[Shonahsmom]

I just checked in with another forum I used to post on. Its a site for single parents. Its a bit more mainstream to say the least, but I stayed for a couple of years because I was the ONLY momma that was able to offer good pregnancy/birth/ and breastfeeding advice. But political discussion was never embraced, although there was no policy against it. I'd say most folks were basically apolitical (is that an actual word?). Starting in 2004 I tried to start getting people to think about this year's election and what it meant for its members (the majority of which are lower income single moms). It was not received well or ignored altogether so I just slowly phased myself out. I just had too hard of a time dealing with the extremely high level of apathy from the people who are/will be most effected by U.S. domestic policy.

Out of curiousity I logged on today to see if there was any F9/11 discussion taking place. There was.. 4 pages of it so far.

One of the mods is essentially closing the thread and said "Enough is enough! I think the middle east should be turned into a parking lot with oil spigots and I don't care which president does it."

I felt like someone knocked the wind out of me when I read that. I just started crying. I am so sad that people feel this way. I am so sad that there is so much ignorance still prevailing (there was a whole lot of talk that we had to go to Iraq because of 9/11

: ).

We had the numb talk last week on MDC. A lot of us were feeling numb. Well, today I just feel horribly sad. I feel overwhelmed with anger and sadness that I don't know what to do with.

Its all so very, very wrong... its all such a great big mess. I'm so sad and terrified that this country might re-elect this madman.

I am being incredibly inarticualte right now.

I need a hug!

 

[kaismom]

I'm so sorry shonahsmom. What a horrible and ignorant thing to say. It can be exhausting to watch people struggle in a system that doesn't work for them and then watch them support and defend that system despite your attempts to inform them. I'll never forget my college roomate freshman year back during Clintons 1st campaign who stood on the Dem side on several issues including abortion but was Republican just because, it was how she was raised.
On the brighter side, I think that F9/11 is so important precisely because it tells a very plain and easily understood story of why GW and his presidency is bad for this nation. It speaks to these people in an exciting/dramatic way that easily heard. The real life footage is hard to deny or avoid.

 

[chicagomom]

There are relatively few of our soldiers over there, and (except financially) we are pretty shielded from the effects of the war (we don't see the pics of coffins, of refugees, of bombed out towns, don't hear about people dying of dysentary). Many of the popular talk and news shows talk about Iraq and Iraqis just the way that moderator did.

Because of this it's easy for the average American to say these kinds of things. I can understand the exasperation - people just don't want to hear about it anymore. The numb thing we were talking about. People just want to get on with their lives, drive their SUVs and take care of their families.

That's precisely why we need to talk about it, to keep talking about it.

But people listen more than you think, you know? Sometimes they just need time to process it all. People change all the time. I do. Information is good.

Meantime, take care of yourself and your family. Then put on your pearls, and keep going. We'll get there.