I don't feel safe blogging anymore

which is why I have not been doing it. Need to figure out what I am going to do about it.

How Lame Is This?

Well here I am a Yearly Kos and I don't have wifi so I cannot blog... I have ethernet cable but the hotel does not have access. Meanwhile, Air America is sponsoring free wifi for all participants...

So I am on a borrowed laptop and do not want to monopolize it.

Brief summary...
Met Kos, Atrios, Joe Wilson, Matt Stoller, Chris Bowers, DarkSyde, Devilstower, a bunch of reporters, a bunch of bloggers and it is very cool.

Anyway, I am a little overwhelmed, tired, and hungry. I have been running like crazy as a volunteer, making myself useful whereever and whenever possibled. So I am needing to take a break. Will blog more as I get access to computers...

Blessings to ya'll.

Why I Am A Progressive

Image from Project for the Old American Century

Few better places than Texas exist for growing up progressive. If your beliefs can survive being tempered in the forges of that blood-red state, they can survive anything. I remember in 1979 as a ten year old when we had our classroom “election.” Our teachers did not believe in secret ballots. Guess who was the one kid who didn’t vote for Reagan? Even the black kid voted for Reagan. That’s how Republican it was.

Life would have been easier if I had become conservative. Heck, it would have been easier if I had simply kept quiet about being a progressive. I can’t stay quiet or pretend to be a conservative. When I do that, it just about kills me. I figure it’s healthier for me to just keep raising hell.

My earliest memory of anything political comes from high school. Our school district enacted a dress code I objected to – so I went to school wearing a skirt to protest. That hasn’t changed; you’ll still more likely find me in a kilt than pants.

I was also kicked out of high school for funding and publishing an underground paper. All it contained was short stories and poetry – no sex, minimal drug references and actual advertising paid for the printing (until the school called the advertisers and they cancelled their checks). I was lucky, my parents backed me and threatened to sue and I was reinstated into school. A result of this is my undying passion for the First Amendment.

For one of my first political campaigns, I proudly campaigned for Ann Richards and if I could I’d vote for her again. Ann kicked ass. She made no apologies for being a Democrat in a day and age when it seemed like every Texas Democrat wanted to announce they had become a Republican. Ann Richards stood up for equal opportunity for every Texan – even the dark skinned ones! That wasn’t very common in Texas and still isn’t.

I cannot separate my moral values and my progressive beliefs. I express my moral values by fighting for progressive causes. All people are the children of God (however that God is conceived – Goddess, Buddha, Allah, Jehovah et al.), and all of God’s children deserve respect. We have a responsibility to each other. Our Creator gave us this earth and if we are stewards of it, then a responsible steward cares for, nurtures and respects that which the steward is responsible for. If God gifted us with brains, then we must honor God by using those brains both creatively and rationally.

Today I am a progressive because I want my daughter to live in a better world than the one I live in. She should never have to be paid less than men for the same job. Nobody should tell her what to do with her body or forbid her to enjoy her sexuality. Her future should be filled with a rainbow of friends representing all of humanity. When she has grandchildren, they should walk on a greener earth and breathe clean air.

That’s why I am a progressive.

Guess Who's Talking?

Official first word: "Cat."

It actually makes sense. In her world, everything interacts with her: mom and dad and the dogs. The one great mystery is the cat who runs and hides from her. Our daughter has long been fascinated with the dark, stealthy animal. So it was not too great a surprise to hear her repeat "Ca" "Ca" when she saw Thelma. Within the past two days it has become "Cat" with a very soft "t" sound.

Pretty cool first word for a young Wiccan, eh?

I am so late for work...

I can't believe I am stopping to post anyway. You'll have to live with a photo of Mexico and presume that it is intended to be some really vigorous rebuttal of some right wing immigration talking points.

Have a good day!

Thank you all.

When I killed my previous blog I honestly figured only a couple of folks would make the hop over or check in. After all, I had not updated regularly, the templates needed correction, and I abandoned it without notice. I have been amazed at how many people have emailed to ask what happened and find the new blog.

Thank you.

I also want to note the nice notes I got from some conservatives. Blogging apparently transcends politics.

Again, thank you. It really moved me.