Speaking of politics- I have been reading Howard Zinn's A People's History.... and it really resonates with me. But we me, it is sort of preaching to the converted-- the liberal viewpoint seems so simple to me, about helping people, equality, and championing the underdog (although maybe this is not how it is practiced). I was "raised liberal" like people were raised religious, and my grandfather sounding like Archie Bunker made me more, rather than less liberal.
Anyway, I was thinking that I am guilty of what I accuse conservatives of, which is not looking reasonably into the other side. I know we have only a handful of conservatives on the board, and perhaps no social conservatives, but is there a book similar to Zinn's that I could read and understand the other side-- or is it more than Zinn is the antidote to everything else that we read. I am wanting to understand what is so appealing to people I like and get along with, about the conservative movement.
ETA- I am watching the Shiba Inus, and they are sooooooo big!!! and cute!! I want to eat them up.
mac slept until 11:30 and I am managing to stay on top of email work while also watching some daytime tv. Maybe I'll get some work done on my taxes.
Sophia, I read Andrew Sullivan's blog, which is (IMO) a good source of intelligent Conservatism. OTOH, so much of what Republicans now stand for isn't conservative. Like their support of torture.
eta: [link]
ION, Hello Kitty pancake shop
I think Zinn's book was more of an antidote to the feeling that presidents and generals are important, but washerwomen are not.
YMMV, of course.
I think Zinn's book was more of an antidote to the feeling that presidents and generals are important, but washerwomen are not. YMMV, of course.
Yes, I agree with this. But one of the things that I think might be "shocking" to (conservative) people is that it seems as if this whole nation was built on keeping all the disenfranchised groups from coming together, realizing that there were more of them than of the upper class, and really doing something about it-- and that wasn't really a chocking revelation to me-- that seems pretty much to be reality. So I was wondering if there might be something that would be that shock for me, but in the opposite way, maybe?
I'm not sure I would have survived that.
Sullivan talking about DADT: In The Bunker
Ana Marie Cox debates Rich Lowry on ending the persecution of gay servicemembers in the military. It's a very pleasant and honest chat. I always learn something from hearing straight people talk about us.
...
Rich says that it's no big deal to live hiding one's sexual orientation. If you're straight, try it for one day.
Try never mentioning your spouse, your family, your home, your girlfriend or boyfriend to anyone you know or work with - just for one day. Take that photo off your desk at work, change the pronoun you use for your spouse to the opposite gender, guard everything you might say or do so that no one could know you're straight, shut the door in your office if you have a personal conversation if it might come up.
Huh. By this standard I've been a closeted homosexual at work for 14 years, as I've never done anything to reveal my sexual orientation. I'm not sure why I do that....
Right now I want a Fujita with a bow and puppies. Yep.
