"It's got to be part of the big game plan. Marriage equality, gender equality, racial equality, a woman's right to choose, an adult's right to put whatever substances into their body that they choose... We must be able to choose our own paths."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5005179

This is IT! We can't splinter up the pie and then go for all the slivers - when we need the whole pie!!! Seems to me that just absolutely nails it. Just boils it down all the way. And I just realized something rather ironic: it's OUR version of "Don't Tread On Me," isn't it!? "Don't Tread On ME, EITHER!!!" Now - to find a graphic... ? I'm trying to think... praying mantis or scorpion maybe? Maybe an avenging angel would be better? Sure wouldn't be one of the figureheads (Washington, Jefferson, etc) since those have been appropriated by too many of the bad guys and nut jobs. Maybe Ben Franklin? He was certainly enlightened, literate, and intellectual - and intellectually curious enough. What image would be best to depict or suggest liberals/progressives/people who believe government can/should be a force for good?

DAYUM! Impressive! VERY glad you're here! Your point is EXCELLENT and the way you laid it out and worded it - EVEN BETTER!!!! Crap. It's left me speechless!!!!

You're absolutely spot-on! "It's got to be part of the big game plan. Marriage equality, gender equality, racial equality, a woman's right to choose, an adult's right to put whatever substances into their body that they choose... We must be able to choose our own paths."

That just nails it. Just boils it down all the way. And I just realized something rather ironic: it's OUR version of "Don't Tread On Me," isn't it! "Don't Tread On ME, EITHER!!!" Now - to find a graphic... ? I'm trying to think... praying mantis or scorpion maybe? What image would be best to depict or suggest liberals/progressives/people who believe government can/should be a force for good?

Even just seeing it in a two-dimensional photo. I want to reach up and run my hands through them, and listen to the random percussive music they make. And watch them move. And think about the souls they represent.

I am so sorry to hear this, Courtesy Flush. I am so sorry to hear this!!!

Oh man.

Sometimes I wonder how much weight one human being can shoulder at one time - or one extended time. Sure sounds to me as though you're at the outer limit. I'm so sorry to hear this, Courtesy Flush. I'm glad you came here, though, to share this sad and bewildering news. I'm glad you're not mired in it alone. It's good that you're talking about this and sharing it and opening yourself up about it. There's a safe cushion of anonymity here, but at the same time, we still can dig so deep and speak in such intimate, personal terms. Maybe that same anonymity is what gives us such a layer of comfort.

I'm so sorry to hear this, Courtesy Flush. It's at times like these when I cling to that quote from Skittles - "someone's always here." I think you do need to maybe do some of your thinking about this - out loud. At least here, or someplace similar. I find writing about it tremendously connective and therapeutic, and clarifying. Something about seeing the words and being able to read them aloud and thereby relate to them in the concrete, tangible world. Journaling. That kind of thing. And remember - someone's always here to sit up with you.

I had to defend against this in a Blockbuster video store forcryingoutloud, against an earnest young 30-something, who was totally sincere and completely dead-serious. He'd just bought, paid for, and swallowed it whole. That upset me for the entire remainder of the evening.

the jingoistic madness after the World Trade Center attack. Hell, I almost hate even saying the words "9/11" or "September 11th" because that carries so much negativity for me, especially as the bush/cheney/giuliani goons kept shoving it in our faces and down our throats. "Fightingforourfreedom" - it's become such a perverted, bastardized, even meaningless line, upaloopa!!! The bad guys have fucked THAT up, too! So misused, abused, and - well - mal-used (if that's even a word - used with wrong or malicious intent).

It reminds me of the email battle I had with some bush/cheney brainwashed when I questioned a thread that was sent to me - that for the ten-thousandth time tried to attach that terrorist strike to the hard-on for war in Iraq. When there was no link at all but we sure were being sold one, HARD. And I objected. Attempted for the ten-thousandth time to share the truth about that whole WMD scam. And this one person on the thread just WAS. NOT. HAVING. IT!!! And he fired off an angry response on the thread to me - insulting me, questioning my patriotism, questioning my loyalty and American citizenship. Questioning my reason for even sucking air off his planet. "WHERE WERE YOU 9/11 ??!?!?!?!?!? " he demanded. Note - it was "WHERE WERE YOU 9/11" and not "Where were you ON 9/11" or "Where were you DURING 9/11" or something that made sense grammatically. "WHERE WERE YOU 9/11?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?" And in the very next sentence, there it was, by Jove! "Our troops are fightingforourfreedom! And you blaspheme them you cursed libtard!!!"

That dear writer just did not get it. NOBODY was over in Iraq "fighting" "for our freedom." NOBODY was fighting for "our freedom" over there. That had NOTHING to do with it. Our so-called "freedom" was not on the line over there. No Iraqis were gonna come over here and take our purported "freedom" away. WTF?!?!?!!?!?!??!?? But man-oh-man do those cliches catch on. And carry weight. Big time! So easy just to peel 'em off without even thinking, having been well-schooled by the repetition of the Pox Noise "teaching-to-the-test" propaganda catapulting strategy.

"Fightingforourfreedom." Irrelevant. And it was just as irrelevant and meaningless when applied to Vietnam, to Afghanistan, to Serbia, to Syria, to ANYWHERE. And I'm sorry to see this. It's blasphemous - when considered along with the actual sacrifice that's demanded of our troops, and what they deliver, selflessly, honestly, and proudly.

Glad you're here! I love Patty Duke! Had the chance to interview her - she is truly a first-class artist and wonderful, charming woman. I wish her well! She's still got a lot of years and gifted work to offer!

What a great post - in reply to another singularly great and genuinely gripping post.

to calculate and otherwise figure out ways to get around paying for their employees. In terms of time, energy, resources, and lawyers' meetings.

In much the same way I wonder how much is spent by the pharmaceutical industry - selling their new meds and therapies ("Ask your doctor if such-n-such drug is right for You!!!" that could be redirected toward lowering drug prices, or making medications available to seniors or veterans for even lower prices?

Good to have you with us! I love these posts and threads, too! Makes one proud to be female.

Remember - even GOD couldn't do that One Big Job without a woman!