Parenting Left

Someone recently asked me if I would let my children read The Rude Pundit.  Well no, of course not, although they do know all the colorful words he uses.  But I do let them listen to him on the radio, where the FCC requires that certain words be omitted.

So, how does one effectively raise children to be liberal thinkers in today's tea bagger climate?  Thankfully, I'm not worried what the neighbors think, so it's pretty easy for me.  It all boils down to exposure.  Cuz if you don't expose them to it, they sure ain't gonna get it anywhere else.  And next thing you know, they'll be joining the New Neocons of America group at school.

Step 1: progressive radio is just about the only radio in our house.  It's on every morning, while we get ready for school and work.  My kids are inundated with Stephanie Miller (and Rude every Monday!).  They get a dose of Thom Hartmann every evening during the transition time between school and dinner.  And as any parent will tell you, they're listening -- even if they don't show it.  My 8 yr old love the moniker Caribou Barbie so much, I had to have a chat with her about using it in front of her Republican friends. 

Step 2: Progressive shows are the only grown-up programming we watch (well, except for Lost).  My kids have known Jon Stewart since day 1.  And just now, the 8 yr old begged to watch Fareed Zakaria!  Yeah, they still like Wizards of Waverly Place too, but at least they are balanced!

Step 3: When they hear Daddy and Mommy talking about some political issue and ask questions, I answer them honestly.  "Why are you and daddy so angry?"  "Because our government doesn't care about helping the people;  they only care about making money for their friends."  (this was in the W years).  Then it's not only a lesson about the government, but also about the values of helping people and caring about others, the planet, etc. 

In fact, one night, the 8 yr old (when she was 6) was acting all shy about asking me what a "bad word" meant.  She was afraid to say the word.  I said, how do you know it's bad then?  She said, because you and daddy are angry when you use it.  The word?  Hypocrite.  A Mama couldn't be prouder.

Step 4: Get them involved in democracy.  I took them to the caucus;  took them to an Obama house party (even though I'm a Kucinich gal).  Make sure they know how important it is to vote, what a treasure it is.

We held a Guy Fawkes party (google it) in 2008 -- it was right before the election, after all, so it was perfect.  My oldest loved it -- was a perfect little hostess handing out pocket Constitutions and helping people make their effigies for burning. 

Step 5: Surround them with books.  Lots of them.  Let them know that knowledge is power.  Don't let them be like Texas!  (ooh, and don't forget to take them to Banned Book Week at your local public library!)

I could go on and on.  But you get the idea.  Personally, I don't really find it too challenging.  The schools are too pantywaisted to teach anything of substance, so there's little to contradict my teachings.  Of course, there was that time the kindergarten teacher asked if I'd told my kid she didn't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance if she didn't want to....(she did have to stand respectfully for it, however). 

Parenting Left and speaking out in this time of Tea Bagging Darkness (it's a dark brew indeed) are the paths I've chosen to keep the Left alive, to keep the notions of social justice, compassion, and truth going.  And I don't need corporate media to do it.  All I need is some Thom Hartmann, a good bookstore, and yes, Rude Pundit.

Getting 1,000,000 People to Join your Facebook Cause Doesn't Equal a Protest

One thing I have heard repeatedly during the last year -- as the economy tanked, as people lost their homes and jobs, as the Republicans' obstructionism watered down the health care debate -- was, "Where are all the protests?  Why aren't the progressives taking to the streets?" 

Yeah, where were we?  Protesting has been the mainstay of the left since the 1960's.  Heck, as recently as the 90's we were out there with our "No Blood for Oil" signs.  But where are we now?  Why, when so many critical issues are coming to a head, are we silent?

At first I thought that maybe we had just gotten too old as a generation -- that most of the GenXers (who carried on the mantle of the 60's hippies) had reached middle age and retired their protest signs.  And that the Millenials were just too damned optimistic and naive to protest (and they are). 

But that's not it.  The real culprit is the rise of the internet and social networking.  Back in the old days, the only way to commune with fellow lefties en masse was to attend a protest or gathering of some sort.  These days?  Join a Facebook group called "Get Rush Limbaugh to Leave the Country" or "1,000,000 Facebookers against Iraq."  And that's it.  Join, and you're done -- you've felt like you've added a voice.  But to what?

Some of these groups actually have some meat behind them -- if the pages are sponsored by a specific non-profit.  But have you really taken a close look?  Most are nothing more than a page created by someone who cares about the issue -- which is admirable, but it isn't going to create any measurable result.  Obama isn't going to be getting any morning briefs about Facebook pages.  Well, he might -- but I think 1,000,000 angry progressives standing on the Mall would have a greater impact.

Meanwhile, the Tea Baggers --- I mean, Tea Partiers -- are getting the jump on us.  They actually have rallies (lame as they are).  Which gives the "news" media something to cover.  Now of course I don't expect Faux News to cover a progressive rally -- except perhaps to make it look like it was an angry socialist mob coming to kill granny with their death squad -- but maybe the local news stations would.  And it would make us visible to others. 

But we don't.  Somehow we've been brainwashed into inaction.  Into thinking that joining some doofy group online means anything.  It's a false sense of security, and we shouldn't allow ourselves to be mollified by it any longer. 

Be loud, be proud, and let's show those Tea Party nutters what a REAL protest is like!