Wow my dad just hugged me and thanked me for goin to the Vigil tonite

[DanCa]

First a little background on my oldman. He's an old school conservative. Picture a combination of Frank Burns from Mash and Archie Bunker. He was a career Marine DI for ten years and voted for Reagan twice, Bush senior, and the Chimp in 2000. We did not speak for severals because I refused to enter the service because I will not touch a gun.

He voted for Kerry in 2004 when the swifties attacked his record and than said he would have enlisted when he saw the purple heart band aids the republicans wore at the convention.

Today my mom and my fundie sister were arguing about the vigil, my sister, of course is one of Bush's biggest fans. My dad enter the kitchen and you could have heard a pin drop when he entered. My old man than told my sister that "she should enlist and that the protesters were the true american's and than hugged me and leftthe kitchen ." We were all stunned and my sister left the house.
Like i said this is a major break thru for my old man. I just thought you might now. If he could change, and he's as biggoted as they come, than they can change. Theres alot of hope now. Let's give Cindy a big hug and thank you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Good for you

and for your dad, give yoru sis enlistment papers

[fooj]

2. What an inspiring story! Thanks for sharing.

Here's a great site for placards to download and print for this evening! They're great! http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/



Peace.

[ronnykmarshall]

18. Here's me w/ my poster for tonight.

I'm going to print out other for the back of my sign. I like that one you have there.

[fooj]

20. Right on!

Shrub is a uniter, isn't he? We'll show him what UNITED means, won't we?


Peace.

[ronnykmarshall]

23. Damn right

[Joe Chi Minh]

38. Yep. Just like la Thatcher...

Remember when she read the prayer of St Francis of Assissi outside nummer 10?

"Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life".

[DanCa]

21. Awesome I love the peace flag (nt)

[ronnykmarshall]

25. My partner is going to carry out Peace Flag.

We have a huge Peace Flag like the one on my poster.

[faithnotgreed]

27. you and cindy look beautiful together ronny

in case you think im teasing im definitely not

its a great photo and i hope to see another one of you out there tonight with that poster

[ronnykmarshall]

58. Here ya go!

[faithnotgreed]

61. yea for that - give em peace

[wryter2000]

39. Dang.

I don't have a sign. Maybe I'll print something out and pin it to my t-shirt.

[merbex]

37. That is beautiful !

It says everything

[merh]

54. Hey fooj!

I see you figured out how to post an image and boy, howdy, what an image you posted! I love it! :thumbsup:

:hug:

[marlakay]

3. My mom (77) thanked me for going

and I know my dad if he were alive would have too. I think its great your dad saw the light. My dad was in WWII and a democrat.

[Marymarg]

4. WOW!

Thanks for your great post.

Your dad could be my best friend.

[wryter2000]

5. Wow

:wow:

Give your dad a big hug for me. I LOVE that he told your sister to enlist!

[Lex]

9. Yes, it's about time those who are pro-war get themselves enlisted.

What are they waiting for anyway?

If you believe Bush and believe it really is a 'noble cause' then why the hell wouldn't you want to enlist?

[Pithy Cherub]

6. What a tremendously powerful family story.

You have to be so proud of your dad and how he has shown the capacity to grow in his thinking. You are a proud son of a wonderful Marine! Thank you for sharing!

Semper Fi means a lot to your Dad! :patriot:

[earthmama]

7. Wow

I teared up after reading this ...

He is so right protesters are true americans.

[LiberalEconomist]

8. Wisdom n/t

[Lex]

10. Great story, DanCa.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

[ronnykmarshall]

11. That is so cool.

I just had this image of your sister storming out of the house.

[AValdoux]

12. Bless you & your family

My father & I are still working thru our issues. He insist the solution to my kids' problems (19 & 21) is to join up. He says "The air force is safe, they won't end up in Iraq". He doesn't get that they don't want to fight anywhere and they don't trust what a recruiter tells him. They don't have severe issues just the usual, one wants to be in a rock band and the other wants to live in Europe for year, "like a gypsy". I guess give it time & be patient. Your story gives me hope.


AValdoux

[G_j]

13. applause!

:applause:

[shaniqua6392]

14. Your dad sounds like mine!!

Although mine would be Alan Alda/Archie Bunker combo!! I don't know you, but I am really happy for you. I know how great that must have felt to see how proud of you he is. That is a great feeling for a daughter/son raised by that kind of father. I should know. Mine used to be a Repug too. But not anymore!! It has gotten to the point where we talk politics whenever he visits. I just sent him a shirt I got at Spencer's that has Bush/Cheney pic on it and it says, "Meet The Fuckers". I know he will love it and will wear it proudly in front of my Step-mom who voted for Bush because he was from Texas!!! But, that is another long story for another day. Have fun at the vigil. I am going to one here in Michigan.

[cmd]

15. Teary eyed again

Thanks, Dad!

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Just WOW, honey! *big hugs* I will tell you I have been hanging around

a Christian message board all day and I saw a few Repubs that really made so much sense. Conservatives who didn't drink the kool-aid.

Very refreshing to see.

[faithnotgreed]

17. give a hug right back from all of us (and one for you of course dan)

[Fleshdancer]

19. Great story DanCa! Thank your dad for his service for me.

My dad was career Army and although I miss him terribly (he passed away in 2000) part of me finds comfort in knowing that he doesn't have to live to see the attacks on Veterans and family members like Cindy. He would be absolutely furious at what is happening right now.

[DanCa]

28. Thank you all - I gave him your messages

LOL he said he appologied for voting for the a-hole in 2000 but it's still too soon for him to protest just now. He has given me permission to hang democratic signs in the front yard so I think thats alot of prgress than and there.

He also doesn't like the way the gop is cutting vet benefits, trashing veterans, and smearring women.

[faithnotgreed]

42. tell him he can still go to dc next month - is that too soon to protest

ha

he sounds like a good man
just been conned like so many others but at least he is supportive now and sees what this cabal is really like (well we dont want to overwhelm him with all the truth but it sounds like a great start)

[roguevalley]

22. Your dad is a real man. He's a real man who can think as apposed

to the chimpster. Hug him back for me. I admire him.

[Swamp Rat]

24. WOOHOO!!!

:woohoo: :patriot:

[Maat]

26. Wow. That is so cool.

Thank him for his service; the invasion was illegal - I'm sure he knows we shouldn't be there.

And he knows that you are standing behind your convictions.

[Generic Other]

29. I lived to hear my father say he was wrong about Vietnam

Epiphanies to treasure!

[DanCa]

32. he hasn't gone that far but one victory at a time :D

[seabeyond]

30. music store today, two old texans, wearing cowboy hats

owner and a customer. i am listening. they are talking quietly. the customer said, i am sorry to say, but these people have ruined our country. i am so mad. i just cannot stand it. we have to get them out.

two old good ole boys. panhandle of texas

yup

[spuddonna]

31. Wow, there's hope! :)

Thanks for sharing your story...

I still feel bad for your sister though... I know for a lot of people who have drunk the kool-aid that their very identity is tied up in their belief in Bush 'doing no wrong'.

Big hugs to your dad for his service!

[Missy Vixen]

33. DanCa, that dad needs a hug

Good for him, and I hope he makes it to the vigil.

Julie

[Joe Chi Minh]

34. Did you read the item

on the "front page" by the soldier - about three of his compadres who were killed there; each one a hero in his own way. Also, very, very powerful and very moving. I think your Dad might crack up reading it.

[samsingh]

35. you should work on your sister, what's her problem?

[DanCa]

44. Religious brain washing?

I really dont know or other than she is follows Pat Robertson around like he is a member like one of the Greatful Dead.

[samsingh]

49. that's too bad.

maybe she'll listen to your father's newfound wisdom.

[DanCa]

53. Actually I have been thinking of slipping a pair of headphones on her

when she's sleeping and play some mike malloy. Would it help?

[samsingh]

60. it couldn't make it worse

[meganmonkey]

36. This is so great to hear - thanks, DanCa, for sharing that with us

It is a wonderful feeling to see the country waking up, one by one, as if from a long, deep sleep. Wow.

My folks are going to be attending a vigil tonight in Florida. My Dad is an old-school conservative who turned liberal over the last 10 years or so. I took him and my mom to a couple anti-war marches before they retired to Florida, and I am thrilled that they are still going to be active in the scene without me around to guilt them into it. They are even thinking of meeting up with me in DC next month.

Here's to taking back our country!

:toast:

[satya]

40. Wow! So maybe there's hope for my dad who said Kent State protesters

deserved to be shot...and if I was a protester, I should be shot too!

Your dad rocks!

[Ladyhawk]

41. Wow. I'm flabbergasted.

I really hope my family can change, but they only let in Faux News, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Drudge. I am very much in doubt here, but I suppose it is possible. They have to do it for themselves, though.

BTW, congrats. :) :D I'm sure you had something to do with his "conversion." My anger probably isn't going to help the issue. :(

[DanCa]

43. Well I have been working with veterans who share my illness

And he has been talking to them more than me. Plus I know he's upset with his benefits getting cut and all the base clossings. I think he's just had a slap in the face. As far as my sister goes I dont know what her deal is. Ill just take a victory in any way shape or form.

[Ladyhawk]

45. Yeah...I really wish my family would catch on, but it's really doubtful.

It's quite upsetting to me.

[DanCa]

46. Hang in there

I know what its like to be in purple families. The old man still has a lot of archie bunker in him. But he's trying. If he can do it there's hope. Gotta go get ready for the vigil now, later.

[Ladyhawk]

52. It's a red family with one blue person. Me.

:(

I doubt I have much influence on the way my family thinks. We never could communicate freely with one another, anyway.

[Iris]

47. Lump in throat.

Wow.

[niallmac]

48. Choked on my mac and cheeze

Really nice to share that. Fams going to the vigil in a few minutes.

[w8liftinglady]

50. Hugs to you,man-we have the same family :)

[SalmonChantedEvening]

51. Hugs and Wow, Truthseeker!!

:pals:

[ecoflame]

55. My pop voted democrat for the first time in his life

in 2004...all because of the attack on Iraq, the Swift Boat bullshit & the president lying. He's told me before he's voted republican since Thomas Dewey. He gets so flustered from rage when he sees Bush on television, he has to leave the room. He even started talking up Hillary Clinton although I'm not a particular fan of hers - still, it shocked the hell outa me.

[arewenotdemo]

56. YES!

[havocmom]

57. DanCa, you are blessed to have an honorable man for a father.

Find a way to let him know what it means to you.

Thank you for the beautiful glimpse into your life.

[Imagevision]

59. My sister who claims voting 4 Kerry wouldn't even return a call or

email when I sent her the news and site in our home town (15 minutes away) to join me in the Cindy vigil - no reply, no returned call total slap in the face!

So reading this post is an upper for me!