Ok, so tonight I was planning on spending yet more hours coding for a work project. But sometimes I need a night off.
My wife is in bed, has been for hours, watching Hockey. My daughter has been playing, etc. So I decided since I had some free time - not devoted to handling work issues and family stuff as much as usual, I would kick back and read the local papers from as many states as possible.
It is something I enjoy doing, having traveled a lot through different states. If you noticed I posted a lot of threads tonight it was because I was reading a lot :)
Anywho....
Most of the local papers I read opened my eyes to some things. Specifically, how much of America sees things.
Examples: most the religion stories were about local churches and how they helped people. Plame was rarely mentioned, nor were politics in general (except in some opinion pieces) when the politics were outside the local/state scope.
The war got mention - when soldiers left, returned, or died.
That lady from code pink - didn't see anything on her yet, but based on the many local stories and what I read if they did mention her it would probably not be in the best light. Yet I sense people would have accepted the message.
Where inroads have been made:
On the war, it is seeping into Middle America - they want our people home. Bush is his own worst enemy. People are fickle. I have been reading local papers for a few years (like I said, I enjoy it - lots of cool and positive news) - the original feelings were gung ho, kick some ass after 9/11 (which we did). Then, where bush utterly failed, was people wanted to bring our kids home. Kill the armies and rulers, and then leave. Those folks were on board with that. Not babysitting and dying.
Gays - even small town papers have stories about teen groups that welcome gays, gay clubs in schools, etc and so on. positive stories. Not the rambling hatred from the rw fundie types.
Inclusion in general/Racism/Sexism - Same thing, small towns seem more and more open to combating these issues. One town, I think it was in Arizona, made mention of a woman being elected to post X after a decade+ of it being a male.
Are we there yet? No. Of course not. But the wheels of change turn slowly, and I can say from my readings it is getting better and better across the land. The liberal view and ideals are taking hold, and producing results.
On the flip side, I think progressives can be more open and kind to those of faith. Many papers I read had stories about religious folks helping out the community, mentoring people in trouble or out of jail, food pantries, etc and so on. So often we too can paint with a broad brush based on a stereotype we have of what it means to belong to a church/faith/etc.
America is progressing. We don't always see it, it is always not reported on here or in blogs, but if you doubt it i suggest this:
go to
http://www.usnpl.comPick a state, check all the local papers and see what sort of stories are covered. Everything from local high school sports to religion and taxes are a main stay. These are voting people, our swing votes who can easily turn on a dime if pissed off - and right now they are pissed at bush and big business. We know our votes, we know dems usually vote for dems - to win over the people of middle America it takes some work - and their progressive stances on things I have seen shows that we are winning the battle.
Yeah - there is a lot of work left to be done. But winning the hearts and minds of people outside the big cities is something worth looking into. It does not mean we have to abandon goals or rights for anyone, it just means we give and take. They have a nice little life, in a nice little town, and are open to hearing new ideals - as long as theirs are not ripped to shreds and treated like crap.
20 years ago, when I was 21, having small towns talk about inclusion, gays, and being against a war with a repug president would have seemed crazy. Today - it is what one finds. The reason they hold on to the limbaughs and hannity's, maybe, is because they feel attacked and ridiculed - so they regroup and resist. Sometimes, giving inclusion and talking nice about people and their beliefs might just help us to win over people to our side and lessen resistance to new ideals, progressive ones.
So local sports seem odd to some of us, or local religious news and what the church is doing this week to help people, etc. To many those are two big things in their life - and attacking those things is attacking them. We can get across a positive message without preaching a negative one.
The left has done good, we are making progress. Let's keep making it - in a positive and inclusive manner.
As always - I paint myself guilty here as well. I am trying to get better. Give me time :)
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