My Heart breaks for our country and state, how have we gotten so divided? Just last Saturday I was around town and saw firefighters and others standing out in the rain on street corners holding signs that ask our representative’s to oppose SB5. I felt for them because I know how much passion one must have to take time away from your family and to stand out in the rain and snow, getting the one finger salute, to try to get your message out.
The street corner protests were a stark contrast to the video of intimidation and anger that is being displayed in Columbus and Madison, WI. The unions there are acting like thugs and revolutionary’s they have even likened Madison to Cairo, Referencing the recent overthrow of the government in Egypt. I asked myself why is there such disconnect between what I saw on the street corner and what is happening in the capitals of Ohio and Wisconsin? The difference was night and day.
“Despite what some among us would like to believe, it is not because of our creative ideas; it is not because of the merit of our positions; it is not because we care about children; and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child.
The NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them"[i]
Look at the protests in Madison; they are attracting the likes of Michael Moore, International Socialist Organization (ISO) and comparisons to Cairo, Egypt. Why would Michael Moore a noted Socialist and anti-capitalist as well as the (ISO) be joining the union protests? Surely those Firemen on the corner do not believe that we need to end capitalism and transform into Socialism as Moore and the ISO want. Surely the average teacher does not believe as Moore does when he talks about “the rich’s” money
“That's not theirs, that's a national resource, that's ours. We all have this -- we all benefit from this or we all suffer as a result of not having it,"[ii]
Have the union Bosses become enamored with socialism? Or are the socialist organizations just joining a fight that they believe will lead to socialism? Either way, average Joe firefighter, average Jane teacher are these values you want your union promoting? Is this what you believe in: Socialism, intimidation and anger? If not why are you allowing these folks to define your struggle?
It is a tale of two unions as I see it, the Union Bosses trying to hold onto power, their money to influence elections and aspiring socialist VS the average firefighter, policeman, teacher and public worker, which wins out I do not know. Either way my heart breaks for those folks on the street corner in the rain, because I have been there. Both of us believe in something enough to step out of our comfort zone, we both care passionately about the direction our country is heading and I have faith that we can get together and figure out a solution, but I have no sympathy for the Union Bosses that foster anger and intimidation or the socialist that seem to be involved in the protests.
My question to the rank and file is which one are you the street corner protester or the angry, intimidating, socialist?
If you are the passion peaceful street corner protester, then let me give you a quote from President Lincoln that sums up were we are,
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”[iii]
“you’re breaking my heart! You’re going down a path I cannot follow!”[iv]
I like the Lincoln quote. I did dialog a couple of the PP protesters today. Two gals asked if I am for aborting babies if they are gay !? I said no, they are precious too. I should have asked how they stood on that issue.
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