I'm 44 years old and I've gone through a few changes the last few years, some good, some not so good...many make me think of that saying that you become your mother (or father).
Two years ago I had the huge honor of becoming part of the Climate Project, Al Gore's volunteer group that allows me to go into my own community and talk about global warming and green living etc.
I start with some brief bio points because I'm not ashamed to admit its true: before seeing An Inconvenient Truth I was a "good" citizen, my family recycled and voted and helped at school. I was teaching social studies and I read the paper every day. (Although now I know that was barely skimming)
After the movie (literally the minute I got home) I realized what I was doing was not enough and began discussions with my family and learning how to live more sustainably.
Which led to becoming like my mother....
My mother was sooooo well informed. She died in 1997 but my memories of her include the fact that she was well read, and opinionated and extremely cultured. In her last few years I found it annoying how much she watched c-span BUT I now know she knew what the hell was going on!
Obviously I miss her every day and one reason is I know we would have talked about 9/11 and the aftermath that we call the Bush years.
Why am I writing this now???? Please stay with me, I don't do this diary thing very often but I had to write because I was just listening to a Dixie Chicks CD.
The one that came out after Natalie Maines' infamous comments in London that they were then crucified for. I highly recommend listening to the cd Taking the Long Way and watch the documentary Shut Up and Sing if you haven't already.
I respect the fact that Obama wants to move on , I will respect any decision he makes and I do want the country to move on but simply listening to a few songs I haven't heard for a year or so take me right back.
I am glad I am now like my mother (better informed although I don't see c-span in my future!) And I tell people outright what I didn't know before because its ok not to know things but then try to get better informed, no matter how busy you are.
This is preaching to the Kos choir but I bring it up because I think there are a ton of people that probably have good intentions but are too wrapped up in their own busy lives.
I met one recently. A Jr High teacher. I was guest speaker in her class and on her break we got to talking. She planned to vote for Obama which was great obviously but she had NO idea what was going on with the campaign. She hadn't heard the Ayers accusations etc etc and eagerly took my advice for some websites to check out.
She is a social studies teacher but she also is a mom and mentioned in passing a couple hobbies. There are many, many people like her.
That's why I think the tone people take with their opinions (like Obama's tone) will be so important. Speak out but not to the extent that was taken against the Dixie Chicks!!! (I guess it would be ok to smash up those "Let the Eagle Soar" discs that Republicans recorded)
Someone suggested in a diary recently getting off Kos once in a while and making contructive comments on RedState etc. I think that's a great idea.
In the interest of full disclosure and to further make my point, my mom was able to watch c-span and stay hyper informed because she didn't work. I loved her dearly but she was a depressed person that didn't get out much which led to lots of c-span time. So I have to find a way to be like her in a good way!
Getting out of the house, being a role model for change in my environmental talks, stating that its something I'm still working on, staying informed as much as possible and recommending the Dixie Chicks!
Actually, today is not really a good day to remind people how horribly the Dixie Chicks were treated when we are supposed to be moving on from how horribly Joe Lieberman treated Obama.....