Below the fold you will find my 'story' for the Yearly Kos bio book. It's just me. It's just my thoughts on how I came to be here.
I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, further information, etc.
It's really just a story of where I have come from... Add what you would like. And I appreciate all comments. I'll be sending my story off in a few hours or so, cuz I'm also getting on a plane in a few hours or so, so I don't have much time left. :)
I think I have always been a progressive, although I haven't always identified myself as such. I grew up in a comfortable home in Connecticut, raised in the Roman Catholic tradition. I was the oldest of seven cousins on my mom's side, with one of those being my younger sister. I remember going to my grandparents' house on Saturdays nights - the adults would play moose-up rummy, drink, and have fun together. I was the de-facto `one-in-charge' of the kids, as I was the oldest. I loved that role... Being the caretaker and watchdog of my younger sibling and cousins.
In High School, I was very anti-political. I so disliked the contentiousness and seeming futility of it all. It seemed to me like bickering. Most of my friends had parents who were involved in the Democratic party on a local level, and I must say, those associations helped me out at some times. I did shy away from the politics, although my friendships may have been a sign.
In college, I got my degree in Elementary Education. I found it an easy and `common-sense' degree to get, although I still loved working with children. I so wanted to be a teacher. I loved, and still do, working with children and being around them. After I graduated, and returning to living with my parents, I spent just under three years teaching preschoolers and an after-school program at a local daycare. Then I decided to move to New Hampshire, where I got my state teaching license there and began subbing there. Unfortunately perhaps, I was in the field before the dire need for good teachers, so my best assignment was a long-term substitute position for a combined class of first and second graders. There were 18 children in that class. How's that for optimal and fun? It was semi-northern New Hampshire, in a town with a low population and a school just for them. I spent six months in that classroom, as the regular teacher was out on long-term leave with an illness. I enjoyed my time there immensely, and it made me all that more desirous to continue teaching. After that school year ended, however, I was unable to find a permanent teaching job. The networking aspect of getting a job was in full force, as I suppose it always is, and I was just too young and too not-in-the-know. I did a bit of miscellaneous substitute teaching after that, but then I really came to need a steady income to pay the bills. So I left the field. I did rejoin the preschool field when I found myself later in Wisconsin, but let's suffice it to say that was a hellacious experience and turned me off to being a teacher altogether. In hindsight, I recognize the many factors involved, but still, it left me with a very bad taste in my mouth for the lot of the teacher.
There is another aspect to teaching that I hold with me to this day, and as much as I may seemed to begrudge the profession; I loved it immensely at times. And I felt a times that I belonged there. That that could have been my calling. I have the utmost gratitude and respects for all teachers, no matter the ages taught. I myself just became disillusioned by the system, by the politics, by the play, by the words connected to no actions, by the sometimes divisiveness of it all. The common goal was the children, their well-being, and sometimes, well, it got ugly. And that common goal got lost. And that made me very sad, and made me revisit my devotion to the profession. I became disenchanted with the politics of it, plain and simple. Ironically today, that I feel on most things political. This was of a slightly different and more personal nature though. Even with my limited experience in the field, At the time and for me, the children's' interests vs. the administration vs. the parents vs. the taxpayers vs. the teachers... got kind of old. And quickly. Honestly, I found the needs of the children too more often than not be the first to be thrown out the window, by everyone except the teachers and the dedicated parents and professionals. That, plus the need for a steady income, drove me elsewhere, as I have said.
I lived my life pretty much devoid of local and national politics until 2002 or so. Politics were not spoken of in my immediate family, nor was sex, dissent, conflicting opinions, etc. It was a loving household, but there were also boundaries about what was acceptable or not. When you are young, you learn them. I can't say for certain what brought me to where I am today. Perhaps it stems from my love of children, for wanting a better world for them... for my recognition and loathing of the current hypocrisies in this world, in whatever form they take, be it political, religious, personal... for my passion for just being able to live in a world of peace and happiness... for all, for myself and all, a pipe-dream some might say, but I can never stop hoping for that. For when I lose that hope, I have lost it all.
As I discovered the internet and its alternative sources for news, music, information, opinions, I really became aware. Very aware. Aware of the injustices, the hypocrisies, the hiding, the pounding-away of our rights, the rights I have used and that we all have the right to use. Equal citizens, every single one of us. Humans are humans, no matter what. Henceforth, I became more aware, and I became livid, and I became active, to whatever degree that entails at the moment. And for me, for the moment, it is involvement in Yearly Kos. That is my stepping stone.
I believe in equal rights for all, in equal opportunity, in diplomacy instead of war and death, in the freedom to choose what is right for you, you cannot decide what is right for me, in keeping the government out of my home, your home, my bedroom, your bedroom, my living room, your living room, your body, my body, your person, my person. So long as what you do harms no other, than let it be... let you be... let me be.
Live and let live, that kind of sums up my beliefs. And that is why I am a progressive. That is why I am involved. Our rights are getting trampled, and in our name, we are killing the life and rights of others, both here and abroad. And it must stop. My life, so long as it does not harm you directly, is none of your business. That said and instead, we do all need to look out for each other. To be sure that each other is just freaking OK. Freaking OK and has the resources he or she needs to take care of themselves. It's really not a hard concept to grasp. And when I say OK, I mean happy and able to live one's life freely. With health care, with good schools, with loving partners, with the ability to save, with not funding insane wars with one's taxpayers dollars, with taxpayer dollars going to fruitful and rewarding programs, with recognition and acceptance for all, with freedom of religion and spirituality, with keeping government out of one's religion and spirituality, with keeping government out of one's personal life, with being able to call someone on the phone and not having it kept on record, with my and your goings-on not being monitored and scrutinized and held to blame for some petty misread thing. Leave us alone. We are Americans. We are not the enemy. You work for us, so start doing your job. I think I'll end my bio here.
Peace for all.