Judi Curry's grandson Josh and his daughter Lily.
I am always amazed that someone as young as me can have so many grandchildren to be proud of. At last count I have 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. I am proud of each of them for a variety of reasons.
Today, in talking to my oldest grandchild – Josh – I told him how much I missed his grandfather, particularly during this voting season. Bob was an activist and very involved in all political functions. Josh blew me away when he told me that, “Grandpa is living through me. I am doing what I know he would do, and am actively working on Obama’s reelection.”
He sent me an article that I would like to share with you, because Josh, at the age of 28, is becoming aware of the strength and failure of politicians today. In his own words:
When America made me proud.
Near the end of George W. Bush’s 2nd term I became a “Proud American”. I felt the passion that our ancestors must have felt when they learned of a country where their vote counted. People were talking politics everywhere, Republican and Democrat. Some felt we needed a massive spending freeze; the others felt investing money into social programs would save us. Both sides had a plan; most voters knew about it; talked about it, but, most importantly, listened to the other side as well. I am proud of any Americans who say what they believe, and are ready to stand up to defend their beliefs with the knowledge that built them.
But during this presidency, things were different. I am, sadly, not as proud of America as I was before. The right has continued to paint an all-negative picture of this President and economy, setting dramatically different standards than before. When confronted, the right has only criticized, with no positive suggestions. Several criticisms are blatantly false, which are impossible to defend with knowledge, because they are usually created out of emotion (fear, hate, or even faith).
I am assuming that the left disagrees with these criticisms, but for the most part, they let it go… There are not enough vocal people on the left. I am outraged with the propaganda! I feel it is un-American, and a direct attack on our democracy. If we are tricked into voting against programs we know work and side with tax cuts we disagree with, our vote is not OUR VOTE.
So, all I ask is that we educate ourselves before voting and compassionately challenge any voter that is voting based on emotion. We should provide them with facts to help their vote be THEIR VOTE. That will again, make me a proud American.”
Well said, Josh.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I wish more people felt like he does.
Josh, you make me a proud American again when I hear people speak as you do. There’s a famous quote that says something like, “All that’s needed for the forces of evil to win is for the good people to do nothing.” I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for devoting your energies to Obama’s re-election. (I do what little I can, from my residence in Beijing, to unleash shock and awe about the lying, self-serving party of “no” on the Internet.)
Politics has always been a struggle of interests, but “self-interest” isn’t usually a plank of the platform, never mind the whole platform. I wish I could say that it weren’t as common as it is. What I can say is that it seems the Republicans have more consistently preached, “the government should serve me” instead of “the government should be us serving each other.” Funny how they say they want small government when what they mean by that is, a government that serves only a certain, decidedly self-important sector of the population.
What confuses me is how anyone lets them get away with it. Their greed and patrician airs are so inimical to a healthy, robust, compassionate democracy. I noted and greatly appreciated your use of the term, “compassion.” How do we let such wickedness further itself? I wish I knew.
I believe, somewhere at the bottom of things, the everyman is too good and too naive to consider what sordid intentions are paraded directly in front of them. Who could believe it? But there it is. And so here we are, for the protection of all that’s truly a higher human nature, necessarily calling an oligarch an oligarch, an aristocrat an aristocrat, the patrician party a threat to the hope and flourishing of democracy.
We must all be Bob, your grandfather. For him and for each other we must uproot this vestige of the past, a self-serving ideology. I miss your grandfather too, Josh. He was a delightful and warmhearted being, fiercely committed to making this a world in everyone’s interest. And I’m so glad to see him again, in you.
Didn’t you get the memo? Words like “compassion” and “empathy” are forbidden in the Republican lexicon…….at least since 2008 (“compassionate conservatism” my ass!).
Oh, that’s right…….you must not be a Republican.
Still laughing, Andy. Still laughing!
Wow Josh! It does my heart good to read your passionate, intelligent and level-headed article. Thank God (or whomever/whatever you may believe in) that there are young men (and women) like you because our country desperately needs help. Thank you!
Great and passionate Josh, loved it. People….get out there and VOTE!! I’m always outraged when someone tells me they don’t vote, that their vote won’t count. I can’t believe I still hear this….been hearing it for over 40 yrs now! ROCK THE VOTE!
Haha. It certainly won’t count if they don’t vote!
I am also upset when someone tells me they don’t vote because their vote won’t count, but I do understand them. I understand that they don’t vote because they don’t trust our government or because they feel their vote is too small. I always say to them, “Our vote may be quiet, but our voice can be as loud as we want it to be”.
They have given up on government because they feel all politicians have been bought by lobbyists. It is true that most politicians are owned by their lobbyists, and they pass and stop bills to keep money coming their way. But this isn’t how they get elected, we can still stop that.
I’m pretty sure even most “republican citizens” around my age and younger, feel investing in our social programs is the way to economic wellness. The majority of them even believe removing tax cuts for the rich is an important step as well. They are only republicans because they have fallen for propaganda. Emotion fogs up their thinking cap.
This is when our voice can really count, last election I used the Internet to help people’s vote count. This year I have a similar plan. My message is a little different, I don’t necessarily want everybody to vote. I want everybody who votes to educate themselves before voting. I want all non-voters to educate themselves and then consider voting. If no one voted based on emotion and we all voted based on only the strategy voters truly think would work, the democrat’s strategy would always win the election. Americans need to set their emotions to the side and talk strategy.
Educate… Pass it on..Then vote. Josh
It’s true when the ship is lost in the republican fog, logical, reasonable and compassionate blows of the horn may not be heard. We have to stay in the lighthouse, keeping the light on, still blowing the horn. Eventually the ship will see the light and start following the horns to reality.
Judi & Josh- you both give me hope. Sometimes hope is the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning.
No hope yesterday, huh? ’cause we missed you at the meeting!
Judi- sign me busted. And hopeful. :)