The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHi everyone.
Thanks for welcoming me to DU and for providing this forum for news and discussion.
About me. I'm the daughter of two Austin progressives, and on my mom's side come from several generations of liberals. Her grandparents hosted Eugene Debs on a swing he made through Austin. Her uncle (my great-uncle) was a noted humorist with a syndicated radio show based in NYC in the 50s until he was added to the blacklist. He became a lifelong activist for the First Amendment after he finally prevailed in his lawsuit that helped break the back of McCarthyism. Mom volunteered in her first political campaign at the age of 13. At 18 she decided to sell her beloved hand-tooled leather saddle with her name tooled on the back to finance a trip to the 1948 Democratic National Convention in Philly where she was a Henry Wallace supporter. My dad was a union activist (in Texas!), but after being blacklisted for trying to organize the printing company he worked for then, he started his own printing company so he could earn a living in Austin. He knew Mom would never marry him if he didn't stay in South Austin. His printshop had one of the only union labels in the state of Texas so pretty much all the Democratic candidates for office (in the days when Texas was a one-party state) got their political printing done there.
Mom was remarkable. She subscribed to and read The Congressional Quarterly and fought for social justice her entire life with civility and facts. (We put that on her headstone when she passed away a few years ago.) Dad's pretty remarkable too. At almost 91 he still moderates a weekly gathering of Yeller Dawg Democrats. He was a staunch Bernie guy (in fact several of us were), but he and all five of his adult children (I'm the eldest) voted for Hillary.
In their home every night the conversation was about politics. Some families talked sports. Not ours. Their hero was Martin Luther King Jr. We went to marches, rallies, and demonstrations growing up (I heard Cesar Chavez in person at one of them), and have continued our activism as adults. Our family boycotted grapes and lettuce for years until working conditions improved and our parents opposed US involvement in Vietnam from the time Kennedy sent a handful of military advisors to the country.
As you can probably tell, I'm a proud liberal. I care very deeply about this country, its promise of liberty and justice for all (especially the marginalized and despised), and the dream of a more perfect union.
The rise of hyper-partisan conservative talk radio and media consolidation efforts, as well as the lies that got us in to Iraq, triggered a new level of my own activism. Deepening interest in media issues led me to go back for a masters degree in media and mass communication about the time I retired after 31 years of teaching.
I took a detour for the last several years into nonprofit work and stepped away from all political activities for a few years. I live in a conservative Texas town, and for the nonprofit to be accepted and supported by the community, as its public face it seemed important to be nonpartisan.
But the election of a venal, crass, paranoid xenophobe bent on destroying all consumer and environmental protections, who is running the country as a kleptocracy for the benefit of himself and his family and friends means none of us can sit on the sidelines. Being quiet in this time is impossible for any daughter of my mom's, not to mention being immoral.
One other thing about me. I'm an adult convert to Christianity. Martin Luther King's faith powered his lifelong work for social justice and equality in the face of danger and obstacles, and mine informs my work although I can't claim to have faced danger or obstacles like those he did. (His words, writings, and actions inspired me as a teen.) Few things upset me more than how the actual nature of Christ is defamed and mis-represented by so-called Christians who distort and ignore his example and teachings on poverty and justice and excoriating those who would harden their hearts or turn their backs on those sick, outcast, naked or in prison. For many years I was very prejudiced towards Christians and Christianity and the last thing I expected to be was one. The fake followers were all I could see for a long time. I thought all Christians were narrow-minded, hate-filled, judgmental prudes. I completely get why many in this forum distrust and despise all religion and especially Christianity. I felt that way myself for a very long time. But I've been transformed by a life of faith in ways that are significant. It's part of who I am now and, along with a lifetime of thinking about what is involved in restoring our country to a vigorous, healthy democracy, is very much a part of what grounds my thinking and understanding.
So there you have the nutshell version of who I am. Glad to be here.
Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)Welcome, welcome!
radical noodle
(8,012 posts)catbyte
(34,437 posts)sprinkleeninow
(20,254 posts)Born of and raised by Democratic parents, they instilled in me those ideologies. They were 'people' people.
They are no longer with us, but would be proud of all of 'us' joined together of one mind and one accord in fighting for the cause of good.
Peace be unto you...
-sprink
beveeheart
(1,370 posts)spicysista
(1,663 posts)Welcome, sister!
stopwastingmymoney
(2,042 posts)I miss the days when DU had more original writing and personal stories
Thank you for giving yours to us
KT2000
(20,586 posts)It can be a lifesaver when crazy happens.
calimary
(81,440 posts)I saw you weigh in on another thread but it's most interesting to learn more about you! Thanks so much for sharing your story and your perspective.
I'm a lifelong Catholic and almost a lifelong Californian. What I learned about Christ in Catholic school tells me almost nobody understands His message anymore. Nobody in politics, anyway. I've started quoting from Matthew 25:35-45 more and more during this dark and menacing time. That's the New Testament passage about "whatever you do to the least of these." And when I look at the modern GOP through that lens, I see nothing but apostasy and flat-out heresy. God DOESN'T want you to be rich. His Son even told the rich young man flat-out to go sell all his belongings and give the money to the poor if the rich kid wanted to follow Him. So this "prosperity gospel" crap that so many in this country cling to means they've run off to follow the snake oil salesmen and the carnival barkers with their freak shows - and by George if they didn't put one of those weasels into the White House. With a LOT of help from Vladimir Putin.
I cannot support OR acknowledge, OR view as legitimate, a so-called "president" who was installed in OUR White House by a hostile foreign power. Just can't do it. trump is not my president. He won't be my president, ever. I guess I just really don't have one right now. But we here DO have DU. And that, and the solidarity therein, both provide a good and much-needed coping mechanism, at least. This place very much helped get me through bush/cheney.
LenaBaby61
(6,977 posts)summer_in_TX
Wawannabe
(5,676 posts)And I don't. Such a heartfelt testimony to them and to the life of a Christian.
Adult convert myself.
Nice to "meet" you!
summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)Lovely to "meet" you too.
summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)as more aligned with Democratic values than with those of Republicans when I really began reading it. Matthew 25:35-45 for sure. That was a pleasant surprise. There's a consistent theme in both the old and new testament of treating the oppressed, poor, immigrants, children, widows, the crippled and hurting with compassion, healing, justice, summed up in "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
And definitely no prosperity gospel.
MLK was deeply grounded in the scriptures about oppression and justice and he was able to make the case that oppression damages the oppressor as much or more than the ones who they oppressed because it damages their soul, as does injustice. I was still a couple of decades from becoming a Christian but that made sense and spoke to me.
A gifted prophet, MLK.
Rhiannon12866
(205,880 posts)Wow! That's an impressive pedigree! Thanks so much for sharing with us. It's great to have you with us!
Raster
(20,998 posts)...You are among friends.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,856 posts)... that you read "Manufacturing Consent" by Noam Chomsky if you haven't done it already.
Edit: Whether anyone agrees with his ultimate political ideals or not, Chomsky is still a scientist who backs up his claims with facts. What makes him especially educational is that much of what he shares rarely gets mentioned elsewhere. It can almost seem like Illuminati-type kookiness except what he shares is substantiated and real! It just don't get much attention in our educational systems and elsewhere.
summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)Yes, Chomsky and McChesney, Bill Moyers, etc.
TexasProgresive
(12,157 posts)I would like to encourage you to stay with DU. Some tend to lash out against us Texans because of the fool foisted upon the country by KKKarl Rove. Everyone seems to forget the great Texans that led the nation well some as politicians others as great communicators and some as both. Here's a short list: the LBJs (Lyndon, Lady Bird, Lynda Bird and Luci), Sheila Jackson Lee, John Henry Faulk, Bill Moyers, Kika de la Garza, Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, Jim Hightower and Sissy Farenthold, like Bill Moyers, Molly Ivins might not be born in Texas are the very epitome of the Texas spirit.
I am proud to be a Texan. I am not so proud of those I know that have let hatred rule their hearts and are yet Texans. I was taught that the very name of our state means friend. It is sad that many have forgotten to live that legacy. And yes Christian Texans can and are liberal and progressive.
Thank you for your family and your lifelong work to serve.
summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)I was blessed to be related to one of those you mention and to know several of the others in person. What a wonderful legacy.
Thanks for the welcome!
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)hamsterjill
(15,223 posts)From a fellow Texan, and a fellow Christian who feels the same way you do about "so-called Christians who distort and ignore His examples and teachings on poverty and justice".
In the words of Dr. Rev. William Barber, II - "I have concerns about those who say so little about what Christ said so much, and those that say so much about what Christ said so little". (Bad paraphrase, but I think I have it generally correct.)
Look forward to having you on DU.
summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)I'll have to copy that down. Thank you!
DFW
(54,436 posts)Things CAN get contentious, sometimes even nasty, but that is (at least nowadays!) more the exception than the rule. Look for what interests you, ignore what upsets you, and participate, and you should find a lot of kindred spirits here.
northoftheborder
(7,572 posts)From another Texan who spent most of my life in Austin, bet I can figure out who you are! You came from some of the good ole "yellow dogs".
summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)There's still quite a few of us yeller dawgs in and around Austin.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)Thanks for your post!
rurallib
(62,444 posts)I didn;t see anything about pets. Got any to keep you sane?
summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)Two dogs, Buddy and Izzy. I saw a meme about dogs that I keep remembering: What did we ever do to deserve dogs? They make us laugh and are the best companions.
Lyricalinklines
(367 posts)TexasTowelie
(112,383 posts)and make certain that you subscribe to the Texas Group.
summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)Just did!
Doreen
(11,686 posts)argyl
(3,064 posts)redwitch
(14,946 posts)It's all hands on deck now!
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)Nice to meet you!
joet67
(624 posts)VOX
(22,976 posts)Thank you for the terrific introduction. Looking forward to your posts!
panader0
(25,816 posts)In two months I will have been here 12 years. I needed a place like
this when I found it, and DU has saved my sanity more than once.
Demsrule86
(68,643 posts)summer_in_TX
(2,746 posts)We hang out each week with six wonderful Episcopalian friends (and good liberals) and are proud of what your denomination has done. We are working within ours on that transformation.
Christ accepted all those who were despised and rejected, afflicting the comfortable (and smug) and comforting the afflicted.