It's my 59th birthday today - some thoughts

[Stuckinthebush]

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.