I started this diary several weeks ago, when this story was new, but was never able to finish it. Now, tonight, it seems we are without a TC diarist so I am resurrecting it. :) I hope you enjoy it for what it is!
For me, no progressive value resonates louder or more clearly than goodheartedness and generosity of spirit. I very much agree with George Lakoff about the value and power of nurturance in society and politics. He recommends that we speak to the nurturant elements of our fellow human beings to activate and reinforce the progressive elements of their world view. I agree with that, too. For me, one of the clearest paths to the humanity of another is through animals, specifically beloved pets.
More below the fold.
If someone has a pet that she or he loves without measure, that is a human being I can relate to at least on some level. No question. I know we share a deep appreciation for what these magnificent beings bring to our lives. Speaking for myself, I don't even have to know someone's pet to know the intensity of their feeling for that animal, and if there is a loss, I grieve with an intensity only slightly less than theirs, I believe, because of how intensely I experience the sense of loss I have known so many (TOO MANY!) times over the course of my life. (I am 54.)
I am writing tonight because of a loss I became aware of the day it occurred. My sister took me to Martha Stewart's personal blog on her website. In that day's entry, she wrote about the loss of her beloved dog, Paw Paw. Those of you who know me may remember the diary I wrote upon the death of my dear cat, KittenLittle. And just a few weeks ago my good friend, noweasels, lost her dog, Madison.
I am sure that over time, hundreds of Kossacks have honored and paid respects to their animal friends in diaries. They touch us with a gentleness, with a love pure almost beyond imagining. It's why they take such a large place in our lives, though we cannot communicate with them as we do with members of our species.
I know nothing of Martha Stewart. I have heard good things about her, I have heard bad things about her, I can vouche for none of those things. But I can vouche for this: She loved her dog, she mourned his passing very intensely indeed, and probably still does. That says fine things about her heart, and I know that on at least one level, she is a human being with whom I could relate and communicate.
You can see a picture of her with her beloved dog in her blog entry announcing his passing.
For myself, I cried for Paw Paw, and for the one who loved him most.
If you can spare a goodhearted thought for Paw Paw and his human, this diary will have achieved its objective, except for the Top Comments objective. Now for those. :)
UPDATE: Please spare the good thought for MKS and family on the loss of their Ajax.
Special thanks to sardonyx for capturing the submitted comments from the TC box tonight. If you see a great comment during your dKos travels each day, please send them to us at topcomments a t g mail d0t com, minus the anti-spamming obfuscations. We would be most appreciative, and, hopefully, so will the comment authors!
From Lava20:
In a thread that starts here (for immediate context, though here is its true start), this was a great one...Please give a read.
From kath25:
My compadre in voter-registrationing rameyko has a fantastic comment about activism: "somebody really ought to..."
LithiumCola submits a beautiful comment on how true progressives must NEVER accept racism, and must always be working to overcome it.
From Crashing Vor:
Hanging Up My Tusks has a simple, elegant answer for people who say they can't vote for Obama because he's black.
From noweasels:
On Mother's Day, bwren's remembrance of her late mother made me cry.
From sardonyx:
LeftHandedMan doesn't sound at all mean-spirited in discussing Ben Stein, Expelled, and the conservative attacks on science.
Protect Ya Neck talks about his uncle and aunt, who are indeed evangelicals for Obama.
zogren does an excellent job expanding on the issues discussed by DHinMI in his front-page article Lebanon: Yet Another Foreign Policy Opportunity Screwed Up by the Bush Administration.
Top Mojo - excluding search-identifiable tip jars and first diary comments (top 22 tonight of each plus ties):
1 For all who dare to believe... by MC71 - 456
2 She's sunk so low that she's lost SNL by Walt starr - 209
3 She doesn't think that far ahead by 57andFemale - 160
4 Lessons of History by kestrel9000 - 157
5 That SNL stands in for Cronkite in this scenario by vawolf - 157
6 Amen, Elise. I denoune & reject pandering to by earicicle - 104
7 glad to have you on board by pine - 87
8 Just saying .... by DrMicro - 86
9 It's not even that funny... by mayan - 77
10 Awesome diary Elise by taylormattd - 75
11 Yesterday by kath25 - 75
12 I am so very sorry. this just brought me to tears by blue jersey mom - 74
13 Beyond parody by Parallax857 - 74
14 Is Obama campaign controlling the flow of by St Louis Woman - 74
15 All the older white women by BillyZoom - 72
16 Excellent choice! by Rian Fike - 71
17 Just watched it by turneresq - 69
18 Hard working Americans: HRC is right!! by Tackle - 67
19 Hey Barry! Here's the real question: by David Kroning - 66
20 Todays NYTimes feature is 7 pages on Pragmatics by Theghostofkarlafayetucker - 66
21 You got more than compassion by Parallax857 - 64
22 I didn't expect to be crying on mother's day, but by feelingsickinMN - 63
23 I really like this line by TX Freethinker - 63
24 Really tired of this 2012 junk by newdem1960 - 63
25 Works for me by DumpDoolittle - 63
26 Miami in the house! by Rian Fike - 62
27 You get it by bumblebums - 61
28 This is silly by DelicateMonster - 61
29 Watch the clip and see... by scooter86 - 60
30 Just to reiterate by democracy inaction - 59
31 Indeed, it in the long run has been more reliable by ShadowSD - 59
Top Mojo - everything included:
1 Tips for barely a diary? n/t by Bob Sackamento - 536
2 For all who dare to believe... by MC71 - 456
3 tip jar by rioduran - 454
4 Tips. by Rian Fike - 436
5 mug for major mojo? by teacherken - 423
6 Stop excusing racism. by Elise - 423
7 Tips for getting some damn compassion by Randgrithr - 391
8 Tip jar by davidkc - 254
9 Great diary! by StrangeAnimals - 236
10 kath is a much faster typist by casperr - 216
11 She's sunk so low that she's lost SNL by Walt starr - 209
12 Peace by Frankenoid - 205
13 Any thoughts? by zizi - 162
14 She doesn't think that far ahead by 57andFemale - 160
15 Lessons of History by kestrel9000 - 157
16 That SNL stands in for Cronkite in this scenario by vawolf - 157
17 Tip Jar by novelle - 141
18 boo ya! by ye ye ye - 125
19 tip jar.... by TexMex - 117
20 I volunteered today by smash artist - 108
21 Amen, Elise. I denoune & reject pandering to by earicicle - 104
22 Tips for victory in November. by tecampbell - 99
23 glad to have you on board by pine - 87
24 Just saying .... by DrMicro - 86
25 tips/recs to a fantastic week... by icebergslim - 84
26 Happy Mother's Day. :) by JeffLieber - 80
27 Tips for Ohio's super delegates. by rontun - 78
28 It's not even that funny... by mayan - 77
29 tips/recs.... by maxnyc - 75
30 Awesome diary Elise by taylormattd - 75
31 Yesterday by kath25 - 75
Thank you for visiting! Please add your comment finds below!
(Update: Bless all the mothers out there! I lost mine in 2000, but I feel her presence more keenly on Mother's Day. I know she is looking out for me. Thank you, Moms, for all you have done, and for all you do. We love you!)