Republican Gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker "cried" the other night, during a debate, about a New Bedford fisherman and his two sons, who may or may not exist.
I’m still not exactly sure what about this story is cry-worthy (can young men with college scholarships not say "no, we are not going to be fisherman, we are going to college," or, alternatively, could not these young men say, "We want to be fishermen, because it is what we want do?").
But, right now, I do know a lot of real stories that are worth tears -- and action.
I cry because I know the story of my niece, Kate, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 23 years ago (she is now 24) and is desperate for a cure. She supports Democrats because it was President Obama and Democrats who re-funded stem cell research and also made it possible for her to have health insurance despite her "pre-existing" condition. I shed a bunch of tears, as her Aunt, when President Bush stopped stem cell research, and so many more happy tears when the Affordable Care Act was enacted.
Democrats make hope for a cure possible. Democrats will keep the ACA strong.
I cry because I know the story of the precious lives taken by gun violence in this country. I still cannot hear the word "Newtown" without getting choked up.
Just yesterday, at least one more precious child lost her life to gun violence: she was Shaylee Chuckulnaskit and she was 14.
What hope is there to stop this without strong Democrats in charge?
I cry because citizens of our country are being denied the right to vote. As John Lewis (one of my personal heroes) said: "Now, look, almost 50 years ago, I gave a little blood on that bridge in Selma, Alabama . . . I almost died for the right to vote. Some of my friends died. We're still alive, so you have to go out there and vote like you never voted before."
Source A "little blood."
Democrats support the right of all Americans to cast votes. Thank you, John Lewis!
I cry because there are still so many hungry Americans, and this is wrong. Here is a map of hunger in America. This is despicable, in this richest of countries. Read this. We need strong Democrats to right this wrong. And we need them now.
Until there is no hungry child, we are all too rich and too thin.
I cry because I support abortion rights for women. I am sickened and disheartened that we need to fight these battles over and over again. I support women!
I am old enough to remember Gerri Santoro. . . and I do not ever want to revisit those dark days when women faced death simply because they wanted control over their own bodies . . . I denounce these GOP-sponsored measures to take away this vital right.
Democrats support our right to choose.
Please VOTE on Tuesday.
My heartfelt thanks for the support of this little diary, posted so very late. My heartfelt apologies for being absent today. Thank you, community.