Thursday, January 12, 2012

Call Me "Stubborn"

Last Sunday, Manzanita posted for the first time in several weeks. She explained that she’d been sore at heart because of what was happening politically in the United States. I do not know whether she stands to the left or the right of where I feel comfortable politically. Nevertheless, I admire her courage in speaking out about the seemingly self-serving response of many congressional members to the big questions of our day. As I read her posting, I began to think of my own journey to the political philosophy I espouse today.
            My mother served as an election judge throughout my childhood. I took for granted that politics was important to my parents. Still, I entered the convent a political neophyte. I knew my family voted Democratic, but I didn’t know where they stood on particular issues.
            In the 1960 election, John Kennedy, a Catholic, ran against Richard Nixon. I was teaching in Omaha. As I remember, I lived with thirteen other nuns. On Tuesday, November 8, we donned our capes in preparation for the trip to the polls. The convent superior locked the door behind us and said, “Well, we’re ready. Fourteen votes for Kennedy!”            
            Immediately, I determined to vote for Nixon. Not because I liked him or even knew anything about him. After all, I wasn’t permitted to read the newspaper, listen to the radio, or watch television. No. I voted for Nixon out of pure stubbornness. No one was telling me how to think. My vow of obedience meant I obeyed my superior with regard to living the Holy Rule, but I was certain this vow did not apply to how I thought—or voted. Still, no political savvy here. Just, “You can’t tell me how to vote.”


Photo of John F. Kennedy from Wikipedia

            One other time in the convent I did something political out of pure stubbornness. In 1965, some states were beginning to consider legalizing abortion in cases involving incest or rape. At the time, I was teaching in Baileyville, Kansas. The superior there told me to write to our state representative as an anti-abortionist.
            I refused to do so. Once again, no one was going to tell me how to think. The fact is I’d never thought about abortion. The truth may be that I’d never even heard the word before. I can’t remember that I knew what it meant. I knew only that I wasn’t going to be told what to do politically. My parents hadn’t raised a conformist.
            Of course, I wasn’t pro-abortion. Who is really? And I didn’t know about being pro-choice as that word didn’t enter our lexicon until the early 1970s. No, there was no serious thought or discussion here. Simply my innate stubbornness. Later I realized that my uninformed decisions were simply that—uninformed. If I were to become politically active, I needed to read. Study. Research. Listen to views from every side.
            I wasn’t able to do this in the convent at that time, but when I left on Christmas Eve 1966, I was. And so I have become in some ways, a political junkie.
            On Saturday I’ll share with you my first foray into being an activist.
                                                                        (Continued on Saturday . . . )
PS: Today the blog McGuffy's Reader features photographs of Dulcy and a wonderful review of her book.

32 comments:

  1. Dee, I've been lucky in that no-one has ever told me how to vote or what to believe politically, but if they had, i think the younger me might well have reacted just as you did.

    I'm now starting to get interested in the forthcoming US presidential election, which is well covered by the BBC for politically-minded people like me.

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    1. Dear Perpetua,
      I admire you for following the political scene here in the states. Right now I'm annoyed with Congress and also with the way the media presents everything. It seems to me a somewhat scary time in which we are living.

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    2. Dee, I want to, and feel I need to, as who is chosen to be the next president will affect life far beyond the borders of the US.

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  2. From what you've told us about yourself, I believe that when you decide to do something, you do it whole hog. I'm almost afraid to picture you as a political activist. I assume you've been a guest in your local jail?

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    1. Dear Fishducky,
      I probably used the wrong word. I've never been in jail and so I'm probably not an activist. Just a concerned citizen.

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  3. I can't wait to read your next post. And I'm so curious...like Fishducky!

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    1. Dear Stephanie,
      I'm curious also! I hope to do three more postings about how the way I got involved in some of the social issues of the '60s and '70s and '90s.

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  4. I can't wait for your next post either, having once been a political activist of sorts myself. I guess those were the times when it was needed and now, so many years later, I feel it is really needed all over again.

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    1. Dear Inger,
      I agree. I've been hibernating for many years and I need to follow my conscience again and get involved.

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  5. Somehow that doesn't surprise me! lol

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    1. Dear Melynda,
      The truth is that both of us are contrary. I feel I'm in good company!

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  6. I personally avoided the protests and rallies of the 60s altogether. I just never, ever have trusted mob mentality...no matter what the mob is thinking. ;)

    I was contrary, too, in my youth. Sometimes still--LOL! And I'm still uninformed. I think we are deliberately kept as uninformed as possible to the real truth of many issues even when we attempt to learn about them. Pieces. We get pieces.

    I'll be interested to hear the rest of your activist story. It was such a time of change!! And hope!! :):)

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    1. A fundamentalist anything bothers me. I don't really believe in black or white on issues - just many, many shades of grey. I am also really looking forward to your next post.

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    2. Rita,
      I really have tried throughout my life to study the issues and to know what I'm protesting. Like you, I don't respond to mob thinking. But I do want to think for myself and to get involved with the hope that I can make a difference for humanity.

      Peace.

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    3. Dear "Elephant Child,"
      I'm getting use to the new way Blogger has set up these comments, so I hope that I'm not messing all this up. But I wanted to respond to your comment on "many, many shades of grey." That how life feels to me much of the time. Mostly grey area. But every so often something strikes me as fundamentally right or wrong. Not often because there are so many ways to view things and everything is three dimensional. But some few things truly are basically good or bad.

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  7. I am so glad you shared how your political awareness had to go through an educational process. I have to say I'm amused to hear that although you had the discipline to enter the convent you at the same time definitely maintained your independent spirit. That's quite a combination and shows just how creative you have always been. I'm eager to hear much more about your political process! I'm staying tuned...Debra

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    1. Dear Debra,
      It was, I think, the vow of obedience that gave me the most trouble in the convent. I've blogged about that in the convent postings. Thanks for staying tuned as I always look forward to your comments--and your take on things.

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  8. I was always hoping someone would tell me what to think, what to wear, how to vote. That's because I thought that was what a "good woman" did. How little did I know! Once I learned that I actually had a mind and was able to use it, I was cut loose and also studied the issues and voted my conscience. Sounds like we had a bit in common, although I was never a silent dissenter. I just didn't know any better. "=_

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    1. WOW ..... Dee, I suddenly feel a spark, excitement and a fire in your post. You leave us breathlessly awaiting tomorrow's post. No kidding, this is like life without fear, without manipulation, as it should be.
      You are such a great writer and you have so much to offer.
      I went to McGuffy's Reader and read the review. I wasn't much aware of the book but now I'm going to add it to my kindle. For me, that was a good kick in the right direction. :) Love those pictures of you and Dulcy.
      Thanks for the shout-out. You are a dear one.

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    2. Dear DJan,
      I'm glad to think that we have "a bit in common." Now if only I could get my nerve up to skydive. But I have a fear of heights!

      Peace.

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    3. Dear Manzanita,
      What a delight you are. Thank you for your words of encouragement, but I have to say that I'm a real slacker next to you!

      Peace.

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  9. I have to admit that I am a political junkie, although I hate most of the process. I think that today, nothing you hear is really true. I grew up in a household that the events of the day and issues were discussed at the kitchen table. It was never about "the party" but rather the people and their ideas. My parents voted for whoever they felt was the best candidate, and not the candidate that was pushed down their throats by constant media and misleading soundbites. I know that we have had good and bad people representing us from both parties, but there is so much money around that is used to influence our vote and feed us misinformation, you don't know what to do. However, I do tend to vote also with my heart, and the social issues we face are the ones that motivate me the most. In my youth and middle years I was much more extreme in my thinking, now as I have aged, I am more pragmatic, although some still might call me left from center. I just think we can be better.

    Politics is hatefull and mean-spirited and cater to the rich and those who want to be rich. There are too many of us that are left in the dust. We need moderation and working together for our system to work. Right now it is not working.

    Being stubbron and not being influenced by others is a good thing. We all have to be better informed and not listen to just one side of an issue.

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  10. Dear Arleen,
    I'm in agreement with you on so much of what you've said. Several years ago, I read an essay by President Clinton in which he said that the art of government was compromise. I agree with that. The sad story today is that the members of Congress have forgotten how to compromise. They seem to be captured by the word "No."

    Peace.

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  11. You rebel you. Like you, I am contrary. If someone tells me that I have to vote one way (teacher's union, for example), I voted opposite.
    Thinking is a lost art, I believe, for many people.

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    1. Dear Susan,
      Sometimes it does seem to me that many people today memorize sound bites without examining them.

      Peace.

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  12. I don't know as much about politics as I should. This inspires me to research.

    I'm looking forward to your next post.

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    1. Dear Elisa,
      I've come to believe that almost everything we do is political. That is, it influences the people with whom we share this world.

      Peace.

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  13. I've never heard a better reason than yours to vote for Nixon! LOL.

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  14. I appreciate the candidate debates we are privileged to hear. Many governments don't tolerate any discussion, let alone disention.

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  15. I had to take a break from my work today after reading of the pending FDA regulations that will permit our local police departments to use drones like the ones the US deploys in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. The claim is they will use them to fight crime, but I have to wonder just how much right to privacy we Americans are going to give up, once more.

    One of the drones is as small--and looks just like--a hummingbird, complete with rapidly-beating wings. It can fly inside a structure and take video of all that is going on there.

    Reading your post and this commentary gives me heart that some Americans, at least, (and some Canadians too!) are awake and paying attention to what is happening here in the US.

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  16. Admit it or not, we citizens who participate if not at least should be informed with our legislators and the current state of the nation and express freely what we want to address, after all this is a free country. Other sector of our society like Ed Butowsky freely informs the public with the current economy status.

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