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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt'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.

BeerBarrelPolka
(1,839 posts)Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)Aristus
(70,481 posts)
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)Walleye
(41,538 posts)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. Dont let exhaustion keep you down. Its kind of the situation. Im in right now.
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)Even more so. I have three daughters - all mid to late 20s now. They were not all born when I started here, actually! As seen on protest posters "I can't believe we still have to fight for this."
Let's stay in the game, Walleye! Quitting is not an option!
Walleye
(41,538 posts)Waiting to find out what price, you have to pay to get out of going through all these things twice absolutely we cant get tired and quit because the other side seems to never get tired of it
ShazzieB
(21,206 posts)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.
Walleye
(41,538 posts)Clouds Passing
(5,423 posts)59
Keep on keeping on
Xavier Breath
(5,897 posts)Didn't think so.
Happy birthday.
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)I asked my hometown in Alabama to pull out the tanks for me but they politely declined. Go figure!
Xavier Breath
(5,897 posts)Alabama could change their battle cry to Roll Tanks!
LoisB
(11,176 posts)usonian
(19,356 posts)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
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)It is important to remember all of those who did fight in the darkest hours.
JustAnotherGen
(35,925 posts)Rahm Emmanuel be damned with his "woke" revival. That's so 2020.
SheltieLover
(72,131 posts)

justaprogressive
(4,794 posts)Excelsior! Never Surrender!
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)Indeed!
livetohike
(23,558 posts)inspirational post. Ill be 73 in July
.and I cant believe we still have to fight for basically everything! Im tired, but not dead so Ill keep trying to change minds.
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)Still having to fight. But let's keep at at!
Deep State Witch
(12,042 posts)And, don't be afraid to take care of yourself. I get it. I'm 60 1/2 today. We Jonesers have been protesting this shit since college, or maybe even before. If you're tired, step back and recharge your batteries. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)But yes, we keep on fighting!
Deep State Witch
(12,042 posts)
c-rational
(3,079 posts)SocialDemocrat61
(5,276 posts)🥳🎂🎊🎉
aggiesal
(10,202 posts)malaise
(287,133 posts)
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)Keep up the fight!
surfered
(8,169 posts)bif
(25,991 posts)I've been here since the beginning as well. I get burnt out from time to time. But we simply can't give up. Stay strong!
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)The old names ring in my ears! I remember when we had a picture directory of all of us old farts. Those were many days ago!
JMCKUSICK
(3,276 posts)I'll be 59 in November and it really is stunning to see where we are compared to 25, much less 50 years ago.
May the next several years bring you the just rewards of battles won!
KPN
(16,798 posts)stumble upon DU until 2012 or thereabouts. But your story is roughly mine -- so it was really rewarding reading it. Thanks for sharing.
Dulcinea
(8,791 posts)Keep fighting the good fight. It's needed now more than ever.
Solly Mack
(95,366 posts)Passages
(3,383 posts)
niyad
(125,554 posts)for all of us for all these years. Please take time to take care of yourself, and to celebrate this day.
I raise my glass to you!
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)and thank you for the years of fighting together!
niyad
(125,554 posts)viva la
(4,200 posts)Time passes so quickly, the less time we have!
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)My brain still says I'm 25!
lucca18
(1,413 posts)Have a good day and enjoy your birthday!
Thank you for sharing, as I feel the same way!
🍰
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)This community has kept me sane for 24 years!
sinkingfeeling
(55,997 posts)ZDU
(613 posts)Happy Birthday! The world needs more people like you. Thank you!
MIButterfly
(901 posts)Doesn't it seem like only yesterday you were 58?
I used to say that to my mother on every one of my birthdays ("doesn't it seem like only yesterday I was 60?" on the day I turned 61, etc.) and she would laugh every time. Anyway, have a great day and keep up the good fight. I really admire your attitude. 😀 🎂 🥂 🎵 ❤️
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)Good one! Let's keep fighting together
MIButterfly
(901 posts)I would say "seems like only yesterday I was 60" when I turned 61, not "doesn't it seem like only yesterday I was 60?" Even proofreading three times I managed to screw up own my quote. Yikes!
kooth
(233 posts)Well-said! I hope you have a great day! I stand with you!
KT2000
(21,629 posts)and I love you post! We have to fight however we can.
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)We do have to fight any way we can. Together though!
Permanut
(7,380 posts)And just incidentally, I have socks older than you, you're just a kid.
Happy birthday.
Stuckinthebush
(11,165 posts)
ShazzieB
(21,206 posts)