So I won't tarry in getting to the point. If I have to listen to one more supposed liberal or progressive or Democrat here tell me on this board that our efforts on social issues are unimportant and don't make us different as a party, I'm going to….well SIGH, what can I do, but write this.
And if I have to hear one more Democrat/progressive/liberal on this site DEMEAN efforts on social issues, I'm going to…well, again, what can I do except write this diary. But I am going to write it with every angry beat of my heart.
Let me start here. My son is gay. I watched him struggle to come out, and it broke my heart. I will NEVER FORGET the day he said to me "Mom, why do so many people hate me just because I am who I am?"
Of course I told him that there will always be those who hate, those who are bigoted and disgusting, but that there are many who have his back. Thank God he doesn't read this site enough to know there are too many here who DON'T HAVE HIS BACK, at least when it comes to priorities.
It wasn't freaking enough for me to try to reassure him with my highest hopes. NO. I wasn't about to leave it at that. And I hurled myself into fighting for gay rights with everything I have. Thankfully, I know I'm not alone in this. There are many parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends who have gay people they love, and they are fighting that battle with me.
So imagine my utter disgust when I come to read several posts here today on meta diaries telling me that social issues are not important, and that we progressives must all claim allegiance to economic policies over everything else. That we must not cleave to the essentially "unimportant battle" to protect our loved ones through those silly social issues.
And it is hardly the first time I've heard this meme about social issues here. Hardly the first time I've heard folks here tell me that "yeah, well, OK, Democrats are better on social issues, but that's not what's really important." In fact, it has long bothered me, but today lit the fuse to my TNT.
So y'all listen up. I CAN fight for and on more than one front at a time. I CAN support social issues w/all my heart and ALSO, fight the economic policies of both parties that are lethal to this country.
And I CAN understand that the parties are NOT the same, just because they are both beholden to raising money. NO. NO. NO. The parties are not the same. And if you have a child who is gay, or muslim, or black, or in any way different than white, you'll know what I'm sayin'.
I am sick to puke about hearing about how "social issues" don't really matter, and how we as Democrats don't have the right to claim higher ground here, and sing it loud and proud. For Pete's sake, most of America argues with this these days via the back lash to Indiana's law. But here on the DK, I still have to hear from prominent posters that we are mistakin' to float our boat under this mast. Just not good enough it seems.
Well, we better damn well step forward and claim that higher ground---for my son, for every gay kid/adult out there, for every muslim trying to live a decent life in this country, for every black person who knows DAMN WELL that social issues effect their lives every day in every way. For every person in our lives who was born unlucky enough to not show up white and straight in the republican's periscope.
And yes, I have great anger towards those here who would diminish and demean these efforts as in, again, "well, Democrats are Ok on social issues, but that's not enough.
Well, maybe it's not enough, but it certainly should be the foundation of who we are as progressives/liberals/Democrats. We should NEVER be caught dead fighting each other on this, and yet I see it here all the fucking time.
And I've had a bellyful of it. If folks here think for one single minute that my efforts to assure my son a fair life in America aren't all that important, along with the Democratic party's attempt to do so, SCREW YOU.
And if you think that we can't pat our heads and rub our tummies at the same time, you underestimate me and many other Democrats/progressives here.
I do not want to continue to hear the diminishing and demeaning of social issues by the far left here. But I know my angry words will not stop this. But I'm just here to say, you're going to get a big fight from me on this. And I hope I'm not alone.
And if little old me can do that, so can all of you who agree. Don't let anyone tell you that social issues aren't important. Don't let anyone tell you that social issues aren't part and parcel of economic issues, because they most certainly are.
I'm sure I'll get my share of nasty comments for writing this, but I don't give a damn if I do, as it felt so darn good to write this.
Lest there be any doubt about what I'm saying here, anyone who gets in my way when it comes to fighting for a better life for my son, is on my SHIT LIST. Period. Don't negate my efforts, don't demean them, don't underestimate them. And if you choose to do so, you've got one strong and angry mama bear standing in your path.