It's my 59th birthday today - some thoughts
I was reflecting this morning while watching the news. I'm 59 today and have been here on DU every damn day since almost the beginning. I don't post as much as I used to but I'm here. My user name is a throwback to 2000 when Jesse Jackson implored us to "stay out of the bushes". Our Supreme Court helped to keep us stuck in the bushes and I think as a democracy we have been declining ever since. We had the bright years of Obama and Biden, but the country seems to be crumbling.
I'm tired. I'm worn out fighting on a personal, local, and national level. I started fighting in my 20s. That seems so long ago now.
As a straight, melanin challenged, male I never had a problem seeing how our society and policies enacted by our society privileged me. I never had a problem pointing it out and naming it. I never had a problem fighting against it.
I'm amazed that we are now talking about how we can win back young males because we are too "woke". I shake my head and sigh.
I'm tired.
But it's a privilege to be tired and quit so I won't. I'll just keep trying. There are too many people who are currently being hurt and many who will be hurt by us turning our backs on progress made from critical thinking. That's unacceptable.
So....I'll keep fighting, keep trudging ahead. The battles seem to never be over. I'll keep coming every damn day and will keep making comments here and there. But more importantly I'll pledge to continue fighting in my really red state even when I'm tired and even when all hope seems lost.
Thanks for being my community for the past 24 years, DU.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Imagine being a girl in the 50s and 60s and finally seen reproductive rights happen. And then snatched away. thanks for being here and your contributions. Don’t let exhaustion keep you down. It’s kind of the situation. I’m in right now.
Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean. I was in college when the Roe decision was announced in early 1973. I didn't follow the news at all in those days, so I didn't even know that case had been argued before SCOTUS, and the news was like a bolt out of the blue. At the time, I thought, "Hooray, what a victory, so glad that's settled!" (Yeah, I was naive in those days, what can I say? 
)
Living through the succeeding decades, I watched reproductive rights get whittled away a sliver at a time in one state after another but (even after I started following the news more closely) it took me a long time to realize that Roe could ever disappear altogether . By the time it happened, I had come to realize how fragile the situation was, but even then, I was in shock when Roe was struck down. On one level, I knew that was something that could happen, but a part of me refused to believe it ever really would. Until it DID.
59 
Keep on keeping on 
Alabama could change their battle cry to Roll Tanks! 
I'm 76 and still fighting for justice more than ever.
I take heart from those who fought when the times were bleak.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219813493
Indeed!
inspirational post. I’ll be 73 in July….and I can’t believe we still have to fight for basically everything! I’m tired, but not dead so I’ll keep trying to change minds. 
Keep fighting the good fight. It's needed now more than ever.
Happy Birthday! The world needs more people like you. Thank you!
