To My "Old" GOP Friends

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Thursday April 23, 2015 · 5:49 PM PDT

2015/04/23 · 17:49

Growing up in our middle-class neighborhood meant that there seemed to be an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.

Our neighborhood, in the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area, was divided among those whose ancestory was divided among those who considered themselves to be Americans and those (like my family) who were immigrants, mainly Italian and Irish. And yet, everyone was in the same boat (so to speak); working to better the circumstances of their families, improving their homes, helping their kids with their homework, going to their games, and all of us regardless of religion...attending our separate churches.

And even though there were a few minor areas of contention in policy between Dems and our friends who voted GOP, I do not recall arguments of the magnitude that we now see. In fact, my Democratic elders (my Italian Grandparents were teetering on the brink of Socialism) were best friends with my best girl-friends parents who are, to this day, staunch Republicans. I never witnessed an argument between them and certainly not about anything political. At least not until...

We went through the Kennedy assassination, Vietnam, and Watergate without an argument. In fact, it wasn't until Ronald Reagan became governor of California and closed the mental hospitals that I recall my parents and my friends parents, disagree over "politics".

My how the Republican Party has changed. Prior to the election of George "W" Bush, it was the judgement of Karl Rove that it was a good idea to embrace the "fringe" elements of the party. It seems that Mr. Rove felt that he could manipulate these fringe Republicans with Social Issues, such as abortion and gun rights and "turn out the vote" when required. Unfortunately, those "fringe" groups did not realize when they were being used.

OR...has it become the other way around?

I am glad that my parents and grandparents are deceased so they cannot watch the planned destruction of the country they loved so much. Especially, my grandparents.

My grandparents came to the United States just after Mussolini took over Italy. In fact, I had one great-Aunt who used to smuggle Italian-Jews over the Alps in an effort to keep them from harms way, due to my families' hatred for fascist dictates. If they were to witness the direction of the so-called GOP now, and how they are trying to drive our country, it would break their hearts.

There was a time when the Grand Old Party had some good ideas. Witness those of former General, then President Eisenhower. After fighting the Nazi Machine and having to turn over half of Europe to the Soviets, he was more than aware of how unchecked power and ego could destroy a country and he tried to warn us all. His own party chose not to adhere to those warnings.

IF the Republican Party hopes to survive, their only hope is to jettison the Tea Party as well as those identifying as Libertarian. Their influence has nothing to do with American Independence and EVERYTHING to do with either a Theocracy or a Fascism...depending on which sect takes control. Either way it spells the end of Democracy as we were taught it should be, "by the people, for the people"

The "two party system" which is the United States political system is in need of a second party. The Republican party has abdicated its duties by encouraging the fringe elements, for whatever reason. If the Republican Party wants to make good on its inherent responsibility, the promises it made to their members from its beginnings, then it should become autonomous again by making a clean break from its so called "base" of lunatics.

Signed,
A concerned Democrat

Just a Hope, Wrapped in Observation

kimothyanne

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Tuesday October 28, 2014 · 3:36 PM PDT

2014/10/28 · 15:36

This is the first time I've posted a "diary" entry on Daily Kos. I hope I have done this correctly. It is an opinion piece.

Because I drove my wonderful hubby to the airport at 0400 hrs (PDT), I had the opportunity to watch "Driving Miss Daisy" on TMC.
Even though I did see this movie soon after it was made in the late 1980's, I had not seen it since.
Between 1989 and 2014, the two times I have viewed this movie in its entirety, some things have transpired in my life.
The event which is most relevant to this "discussion" is the fact that I lived in the South for a decade or more, between viewings.
The difference this "small" change in venue has made in both my viewing pleasure and my understanding of this movie, is astounding to me.
I will readily admit that just maybe, not everyone needs to understand the marked differences in culture, history and differences which reside in our United States in order to "translate" the range of experience which can occur when one is exposed to different cultures.
An obvious conclusion to the above statements could be that I am culturally obtuse, or willfully ignorant of the differences that are so very evident in our Country and have been magnified by our current political divide. But, bottom line...I believe everyone, in some way, shape or form, should allow themselves to be exposed to these differences.
By doing so, ones eyes may be opened as to how and why we are so divided as a country.
My 44 years of living in Northern California, the copious amount of reading I have always endeavored to achieve, did nothing to enlighten me to the culture I moved to, from Berkeley, CA to Atlanta, GA in 1999. But in truth, the idea that the cultural experiences within the United States could be so far removed from my own was obviously, born of either ignorance or hope.
The story of a Jewish woman and a Black man, regardless of whether they were "employer and employee" or just "friends" is heartwarming...on the surface. But, to delve a bit more deeply into the relationships with the knowledge of how it "really is" makes this movie so much more meaningful. To me, at any rate.
I've spent time in the Southwest, South"east" (as Atlanta prefers to be located), and a bit of time in the Midwest which has exposed me to the differences in thought, conviction and attitude between these regions.
What had never seemed open to change in the past, the basic belief that we are all Americans...re: of Race, Creed or Color, has become for some, an antiquated message. A message that for some, is no longer viable in regard to how they picture our present and future.
If one studies history, then one is aware of the necessity for a country to be united, rather than divided.
When the new Republic of the United States of America, came into existence due to the resolve and shared mission of our colonial ancestors, the Civil War...a divisive project from the start...came from our division and has yet to be resolved. This fact, which I was unaware of prior to living in the South, has some responsibility for our current situation. The "War of the States" or, as it is called in some areas, "The War of Northern Aggression" must come to an end. Now.
I'd like to propose a truce.
A truce between parties, regions, religions, sexes and sexual orientation of the American people. We face so many challenges, many of which are the direct result of our currently divisive Congress, the fear and division perpetrated by our Media (for the sole purpose of making money), along with the financial incentive some have to keep things "the way they are", along with the obvious (yet, at this time, far off) threats from forces outside of our borders, are THE major threat to our well-being as a Nation.
How about it? Election day is 8 days away...how about we try to work together? Let's ignore and/or expel those who wish to divide and scare us. As a people, let us try to bring our country back together.

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