Because I am married to a historian, I am often told about the similarities to what is happening in our country today with things that happened in the past to other countries that turned to fascism-- especially Nazi Germany, since Germany was Jim's country of expertise (we lived there for him to do his research in 1991). I see the crazy things that are happening in our economy, elections, in our culture and our courts and wonder how we will survive all this as a country. While I am not a historian, I know we have survived worse in our past and I have hope, but what is happening now feels scary.
I am a bit relieved that my dad is not around for all these culture arguments. I once had a pretty heated argument about gender and bathroom use with him that had me yell at him angrily for the first time in my life. It was so unsettling and I know we would be arguing over a lot of current issues if he were around. I felt like he was so backward and old fashioned. I know that his mindset sees things not as backward but as "traditional" and I often feel "ol' fashioned" in educational settings-- especially when it comes to discipline. A teacher once told me we needed to round up the kids the kids in the hall and take them to gym for disciplinary action, "like we used to!" While I was thinking, "yeah!!" I knew it was not the answer-- we've evolved since then.
Anyway, I posted the above image in my Facebook banner because I've been thinking a lot about the way things are different and yet the same. Sure, we've "evolved" as a society and things are better in general (certain more comfortable) and yet it seems women are still fighting for their rights, fascism is still around and economic inequality is as bad as it ever was 100 years ago. In my own thinking I've really changed and grown in the way I vote. I used to be a one issue voter-- pro-life all the way. Although I feel pro-life, I am actually now pro-science. I have educated myself to understand that an abortion is not murder but a medical procedure many women need who have had miscarriages or are in life endangering situations. Women and doctors need to be able to make those medical decisions. I think eventually science will be able to fix the problem of unwanted pregnancy in the future without the need to dispose of a healthy fetus (maybe I've watched too many science fiction shows but it seems so probable to me). I am no longer a one issue voter. It's hard not to get emotional when voting. I think anyone who is running for office and does not hold to democratic outcomes should be disqualified and it's crazy to me to see SO many people running who claim elections are rigged and yet are still running. What in the world!!?
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