I come from large loving Massachusetts Catholic families, who on the surface appear to have always been Democrats, although, given that Massachusetts finally elected a Republican governor, I am sure some of them voted Republican.
Two of my uncles almost became priests, my father was in the seminary and attending Providence College (as did I) before enlisting in the Army to "travel" to Vietnam. He followed (consciously or unconciously) the example of his father and uncles who served in WWII. My great Uncle (my maternal grandfather's brother) died in action in St. Lo, after successfully landing on Omaha beach on D-Day. My grandfather talked about him and the significance of D-Day for the next 60+ years. My closest aunt works in her church. My uncle and aunt have made a life mission housing, blessing and caring for those who have fallen through the cracks (
Champ House in Capte Cod, MA). My other aunts and uncles volunteer their time & efforts with various fundraising and charitable causes.
And, need I say, we LOOOOOVVVVVE the
Red Sox (except for a few errant souls).
We are a family of service. We find tremendous personal satisfaction in helping others.
And, we believe in hard work. We believe in gratitude and giving thanks. We believe that we - and every single person if given a chance - can make something of ourselves. On my father's side, many of the women worked in the Fall River Knitting Mill at some point (including myself - I was a sleeve turner for a few weeks one summer just before college - and I gave thanks everyday that that was not my destiny). Many in my family worked in restaurants as cooks, waitresses (including me) and managers. My father is the oldest of 11 and finished his bachelor's after interrupting it to serve our country (he was the first in his family's history to go to college). My mother is the oldest of 5 and became a Registered Nurse and followed my father around the globe for his 9 years of service. (They disagreed on the War then, and probably still do.) And, almost all of us, believe in a God. We may think of God, relate to God, and worship God differently, and in our own unique way - but we believe He is our Divine Creator.
I was a Girl Scout and think that Scouting is one of the best experiences a kid can have. I was blessed with 2 loving parents who sacrificed so much to give us so much - including a 3 month trip around the United States of America in a VW bus.
I grew up learning about oratory, and with discussions about America's greatness. In 1980 I won a speech contest for the Miss Rhode Island Teenager Pageant (my style - speeches over beauty) about "
What's Right About America" citing the 1980 Olympic defeat by the US over the Soviets as a turning point in our culture. [And today, I absolutely love the movie,
Miracle, based on that story.] I grew up with Norman Rockwell's prints on our wall and learning what "The 4 Freedoms" meant, and about the 4 US Marshalls walking with a little girl on her way to school.
I was taught (in the women's lib '70s with 2 very liberal working parents) that:
1.
I could do anything.2.
I could be anything I wanted because this is America. (and its unique greatness lay in its freedoms, including free enterprise, and that we should be honor it, by serving others, rather than apologize for, its superiority) (My Dad still gets reminded of the day, when visiting a Washington DC landmark, that he erroneously commented to me that I could someday marry a senator and have my wedding reception there. I became sullen and pouting, whereupon my Mom inquired what was wrong. I responded that I wanted to be the Senator, not the Senator's wife. My Dad quickly apologized and corrected his commentary.)
3.
Everyone is equal. (I had read "Black Like Me" by 6th grade.) (I realize that I am a minority on this issue - as I see every day in my work - because I believe that equal does not mean that women have permission to be "men-haters" nor do blacks have a right to have separate dorms; equal means equal rights and equal responsibilities and equal treatment and equal respect.)
4.
Your attitude is a choice.5.
Standing up for the underdog whose cause is just is always noble.6.
Love is the ultimate emotion.7.
God doesn't come in a 1-size-fits-all box . . . we all find our way to God on our unique path.
I am married to a wonderful man, and I have a 22-year-old step-daughter (who lives & works & goes to grad school in D.C., who does tremendous work for a great human rights organization called
FairFund who has completely opposite political opinions than I and her Dad), and a 6-year old daughter who is truly a Joy-filled Spirit. In growing together with my husband during the last 10 years of our marriage, I have learned to appreciate my big Massachusetts family more than I had before. He comes from a small Texas family, and he is always astounded at how often and how thoroughly we all come together for the holidays and for each family member's life events (not to mention the annual Clam Boils). So yes, he is a very patient man ;)
And still, the great song that resonates from my childhood is "
Here I am Lord." It's all about service and helping others.
Soooo, you may be wondering why I don't agree with some of Mike Huckabee's Republican adversaries who have begun labeling Mike a "liberal" because he is tuned into the need to help others (as if that desire is reserved for one party or the other). Well, for starters, I believe that they have taken a couple things out of context in an attempt to allege that he is not a "true" fiscal conservative. Helping others is not the question. The questions are:
HOW to help others? I believe that the fiscal conservative way of fixing the big picture, so that the system raises everyone up, and encourages free markets and rewards inginuity and productivity, is the best way (and that it is far better than the "hand-out" method under which we have all be living and failing for decades). And, this is what Mike Huckabee stands for.
WHO will lead America in a way that blesses us so that we, the People, can bless others?I believe that Mike Huckabee is that man. Keep checking back for more reasons why "I LIKE MIKE" or subscribe to this blog.
___________________________________________
Wishing Mike & his supporters All the Best,
Theresa
The Kids' Bank Book
