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H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 12:30 AM Feb 2014

Gabrielle

My younger son and I just visited my oldest brother. Years ago, he was highly respected in his community. He ran a volunteer program that appealed to "at risk" youth and teens; his program was more successful at preventing these kids having "trouble" at home, in school, and in the community, than any other I've seen as a social worker. He was also a professional boxer, who took too many punches, and caught the Irish Flu after retiring.

Now in his 60s, he is a shut-in, spending most of each day in a wheel chair. There are times when his brain doesn't function very well, and others -- like tonight -- where things click.

My son is a student at SUNY-Binghamton, and works part-time in human services. He is currently taking fascinating courses in sociology, anthropology, and political science. So much of our discussion centered on these topics. Interestingly, at least for me, a large part of our conversation covered some of the topics that divide parts of the DU community on GD.

One of the points he made was that, in his life-time, the only really good politicians have been democrats. And the most corrupt, repulsive politicians have been republicans. In this way he differs from our other brother, who lives on the west coast, and believes there needs to be more third-party, pro-environment candidates.

We also discussed some of the female politicians of the past half-century. He and I are old enough to remember the power of Shirley Chisholm. My brother said that these days, he considers Gabby Giffords to be the most outstanding role model. He noted that in terms of "tough," there is no stronger person in the country. And he made a few jokes that compared this lady's intelligence to that of the leading republicans. His contempt for the "republican elite" remains strong and pure.

It's definitely fun to discuss and debate various issues on DU. I believe that, at times, these internet conversations are important. I'm also convinced that it is equally fun and potentially important to discuss these same issues with othr people in our lives. The chances of us all agreeing on everything are remote; yet it is among people of good will that we are most likely to reach the answers that our society desperately needs.

Peace,
H2O Man

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NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
1. Ms. Chisholm and Ms. Giffords are, IMHO, national treasures, and difficult to compare.
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 12:43 AM
Feb 2014

However, they share the characteristics of incredible strength, integrity, and perseverance.

School teachers and parents alike would do well to tell children the story of Shirley Chisholm.

Remarkable.

longship

(40,416 posts)
2. I always loved Shirley Chisholm.
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:07 AM
Feb 2014

She was quite the person.

Happy to R& both for the OP and your pic and quote of Shirley.

longship

(40,416 posts)
7. Wow! And I remember her run for the White House.
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:28 AM
Feb 2014

There's not been another quite like her since.

Here's the Wiki: Shirley Chisholm

Here's an excerpt, about her early life:

Shirley Anita St. Hill was born in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents. Her father, Charles Christopher St. Hill, was born in British Guiana and arrived in the United States via Antilla, Cuba, on April 10, 1923, aboard the S.S. Munamar in New York City. Her mother, Ruby Seale, was born in Christ Church, Barbados, and arrived in New York City aboard the S.S. Pocone on March 8, 1921. At age three, Chisholm was sent to Barbados to live with her maternal grandmother, Emaline Seale, in Christ Church, where she attended the Vauxhall Primary School. She did not return until roughly seven years later when she arrived in New York City on May 19, 1934, aboard the S.S. Narissa. In her 1970 autobiography Unbought and Unbossed, she wrote: "Years later I would know what an important gift my parents had given me by seeing to it that I had my early education in the strict, traditional, British-style schools of Barbados. If I speak and write easily now, that early education is the main reason." Chisholm is an alumna of Girls' High School, she earned her BA from Brooklyn College in 1946 and later earned her MA from Teachers College at Columbia University in elementary education in 1952. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

From 1953 to 1959, she was director of the Hamilton-Madison Child Care Center. From 1959 to 1964, she was an educational consultant for the Division of Day Care.

sheshe2

(83,355 posts)
8. Thank you longship!
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:36 AM
Feb 2014

An amazing woman.



We do not stand by the sidelines. It is our time once again to make our collective voices heard loud and clear!

longship

(40,416 posts)
10. She took 152 delegates at the 1972 DNC for President.
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:40 AM
Feb 2014

The first woman to do so.

Just a cherry on top of your dollup of whip cream on this great thread.

calimary

(80,700 posts)
3. She was an inspiration!
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:08 AM
Feb 2014

I remember when her hat was briefly in the ring. My dad turned to me at dinner one night and asked who I liked for President. I said "Shirley Chisholm." He looked at me with incredulity. "Shirley Chisholm????????!!!!!?!?!?!?" And I remember feeling my dander rising. I hadn't reached the age where I argued openly with him - took me a LOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNGGG time to get there. Besides, back then, I often kept things in rather than stir things up. But in my mind I thought - "yeah, pal. You heard me. Shirley Chisholm. DEAL with it." I remember resolving, at that moment, that NOBODY was ever gonna decide how I vote but ME.

chieftain

(3,222 posts)
6. I don't always agree with your posts H2O Man but
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:22 AM
Feb 2014

I always consider what you have to say. Thanks for this post. Especially.

Zorra

(27,670 posts)
9. Here's what I was doing just prior to reading your post:
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:39 AM
Feb 2014

An email to a friend, who earlier i had notified of a probable direct action pending Jan Brewer's decision on signing or vetoing AZ SB 1062

Maggie

I will be in Phoenix on Friday for my monthly PT session, and may stay the night. I talked to Nessa last week, and she told me she could hook me up with a nice, reasonably priced room if I stay.

The day of the protest will be sometime after this weekend, it takes time to coordinate and organize, although there may be a spontaneous action by pissed off LGBT and our allies at the Capitol if Brewer signs the bill. I highly doubt she'll sign the bill, as the law will have a very serious negative economic consequences for the state, including a probable boycott of the next Super Bowl which is scheduled to be held in Phoenix. There is already an immediate nationwide boycott of all things Arizona, called Razing Arizona, called for by George Takei, planned as response to this fascist hate law. Sen. Flake has already advised Brewer not to sign it, and although she is a republican, I can't believe she would be stupid enough to sign this bill, because all hell will break loose for AZ if she does, and she knows it. She vetoed a similar bill last year.

If she signs the bill you will see me become a raging harpy who will not stop until every christo-fascist republican in Arizona gets their ass kicked, and I'll be just one of thousands.

Hope to see you Friday!

hugs
..........

NBachers

(17,007 posts)
12. I gotta mention Bella Abzug- "This woman's place is in the House—the House of Representatives"
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 02:51 AM
Feb 2014

I just couldn't get enough of Bella Abzug.

One of the founders of the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971.

House of Representatives from '73 to '77.

Labor lawyer and civil rights lawyer.

And she was on the master list of Nixon political opponents.

Bella just made life great. I loved her.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
14. Thanks, Sam!
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 02:00 PM
Feb 2014

Frequently, when DUers seek common ground, they will find themselves on Higher Ground. Indeed, that is the territory that the Democratic Party and Democratic Left can and must inhabit. (And by no coincidence, it is where you are always found on this forum.)

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