Sunday, April 23, 2006

You Wanna Piece of Me?

Michael Hussey (rhymes with…) over at Pushing Rope (rhymes with…) dropped my name at Blurbex. Mikey charged that progressive bloggers LIKE ME link to other liberal sites, connect with only like-minded opinions, piggy-back on other bandwagons and therefore blah blah blah. In other words, Homeboy called me a lazy, narrow-minded b*tch.

This is so on.

Progressives are aware of opposite points of view. Personally, I am surrounded by them. Ask any liberal Jew living in Pasco County and…oh wait…you can’t because I AM THE ONLY ONE. Okay. There’s this other dude, but he’s up near New Port Richey. And in hiding.

I don't have to turn to the Internet to solicit a viewpoint that challenges my own. I just have to walk out my front door. Yet walk out I continue to do. Despite archaic political stances, there's a lot to like about right-wingers. For example they always have plenty of beer.

Case in point: Last night I went to a birthday party for neighbor and friend Kevin the Hunter. I even wore a piece of camouflage (as every guest was required) without complaining.

SIDE NOTE: The camo so did not go with my shoes.

Did I mention Kevin has the head of a deer in his house? Of course it sits near a football autographed by Jim Kelly. So I focus on the ball and think happy thoughts. Story of my life. My point is this: Kevin and I. Friends. Even though he kills Bambi and I act morally superior. Because a good supply of beer counts for plenty. What does Kevin get in return? Not sure. Perhaps I have a hell of a rack.

My exposure to the other side doesn’t stop there. I turn on the radio and Rush Limbaugh hits me square in the puss. Then Glenn Beck. Then Dr. Laura. I grab The Tampa Tribune or The St. Petersburg Times and read more conservative slants than anything else. At work, more of the same. Here’s a shocker: teachers aren't progressive. Not by a long shot. The majority of my co-workers fall into one of the following categories:

- Religious fundies convinced I’m going to hell
- Subservient types who “vote right alongside the husband” or “the Lord”
- Dopes who don’t pay attention to politics but can discuss Desperate Housewives in detail

Yes. Those are my choices for lunchtime conversation. Either that or students regurgitating parents regurgitating Fox News.

After work I've got my dad and other family members who still pray I will “come around.” Dinnertime with them twice a week means I am well-versed in the ways of the righteous.

Let’s recap shall we? Between neighbors, co-workers, and relatives, I get plenty of real-life testimony extolling the virtues of the Republican Party. Turn on radio or television – with the exception of Jon Stewart – and there's even more conservative bullsh*t. My only access to similar points of view would be the Internet and hell, half my surfing time is spent dodging sharks like Mr. C.

So please don’t tell me because I link to Bitch Lab, I’m only exposed to one point of view. And if I reference a national site that backs up my claim or opinion, so sue me. I'm a lib in Welsey Chapel. Sometimes misery loves company.

6 Comments:

At 4/23/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everybody knows Kate gets around. ;-)

 
At 4/24/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You gotta be kidding me!
You?! Of all the "lefty" bloggers out there he picks you?

Granted, there are factions on both of the extreme ends of the poli-blog spectrum that never leave their own sphere. But that ain't you sista.

In fact, I remember reading something on this here blog that surprised me in its non-leftie-ness.

 
At 4/24/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! Which category do I fall into Moonbeam? I have never even seen an episode of that show, couldn't even tell you what network shows that trash. You might need a new category..."sport loving, beer drinking fools who love to ooogle women and talk trash to liberals like yourself."

 
At 4/24/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sunshine - you are in a category all your own. :-)

You guys sure do know how to make a girl feel good. I wonder what subject surprised you? Was it the one about my naked handyman?

 
At 4/24/2006, Blogger M A F said...

Kate, Mikey's charge "that progressive bloggers LIKE ME link to other liberal sites, connect with only like-minded opinions, piggy-back on other bandwagons and therefore blah blah blah" obviously has a blindspot for the non progressives and their lists of like-minded sycophants for Bush blogrolls.

 
At 4/25/2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I dig Mike and Kate.
Words, context, words, context.
How does this stuff get so out of hand.
t

 

Post a Comment

<< Home