by I had made up my mind that today I would post something positive, and I’m still going to, but I cannot let yesterday’s vote against moderate and reasonable gun control to pass. I will, however, let Gabby Gifford’s tough, impassioned words speak for me. Mostly.
She said one thing that stood out for me, well two things. First, when she spoke about the Sandy Hook teachers whispering to the students that they loved them, while at the same time doing their best to hide them. And, “Our democracy’s history is littered with names we neither remember nor celebrate — people who stood in the way of progress while protecting the powerful. On Wednesday, a number of senators voted to join that list.”
As some of you know I’ve been spending some time at the Municipal Archives, looking into the artifacts and records of New York City’s history. I’ve seen how people repeatedly fight reasonable and humane solutions to problems. If something is fair and common sense, people will resist it. I personally think people fight change regardless of what it is, good or bad, fair or unfair, myself included. But that’s another post. Like Kirby Higbe refusing to play baseball alongside Jackie Robinson, the majority of people will initially fight what to us looks like a clear cut, total no-brainer. This is one of them. History is going to look back at us and wonder what the hell we were thinking. Except maybe they will also shake their heads wearily, understanding that once again, sometimes doing the right thing requires a battle.
Read Gabby Gifford’s words. I would be proud to have her lead that battle.
Oh dear, this post is already too long for the things I’d planned to post about. Well, tomorrow. For now, spring! The magnolia tree in the garden in front of Grace Church.
Update: I just realized, here is a beautiful, moving example of people bravely voting to do the right thing on another matter. As it says in the article, I defy you to watch this and not cry. This is my positive thing for today.
After Boston, maybe Congress can shift their emphasis on controlling the sales of pressure cookers (unless there’s a lobbying group we don’t know about).
While there were several good speeches on the last night of the debates before the vote for marriage equality at the New Zealand parliament, this one stands out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCDEiaoEP2U
It was good to watch it all happen, Janet and I will be getting married as soon as they are ready!
Congratulations!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!!!!
Hi Stacy,
first let me say that I absolutely love what you have done with your apartment.
It suddenly occurred to me that you might wonder why you received no feedback to this post from your regular conservative commenters.
The reason is simply that we were not responsible for this one. Four Democratic senators from largely western states and traditional gun-owner states crossed the aisle to vote with Republicans.
Inasmuch as the senate is controlled by Democrats, and Democrats voted with Republicans, the measure failed by Democratic fiat.
As a consequence, thankfully, we were out of the loop on this one, and it was an entirely Democratic matter.
So there just wasn’t anything there for conservatives to respond to.
I found out that we have the same catch, neuter, and release program for cats that NYC does. I’m impressed with this program
I include democrats in the list of people who should be ashamed of themselves.
And thank you for liking what I did with my apartment. I still need to fix it somehow. Because the yellow in the walls matches the rug it feels like too much yellow. I need to either paint one wall an accent color or get rid of the rug. The first one I don’t have the energy to do, the second I don’t want to to!