I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Paula, you're like a breath of fresh air here.  The conversation is like the ones I have with my conservative friends.  We talk about all sorts of things, recognize the things we have in common, talk about the things we don't and then agree to disagree - laugh together.  It's something that's not easy to do on the internet and I welcome and enjoy your presence here - from one old hippy to another.  

Sunflowers and Paula thanks for bringing up Janis.  I loved her.  She was such a force for the short time she was here.

Ok there were some other things I was going to comment on but my brain isn't cooperating so I'll just say "Hi" to all of you.

Ditto, Yorkie.  One slight alteration:  "That's what makes North America great"!

How boring it would be if we all thought the same, felt the same, looked the same.  Vive les differences!

Yes Linda! I happily stand corrected!

Just a little something to share:

There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer;
No disease that enough love will not heal;
No door that enough love will not open;
No gulf that enough love will not bridge;
No wall that enough love will not throw down;
No sin that enough love will not redeem. . .

It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook, how muddled the tangle, how great the mistake--a sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all. . . if only you could love enough, you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world.

Emmet Fox

Needless to say, what everyone else says, Paula!

And Paula, here is where there is disagreement: I cannot STAND HRC and hope she retires. Also don't give a hoot as to what gender or race a president is. And if there IS a female major candidate or president, I will put my hand over my ears so that I don't have to here the US media saying "and she's a WOMAN" - as though the rest of us were blind.

I am more interested in the human being.

Besides, I have a loathing for identity politics. It was crucial and important decades ago, but the pendulum has swung so far that nowadays people thinkthey have the right to opine about you based on race, gender, sexual orientation and even health status. Disgusting, oppressive, and like Mao's Chine. Does nothing to promote true individuality and diversity.

It diminishes the individual. It is the reason why I disagree with the group "Emily's List" which only supports politicians that are female, and then only those which think like they do on an issue dear to them (pro-choice). You won't catch me dead donating to a group that practices that kind of oppressive groupthink - I don't care what they stand for.   

This is a pet peeve of mine because identity politics are so out of control, IMHO - but the "identities" are not necessarily what defines a human being today.

Remember how we bc atients on this thread have been discussing Lance Armstrong - we have a variety of opinions. And yet the other day on NPR a woman with breast cancer had the GALL to say (I paraphrase) "Those of us who survived breast cancer support Armstrong because of Livestrong." Arrrgghhhhh! Do NOT tell me how I think based on a superficial characteristic.

Groupthink and joiner-ism. Not for me.

That's not because she is a woman, Suzie. It's person who either works or does not.

Athena - she is one nasty piece of work and soon might be under investigation over a dodgy union fund she set up when she was having an affair with one of many married men. She played the female card in parliament and called the leader of the opposition a mysoginist, when he is a wonderful happily married man with 3 lovely daughters who does definitely not hate women. At the time she did this she was defending a creep who was accused of sexual harassment and sent disgusting text messages likening the female genitalia to a shell fish which I won't name. She is an embarrassment to this country and women who vote.

Just finished reading Karen Rose's latest book "Did You Miss Me"- holy cow, it will take me a week to get over it.

I LOVE Joe. I honestly have no idea what sort of president he would make, but he is definitely a statesman.

This is putting it mildly but, IMO, our Obama is going to be a very hard act to follow. Hoping he raises the bar for the next cycle.

ETA: For the past two or three days I keep wanting to say to people on the streets: "Happy Inauguration!"

Nay - Have an ill relative -an old Marxist who is in recuperation after a heart attack. He loves Obama, so we will humor him and watch the ceremony from his room.

I want Elizabeth Warren to run. I contributed to her campaign even though I live in MD.



In other news, I found a buyer for Franz, my BMW. Though I love him, I am in need of a pickup truck. I will name him Joe. :-)

Oh Chickadee, I am sorry to hear of your Medicare woes. Big Brother lives! In a BiPap machine!



It's oddly quiet on my Medicare front. OH! Except for the bazillion little beetles and spiders that hatched in the Christmas tree today! You might say it was my fault for leaving it up too long, but I know it was Medicare. Or MEDISCARE! Dun dun DUHN!!!

ETA: THEY will never take it away. How else will they spy on you??

"The lights are on but there's nobody home."

Athena~I agree that race or gender don't matter as far electing a president or other politician. My problem with President Obama has absolutely nothing to do with his race. As a matter of fact, I would have voted for Condi Rice had she run. I really liked Herman Cain too. But, I was most hopeful for Governor Rick Perry. He's done a great job with Texas.

Did you know that if Texas were to stand alone, it would be the 35th largest nation in the world, and the 14th richest. Not too shabby.



In the election for Ohio governor, when Ted Strickland won, I had voted for Ken Blackwell. A fine black, Christian man.



I wasn't a Palin fan because she was a woman. I just really liked what she had to say AT FIRST.



My problem with Obama and Palin is he's too far left and she's too far right IMO.



I'd love to have a mariguana brownie about now.



Ye Old Hippy