Heros for uncertain times

[ginnyinWI]

Like a lot of people, when our country has gone through troubled times, I've looked up to people who wanted to change things for the better. During the 60's and early 70s, we went through huge cultural shifts coming out of the 50s, with JFK's assasination, civil rights, women's rights,the Vietnam war, the draft, and Watergate.

Robert Kennedy was one of my early heros--he offered a vision of hope and optimism. But he was killed.

Then John Lennon was my hero. He was a peace activist and poet, and he challenged us to "Imagine". And he was also killed.

Now we are in troubled times again, with 9/11 and then this mis-managed invasion of Iraq. People have woken up to what is going on in the world again, after 20 years of relative peace and safety. While some people have made Bush into their hero--I see him as the cause of many, many problems. The country has been divided in half along this difference of opinion, with very strong feelings on either side! The only way I can make sense of loyalty to Bush is that people are bonded on some fundamental, emotional level.

John Kerry is my hero today. He offered, during the campaign, and continues to offer the vision of America I believe in and want! He's got the answers. Other people believe in Dean or Clark or Kucinich, and others. I think we all need to believe that things will get better, and that there are people who will work to get us there.

Looking back at it, I can see now why I was always scared for JK's safety during the campaign--look what happened to my other two heros!

Who have your heros been?

[elshiva]

1. My heros are

RFK, Dean, JK, Kucinich, Paul Wellstone, Edwards, Shirley Chisholm, George McGovern, Michael Dukakis, Jimmy Carter, Barbara Jordan, Paul Tsongas, Elizabeth J. Holtzman, Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, Al Smith, Langston Hughes, Barbara Lee, Michael Moore, Martin Sheen, etc.

A lot of great liberals there. They stood/stand for some great basic Democratic values.

[TayTay]

2. New Pic from Today's Award

Paul G. Kirk, chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, left, shakes hands with Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., after Kirk gave him the Distinguished American Award Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, at the library, in Boston. Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., not pictured, presented the award to Kerry via teleconference. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

I still think that Award looks lopsided.

Congrats to the esteemed Junior Senator from Ma on his deserved American Award from the Kennedy Libree. (And jeers to those of us who couldn't go because of threat of snowstorm and 12-18 inches. Ah, of snow.)

[TayTay]

3. Ooh, another pic

Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., addresses a crowd at the John F. Kennedy Library, in Boston, Monday, Feb. 28, 2005. Kerry was presented with the Kennedy Library Foundation's Distinguished American Award durign the event. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

I like this one. It's very assertive. Oooh, I will definietely have to see this on the news tonight. (I love assertive men.)

[rox63]

4. I wish I could have been there

But I was out of town this weekend, and I didn't see the post about it in the DU Massachusetts Forum until today.

BTW, does anyone else besides me think JK could use some new, more interesting ties? I think I've seen this red one hundreds of times.

[elshiva]

7. I swear that's his lucky tie!

Dean has a lucky tie, too. It's blue with little whales on it.

[Hans Delbrook]

11. It looks a lot like his campaign tie!

I'll never get tired of seeing that one.

[ginnyinWI]

20. me--I've been noticing ties too

He wears a couple of them that are some sort of red-patterned. But it seems to be some kind of fad now--I mean, look at the guy giving JK the award in the above pic--he's got one too. And a lot of guys on Cspan or other places seem to all have red-pattterned ties! Or else it is just me...:shrug:

[JI7]

23. he wears the pink one much more

he gets them made at some place. the pattern is little american flags and his initials "JK".

he has them made in different colors. and wears that type the most. but he wears the pink one A LOT .

[Goldeneye]

6. Is it possible not to smile

when you look at that picture?

[elshiva]

8. Libree? Is that how you Massholes pronounce "library."

We Murliners say "Liberry." That is one ugly green statue of Kennedy.

[TayTay]

10. I am so glad you said that

Either it just doesn't photgraph well or it's Kennedy sculpted out of some sort of really old cheese. (Ahm, I love the Award itself, but ahm it is rather striking and not in a good way.)

I am the only person in the entire world who says libree. Phonetically lazy.

[Withywindle]

21. No, you're not the only one...

But you might be the only one who types it. :D


That photo- that's quite a...patina.

[Hans Delbrook]

12. That's JK truly elated

Great picture - thanks for sharing. I've been so wrapped up in the snowstorm news and work stuff that I didn't even know about the award!

[Firespirit]

19. NICE PIC!!

I love it when he smiles that toothy smile. Makes me feel so warm. This picture seems particularly sweet. That is such a real smile. And in keeping with the thread subject, that is a HERO.

:loveya:

Oh yeah, I think it's obvious that it's inches of snow you're referring to. 18, um, inches would be warped. (12's fine though!) :evilgrin: And I think I'll drop this subject. Public board and all.

[TayTay]

5. My heroes come from all over

I would say that Kerry fits the bill, but because of what he has done after the election. (Just especially after the election cuz it was difficult.) As the article Whome posted a few threads back showed, losing is crushingly awful. To lose a race as close as that last one and then come back and fight again qualifies him for hero status in my book. I just love people who don't know how to quit. I really, honestly and completely respect that. It is inspiring.

I had so many heroes. Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Lincoln. William Jennings Bryant. (Yeah, go look him up. The Great Populist.) Eugene Debs. Ceasar Chavez. Barbara Jordan. (Loved Barbara Jordan.)Molly Ivins. Gawd, I could be here all night.

Oh, and the pediatric nurses who saved my daughter's life, twice. They are huge heroes in my book.

[elshiva]

9. Molly Ivins, I second that.

[Hans Delbrook]

13. My Heroes

John Kerry since the early 90's, JF Kennedy, RF Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Clarence Darrow, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Edward R. Murrow, Garry Trudeau, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Frost, Mother Jones: ("Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.") St. Thomas Moore...

I could go on but these are the ones that come quickly to mind.

[elshiva]

14. Second St. Thomas More, patron of politicians!

Garry Tradeau is awesome!

Also Alison Bechdel is a wonderful liberal cartoonist (not a Democrat, but voted for Kerry, I think)

Here's a taste of her cartoon, "Dykes To Watch Out For."
http://www.planetout.com/images/newsplanet/comics/new_size/dtwof/424.gi

[elshiva]

15. Dykes to Watch Out For

http://www.planetout.com/images/newsplanet/comics/new_size/dtwof/424.gi

[elshiva]

16. Arrrrrrrgh! It won't post.

How about this:

[elshiva]

17. Come on let it post. Please God!

[elshiva]

18. Thank You God!

I love God. God is the best. Yay God!

[Hans Delbrook]

22. I've seen her work before

I've always liked it!

[elshiva]

26. Yeah, she's a genius.

[ginnyinWI]

24. The Kerry Blue Nation

That's clever--I love it. :)

[Hans Delbrook]

25. Thanks!

I had my sig made into bumberstickers for me and some close friends. If you ever see a cypress green pearl coat Sebring convertible with my sig on it - that's me!!