While Barbara Bush may have changed, a little too late, with her country, the GOP has changed exceedingly little.
posted by Tom Scharbach on
The Bush family represents a quieter time in politics, a time when moderate conservatism was the hallmark of the Republican Party, a time before the crazies took over the party and destroyed it. May Mrs. Bush rest in peace, and her husband, too, when his time comes.
posted by Jorge on
That was a very nice piece and I was glad to read it. I would like to be alone for a moment to remember my last long conversation with my late grandfather, who was born in 1920, and reflect on the sunset of my grandmother, the first person in my family I came out to, who has lived past his age.
And as such I also want to take a moment to say how vitally important it is to respect the figurehead generation by posing our problems, lives, and concerns to them. To do so as a gay person is a terrifying thing given its conservatism, and I only ever did it once. I don’t think Mrs. Bush exaggerated about the dangerousness of people–even the elderly–who have not accepted change.
The point is not just about changing minds, but changing hearts. Having confidence in the future because of the storms one was witnessed and lived through is a great and necessary thing. We can give that to other people by believing in them, by talking to others one-on-one,, and this will make the world a more stable place. What would have happened if Mrs. Bush’s mind had not been changed? She would have told someone else about the same conversation, raising questions where none were before.
While Barbara Bush may have changed, a little too late, with her country, the GOP has changed exceedingly little.
A Vice President who supported gay marriage, a social conservative theocrat who hired gay staffers (well, one at least) and attacked anti-gay executions, and an antichrist who waved the LGBT flag? I think it would be more accurate to say the Republican party rolled along with the times and brought the progress full circle. Your dissatisfaction is that they have done so successfully without either paying any sort of shame reparations for its past or doing more than the bare minimum of progressive social responsibility.
posted by Kosh III on
“the GOP has changed exceedingly little.”
The change is for the worse, see the 2016 platform which reeks of hatred for gays, with special thanks to the chief hater Pence.
6 Comments for “Barbara Bush: In Memoriam”
posted by Anthony Mallerdino on
You’ve misspelled Memoriam.
posted by JoshR on
You were right, but it’s been corrected now.
posted by Doug on
While Barbara Bush may have changed, a little too late, with her country, the GOP has changed exceedingly little.
posted by Tom Scharbach on
The Bush family represents a quieter time in politics, a time when moderate conservatism was the hallmark of the Republican Party, a time before the crazies took over the party and destroyed it. May Mrs. Bush rest in peace, and her husband, too, when his time comes.
posted by Jorge on
That was a very nice piece and I was glad to read it. I would like to be alone for a moment to remember my last long conversation with my late grandfather, who was born in 1920, and reflect on the sunset of my grandmother, the first person in my family I came out to, who has lived past his age.
And as such I also want to take a moment to say how vitally important it is to respect the figurehead generation by posing our problems, lives, and concerns to them. To do so as a gay person is a terrifying thing given its conservatism, and I only ever did it once. I don’t think Mrs. Bush exaggerated about the dangerousness of people–even the elderly–who have not accepted change.
The point is not just about changing minds, but changing hearts. Having confidence in the future because of the storms one was witnessed and lived through is a great and necessary thing. We can give that to other people by believing in them, by talking to others one-on-one,, and this will make the world a more stable place. What would have happened if Mrs. Bush’s mind had not been changed? She would have told someone else about the same conversation, raising questions where none were before.
While Barbara Bush may have changed, a little too late, with her country, the GOP has changed exceedingly little.
A Vice President who supported gay marriage, a social conservative theocrat who hired gay staffers (well, one at least) and attacked anti-gay executions, and an antichrist who waved the LGBT flag? I think it would be more accurate to say the Republican party rolled along with the times and brought the progress full circle. Your dissatisfaction is that they have done so successfully without either paying any sort of shame reparations for its past or doing more than the bare minimum of progressive social responsibility.
posted by Kosh III on
“the GOP has changed exceedingly little.”
The change is for the worse, see the 2016 platform which reeks of hatred for gays, with special thanks to the chief hater Pence.