My first diary so your patience and understanding requested.
Yesterday, here in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO, a most conservative county, there was a debate between politicians held at Focus on the Family (headquarters of Dr. James Dobson). All candidates were invited and five of the six republicans showed as well as our one democratic candidate, Jay Fawcett.
http://www.fawcett4congress.com/
One used his endorsement from Tom Tancredo as a bragging point, another used Marilyn Musgrave. After reading this, I hope you understand how important it is for progessive thinkers across America to support progressive thinkers in CO and help us get Jay elected no matter which of the six ends up his opponent a week from now. As well, Colorado Springs voters, get out and support the progressive demoncrats running for state offices. Note to all: In no way am I saying these neocons are Nazis or associated with the Nazi party. This just reflects my thoughts as I sat there listening to their rhetoric.
More after the fold!
Think "The Boys from Brazil." The plot: Josef Mengele clones 94 copies of Adolf Hitler and attempts to have the boys each undergo the same childhood experiences and rearing that Hitler had, in order to re-create his psyche and breed a new "Hitler for the times" so as to re-establish the Nazi regime.
I felt today I was listening to grown-up boys from Brazil as each of the neocon candidates spoke, their only differences seemingly resonating in who was farther to the right and who was more intolerant of certain segments of our society and certain beliefs.
All knew who the audience was and all, with the exception of Jay who remained honest and consistent with his belief in all citizens' rights under the constitution and the rule of law, were pandering to the Christian right, striving to demonstrate who amongst them was the most anti-gay, who had done the most to stop funding for Planned Parenthood, and who was most eager to end the Department of Education and promote vouchers and home schooling. They bragged, each and every neocon, about their efforts to stop Colorado citizens from giving gay couples any benefits (health care, pensions) that would be afforded them as a result of a civil ceremony. Their zealous belief in their one way to view the world was frightening.
Each implied in some way that they were hoping to be "God's messenger" in Washington. They mentioned Christianity and doing service for Jesus so many times, I could not believe they were candiates for public office. Each seemed to be spouting the belief that bringing prayer and their brand of Christianity to the "public square" was what America needed and wanted.
I grew up going to Catholic Schools, and had heard some of the familiar rhetoric. " If they come over here, " Sister Regina said, "they (at that time it was the Commies) will force you to denounce Jesus and denounce the trinity. What will you do?"
"We will never denounce Jesus!"
"Even if they threaten you with a knife?"
"Never Sister, never..."
I swear I saw each necon morphing into my 8th grade teacher, Sister Regina, right there and then. I blinked. An oddly polite applause for everyone, even Jay, snapped me back. It was so polite, it was eerie. I was lost in the surreal surroundings.
On Iraq, all (except Jay) supported staying the course, attacked Democrats for their "cut and run" tactics. One went so far as to say that we need to win in Iraq not just for America but for Christianity. A college student who was with us, leaned over and asked "Did he really imply we would be converting the Muslims to Christianity?"
Ah, relief, it wasn't just me hearing it. More scare tactics: "if we don't win in Iraq, they could come here and force their beliefs on us." There were few other progressives in attendance but they could easily be spotted by just looking for stunned faces.
While Jay's common sense, well spoken answers received polite applause, it was clear who were the choices of this crowd, a large one of mostly white, "appropriately" dressed ( except for us, no women in pants, men in white shirts and ties), men and audience.
Could one of these men really become our next Congressman, or had I made a right turn into a time machine and ended up in some distorted version of Nazi Germany, only instead of scapegoating JEWS, they openly scapegoated Muslims and Gays?
I am just a citizen. I have one vote. I will use it. I will walk the neighborhoods and urge everyone to vote. I will tell them about Jay as well as the democrats running for state offices. I am volunteering to get democrats elected here in a very republican county. Today, I found myself absolutely overwhelmed at the prospect of being represented in Washington by any one of these neocons.
Many progressives think we can't win here. And we can't if people don't vote. Progressives, thinking republicans and unaffiliated voters must help get out the message and get out the vote. We need to end the scary times now.
As a retired educator who has spent 39 years teaching in public schools, I worry about the many students I taught. I used to tell them that the hallmark of a democracy is its activist citizens who are informed and educated. Now they are facing a world where the independent press is disappearing, public education is threatened and being eroded for the sake of those who believe "the market" will care about all kids, and where a government without checks and balances is a quaint idea instead of reality.
I was frightened today. I have given you Jay's website. Inform yourself of his stand on the issues. I know in my heart he is the right man to be elected to help us take back the America of the people, by the people and for the people.