I am technically a registered DEM but I am an avid supporter of alternative political views and/or social projects aimed at the restoration of real democracy in America today which of course means social justice through re-recognition of the fact that social property,i.e. commonwealth can exist happily and simultaneously with private property. Let the Revolution begin!
I am a fifty-seven year old graduate student at the University of Central Florida: Daytona Beach Campus who is indebted to one of his MSW program instructors- Dr.Jane Allgood for introducing him to the Daily Kos. As this is a decidely political type blog I will try to confine myself to a primarily political and/or socio-economic frame of reference. I hope that what I have to write in my diary may be of use to some interested parties and I also hope that it might be somewhat theraputic for me. It's not always easy to be honest in regard to one's thoughts,feelings, and emotions where politics or culture come to bear. More often than not most people-according to such renown social theorists as Eric Fromm are more interested in "conforming to the will of annonomous authority" however they may percieve it which of course means sucking up to power,i.e. being a bootlicking browntongue,sychophant,etc. Not that I myself am totally free from this psycho-social deformity which constitutes the major malaise of our era- but as I am always usually aware of such human tendencies I frequently find myself swimming against the major tide of public opinion either in the classroom, the local community, or society at large. As Fredrich Nietzche is reported to have said-"That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I try to live by that philosophy which I suppose is just another way of stating the old Quaker axiom about speaking "truth to power". Probably a major influence in this general attitude toward life comes from my having been named after St.Stephen, the martyr(my middle name), and having been bought up in a highly devout Roman Catholic family. I had nine years of Catholic education where I heard stories in Religion class about St.Stephen, the martyr and how he maintained the spiritual/moral law of "speaking truth to power" even in the face of death. Since moving to Florida in 1996 I have been making an effort to go by my first name-Charles rather than my middle name Stephen that everyone in my previous life up North knew me by. Make off it what you will a lot of that had to do with trying to honor my maternal Grandfather-Charles J. Kern who I was named after and was probably one of the finest male role models that one could ever hope to emulate. I have fallen far short of the standard that he set with his exemplary life. The name change however is my own private way of remembering him and honoring as best I can.