Green Granny’s Recent Comments

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  How many hundred years did it take for our country to substantively address civil rights issues?  And when outrage over the institutionalized abuses of African Americans finally boiled into marches, demonstrations, sit-ins, and moving speeches from charismatic champions of the cause, the majority of citizens still did nothing.  They sat on their couches and watched Walter Cronkite calmly describe the latest news-worthy development and then mouthed platitudes to each other.  It was a small (mostly young) minority who did something/anything.  The subject might come up, with some controversy, at my mother's bridge club for a few minutes before they resumed gossiping about neighbors and bragging about children.  It didn't truly move them or change them any more than Sunday school did (probably less).  Had a poll been taken, the majority would say "yes, of course we should extend civil rights protections to all, including African Americans"  And when we finally did pass legislation and enforce civil rights laws, and neighborhoods and schools started becoming desegregated, the white "middle class" majority were quick to move away.

  Apathy is the American way (but not unique to us).  So long as the majority are untouched (or think they're untouched) by the consequences of ruining the environment or healthcare or war or recession or. . . they will barely move.  As long as the majority enjoy a "middle class" existence and their pavlovian needs are well met, poverty and injustice and suffering are someone else's problem.  Sure, they "care", but its not their fault that others don't have the wherewithall to pull themselves up.  Perhaps it will take the further decline of the middle class to get people to act.  When its you that suffers its different.

  We must bring the issue of climate change "home".  We must demostrate how it adversley affects all, not in some unmeasurable "future", but in the now.   We are more likely to suffer casualties and massive property damage from a monster hurricain fueled by warming waters than we are to suffer another World Trade Center style terrorist attack.  We must make it clear that those who put profits (plunder) ahead of effective climate action are worse than terrorists who hold a few hostages or set off a few bombs.  We are all being held hostage.  And inaction is no longer an option.

   

   

   

  On Netroots Nation frustration and the impediments to progressive change posted 3 months ago 13 Responses

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  Well done, Jon.  You've successfully shown how all the main issues are tied together.  Environment, healthcare, poverty, energy are all human rights issues. 

  For too many years those who suffer the worst from the abuses of others have been hidden or, worse, condemned as somehow morally or otherwise inferior and thus deserving of what they get.  Far too many people (and former presidents) believe that economic prosperity is a sign of religious superiority.  They believe they are absolved from any responsibility for the environmental and economic injustices that cause so much suffering.  They believe that profit trumps everything except their own interests. 

  I'm disgusted and angry.

  On We are all from Wise County posted 3 months ago 2 Responses

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  A few days ago, someone at Common Dreams suggested a bumper stick that says "Don't blame me, I voted for Change."

  I'm tempted to get post cards printed with that sentiment -- and mail them to Obama and his administration with a brief explanation every time they do these things.

  On Monsanto's man Taylor returns to FDA in food-czar role posted 4 months ago 14 Responses

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  The poems are heart wrenching. When will we take our country back?  When will we learn that the environment and human health are more important than corporate wealth? 

  On Historic Senate hearings on Clean Water Protection Act today posted 4 months, 4 weeks ago 1 Response

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  So much for "change" or transparency.

  On White House refuses to disclose information on meetings with coal executives posted 5 months ago 10 Responses