in kind if necessary. It's genetic.

But this was one of those times when I didn't want to repay an unkindness with more unkindness.

Instead, I just laughed. But I've thought about that word "radical" for a couple of weeks now.


A radical - as far as politics is concerned - is one who desires extreme reform. Is that such a bad idea,

given our current crisis as a nation? After all, the Republicans ran on a "radical" platform, promising they'd

bring Jesus himself into the White House, and since they've taken over all three branches of our

government, their "extreme reforms" have resulted in the loss of the World Trade Center, the deaths of

thousands of innocent Iraqis and American soldiers, the demise of a great American city, staggering

disparity between rich and poor, an embarrassing infant mortality rate, a frightening trade imbalance, and the

most extreme reform of all: the destruction of our nation's Constitution.



They've abused and shredded our military, lied to us, spied on us, allowed their rich oil buddies to become

even richer off the backs of working men and women, and denied us our rights in countless places in

countless ways.


The party of "The Ten Commandments" has stolen elections, provided false witnesses against too many

good Democrats, and failed to honor the mothers and fathers of this nation by allowing drug companies and

utilities to suck their funds dry. They have taken the name of their lord in vain, invoking it to oppress

others. They have murdered, coveted and committed global adultery by consorting with foreign powers

who hate the United States.


Is that extreme enough for you?

Is that radical enough for you?


But oh, how Republicans have cloaked their evil in a red, white and blue, God-Loves-Us-Best cape. With

their preacher hair and in their boring suits, they've convinced even my friend - the one who called me a

"radical woman" - that they are rational, decent, godly people.


I can promise you, he would never dream of calling a fundy Repuke a "radical." But I am only a woman, and

my "radical" ideas are easy for him to scorn, to dismiss as hysterical. He would rather play nice, even if the

creeps he plays with are going to end up screwing him out of everything he owns. Better to be seen as

polite and "conservative" and to never rock the boat than to have a strong opinion. Better to lose

everything you've worked for than to confront someone who is cheating, lying and stealing from you.


Now, I love this person, and I respect him in many ways. He has an amazing work ethic, a bright mind

and he loves good conversation. He's a phenomenal musician, too. But I'm totally disgusted with Democrats

like him who wave the white flag of self-destructive capitulation.


Because in the end, there isn't a damned thing that's radical about anything I believe.


Is it radical to believe that "thou shalt not murder" means something? Is it radical to believe that the old and

the very young and the poor and the sick should be looked after by a decent society?


Is it radical to believe that skin color doesn't matter? Jesus was dark-skinned. Should I hate him because he

wasn't a Caucasian like me?


Is it radical to believe that what people do in their bedrooms is their own damned business, as long as it's

between consenting adults? Republicans seem to think illicit sex is acceptable as long as it's Jeff Gannon or

Newt Gingrich or Bill O'Rielly or Rush Limbaugh we're talking about. After all, rich white men need

pleasuring, don't they? (If they didn't, prostitutes wouldn't see such an increase in business whenever the

Southern Baptist or the Republican Conventions are in town.) On DU, there is a list of all the sick, twisted,

perverted things that SCORES of Republicans have been convicted of, so obviously, being Republican

doesn't make your penis stop wanting illicit sex. Republicans can't even walk their own talk, yet they

demand that all Americans handle their genitals in a way that Republicans themselves can't even manage!

Am I such a radical to expect that everyday Americans - not just the wealthy white ones - should have an

expectation of privacy? And the ability to marry any other adult they choose? Who the hell are you or I or

anyone else to judge?


Is it radical to want law and order? To have my country run by an administration that follows the Law of

the Land? How is it that I can obey the law but George Bush doesn't have to? Is it radical to expect Bill Frist

to pay for his insider trading the same way Martha Stewart paid? Is it radical to want this administration to

obey the Constitution? Is it radical to expect that the Bill of Rights will be honored by George Bush, who

SWORE AN OATH to follow the Constitution?



Is it radical to be deeply ashamed of the torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo? Is it REALLY radical for an

American to see the value in due process? Is it radical to believe that the Geneva Conventions help protect

our own soldiers and should be followed?


Is it radical of me to cry when I see an elderly person panic-stricken over how to pay for her medicine? Is it

radical that I, a mother of six, cries when I hear about another soldier's funeral, when I hear about our

soldiers raping a fourteen-year-old girl? Am I being radical when I cry over all of the poor young men in

prison for crimes that don't even approach the damage caused from the raping and looting and pillaging

done by "nice, reasonable" men in business suits?


Were the founding fathers "radical" when they demanded a separation between church and state? If so, I'm

radical as hell. Because I believe that anyone who desires it be so can build a shrine in his home or his

church or his trailer to George W. Bush. He can kneel down before Dubya's picture and pray for hours if he

likes; he can worship Bush as the Messiah if he wishes. I would never deny him that right . But he damned

straight better not try to force me to believe it; he damned straight better not turn his obsession with the

divinity of Bush into a law I must obey. If freedom of religion is radical, then, yes, Baby, I'm as radical as

they come. If you truly have faith as you claim, nothing I do or don't do will change your relationship with

your god.


Am I radical because all I really want out of life is to see my children and my nation do well? I'm currently

laid off for summer and I spend most of my days on my farm, puttering with flowers and chickens and

horses, painting and writing and reading and making a little music. I try to get along with my neighbors.

Before the newest ones showed an utter lack of respect for my property, I offered them the use of my tools,

gave the wife my phone number when she said she was scared alone at night, gave them clothes when their

trailer burned down. I'm still pissed at them, but I'd help them again as crazy as that sounds. Radical, huh?


Yesterday, I helped with a remodel for an elderly man, prepared food for a woman with severe MS,

counseled a misdirected young man. Today, I went into the hole for $120 to help the Democratic party.

I am only bringing in $141 a week, so suffice it to say, I am wondering how I will make it another week.

So, laugh at me, all you moderates. Laugh at my poverty - the state that makes me feel for people who have

it worse. Laugh at my idealism, because it came from growing up during a time when they killed the idealists

who were my heroes: John and Martin and Bobby.


I believe in my party. And I believe that there are more people like me in the Democratic party than there

are people like my friend. And if moderate Democrats want to discredit, mock or disparage Democrats like

me, they are making fools of themselves.



The great progress we've made as a nation in the past was made by radicals, by people who weren't afraid to

stand up for their beliefs.



So, you can call me a radical if you want.




At least I'm not a coward.

I'm tired of them too.
"Aux barricades!"

And I love your screen name, too.

that's a wonderful post ... we could use a few million more just like you ...

k&r ...

You're right. This is no time for moderation. Revolution might be called for!

Yep I got that ol' time religion

ones inside the Beltway that just don't get it. And I am really, really tired of Democrats saying it's more important to re-elect a Democrat as opposed to a progressive challenger (aka radical?), e.g. Lieberman over Lamont.

They just don't get it. It is time to take back our party not give up our principles. And "they" can call it whatever, but times are a' changing.

Thank you for an impassioned and well-reasoned post.

To para phase RF, Jr., (with apologies), "The moderates are just radicals that don't know what is going on."

I think we progressives will prevail.

they are part of the problem . they are too busy trying not to piss anybody off and "appear" mainstream. they want to be "accepted" therefore they remain too cowardly to take a firm stand on anything.

with so called moderates. They say they're for a cause as long as they don't have to change any part of their life or behavior.Thanks for reading my soul.

I am disgusted that we have become so twisted and hate-filled as a nation that even Christians are cheering on the deaths of other Christians.

THAT kind of religion is too radical for me.

WE are the ones who want peace, prosperity and equal rights and protection for all.

WE are the ones who actually care.

here's an old soldier turned artist who's 100 percent with you. You ARE NOT alone.

radical change is what is called for, unless you are a psycopath, it is as plain as day. i think the woman part is not small. truth telling women scare the crap out of these people.

:yourock:

I am proud to stnad with you!

TC

wouldn't want to be too much of a Dem, might not get invited to the pool party at the neighbor's house. Can't be too political or Susie might not make the cut for cheerleader. They are on our side, just don't want to join us on the barricades.

There are lots of people in this world that have honest intentions and good hearts, but just can't/won't stick out their necks. That's ok for them, but don't let that hold back the radicals in our midst. You may have to sow the truth a bit broader to compensate for those who may be a bit more timid; work a bit longer for those whose passion burns a bit paler.

Radical, damn straight! Who do you think changes the world?

but nobody wants to lay blame.

And even Democrats can be racist, homophobic, woman-haters.

"If they don't look or act like me, well then,,,"

And of course, you have the chest-pounding males who will do or say ANYTHING as long as other guys think they are "manly."

You're right about the social stigma, which is the funniest thing when you think about it. "You'll hide your beliefs like a coward to get immediate reward, even if it means you are selling out your own grandchildren's future?"

"Yup. I'm so rational, aren't I?" :eyes:

I'm really sick of cowards.

thanks.

:kick:


dp

that is an eloquent testimony to the reality of being "liberal".
I have always been proud to be liberal. Today, even though we are disparaged by people who have no idea of the meaning of the word, I am still proud to be liberal. I will not change my beliefs in the face of ignorance.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

which is charming in the Lounge.

Rather than engaging me directly, it seems the poster referenced my thread as a reason for his or her OWN thread and then proceeded to answer me. :shrug:

I could have easily missed that thread, so I'm not even sure that the poster wanted me to see it.

But the fact that it was posted only proves to me that moderates don't even want to have to deal with us "radical" types. They separate themselves, and then they call us "unable to reach out."


Wow.


Thanks for proving my point, arbusto_buster! :thumbsdown:

have to say -- to reread this post is a real "lift"! Thank you again for giving a voice to feelings we radical women carry with us 24/7.

TC