Sunday, November 04, 2012

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 178~ Falling Back Into Politics



"Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government when it deserves it."

~Mark Twain

Okay, time to discuss the subject I have been avoiding... avoiding with a passion... POLITICS. There was a time when I lived and breathed it. I watched a lot of analysis. Read a lot of opinion. Did a lot of researched into it. I formed my beliefs and opinions as I searched for facts. I wanted to know why I believed a certain way about things. I smiled when I remembered that my first ever crush was when I was 3 and I fell HARD for Hubert Humphrey. Was it his looks? Well, no. Was it his voice? Well, no. Was it his political fighting style? Well, no. Personally, I think it was the fact that when Hubert Humphrey campaigned for the office of president, my father had one less worry line on his face just imagining a democrat in office. Well... and yes... as politicians went, he was kinda nice looking. But it meant a lot to me that my father saw some HOPE in him.

It wasn't to be, and the rest is history.

But while that elections and history was being made, California, and the Bay Area specifically, was also making history. The massacre at Berkeley's People's Park left a deep hole in the heart of the Bay Area. It's something that's never been fully forgotten, and it nor should it. If nothing else it should serve as the strongest of cautionary tales about not taking political choices for granted. It should be a stark reminder that just because someone says they are a democrat, it doesn't mean they actually hold any democratic principles. in 1969 Ronald Reagan trick-or-treated as a democrat, then called in the National Guard to bring their tear gas and weapons to enforce the government stealing of Peoples Park and the active silencing of Freedom of Speech. By the time it was all said and done, 1 person was dead, one person permanently blinded, dozens more injured, and Berkeley permanently scarred.

You can see some amazing photos of the changes California went through in the 1960's, including the People's Park incident right here... Picture This: California's Perspective On American History.

The next National Election is only 2 days away. I have a lot more I want to say in the next couple days. If it's too big a bummer to tune in, I get it. Believe me. I get it! I have done a good bit of ignoring all the nonsense and useless chatter the last few months, but I now find myself incredibly frustrated as we head into Tuesday. But I also find myself incredibly grateful for some things as well. Like Chris Christie putting party politics aside to give credit where it is due. I am glad that Donald  Trump got called on the car floorboard by Chrysler executive, Ralph Gilles, because of Trump's lies about Jeep sending manufacturing jobs to China. Liars are being called on their bullshit and IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME! Now, if only someone would put Willard "Mitt" Romney in his place!

If you want to avoid my rants, it's okay, but please comeback later in the week. I will be back to a more normal blog of photographs with a few words to bring it all together. I still have a lot to share with you about what I have seen and done the last month. But for now, I am looking back, before I take any steps forward.

The "People's Park" Mural, by artists O'Brien Thiele and Osha Neumann, is difficult to post in one photo, so I have decided to post vignettes of the mural.

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour tonight. Spring FORWARD. Fall BACK. :)

So tell me, are you ready for Tuesday, November 6th, 2012?

Mitt Romney's Seven Biggest Debate Lies

Whoppers Of 2012: Final Edition ~FactCheck.org

Obama's Numbers: Statistical Measures Of The Presidents Term To Date. ~FactCheck.org



~Me :)

Now, please drop by my friend JR's blog and say HI! :) My APAD project is nearly over, and he has been a loyal contributor. It has been very much appreciated! Thank You JR!

JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/11/apadf6-175.html


1 comment:

jr cline said...

Once upon a time in another life (my 20s) I was politically active. In another one of my lives I taught political science at the college level. My favorite class during that time was Current Affairs. That was a great forum and opportunity to encourage younger people to become more politically active.....well at least, plant some seeds of interest. One class requirement was to be a registered voter.
I generally avoid politics as a blog topic.

Link: http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/11/apadf6-176.html