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Stuckinthebush

(11,165 posts)
Tue May 27, 2025, 10:38 AM May 27

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.

57 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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It's my 59th birthday today - some thoughts (Original Post) Stuckinthebush May 27 OP
Happy Birthday BeerBarrelPolka May 27 #1
Thank you! Stuckinthebush May 27 #3
Happy Birthday! Aristus May 27 #2
Much appreciated! Stuckinthebush May 27 #7
Happy birthday, I know just how you feel even more probably Walleye May 27 #4
Yes you do Stuckinthebush May 27 #8
I think it's a line from a Dylan song that goes. "Here I sit so patiently. Walleye May 27 #15
Reproductive rights! ShazzieB May 27 #47
And this supreme court is trying very hard to erase the separation of church and state Walleye May 27 #49
Happy Birthday Stuckinthebush 🎂 Clouds Passing May 27 #5
Do you have any street-destroying, genital-compensating, ego-soothing, vanity parades planned for yourself? Xavier Breath May 27 #6
HA! Stuckinthebush May 27 #10
That might not be a bad idea. Xavier Breath May 27 #53
Happy Birthday and thank you for continuing the fight. Respect to you. LoisB May 27 #9
Happy Birthday! We win when we fight together. usonian May 27 #11
Thank you and such a powerful post you had there! Stuckinthebush May 27 #13
Happy Birthday and thank you! JustAnotherGen May 27 #12
Happy Birthday! SheltieLover May 27 #14
Happy Birthday kid! justaprogressive May 27 #16
Never surrender! Stuckinthebush May 27 #18
Happy Birthday Stuckinthebush! Thanks for the livetohike May 27 #17
It's amazing, isn't it? Stuckinthebush May 27 #19
Happy Birthday! Deep State Witch May 27 #20
It feels like a triathlon some days Stuckinthebush May 27 #46
Hugs Deep State Witch May 27 #52
Happy Birthday Stuckinthebush, wonderful post, and I'll keep on just alongside. c-rational May 27 #21
Happy birthday! SocialDemocrat61 May 27 #22
You don't look a day over 58 n/t aggiesal May 27 #23
Happy Birthday malaise May 27 #24
Thank you, Malaise! Stuckinthebush May 27 #55
Happy Birthday 🎂. Wishing I was 59 again. Enjoy surfered May 27 #25
Happy B'Day and never give up fighting! bif May 27 #26
Indeed you have! Stuckinthebush May 27 #45
Happy birthday Stuckinthebush JMCKUSICK May 27 #27
Hey, Happy Birthday man. Wonderful post. Not my birthday, I'm 15+ years older, live in a blue state, and I didn't KPN May 27 #28
Happy birthday! Dulcinea May 27 #29
Happy Birthday! Solly Mack May 27 #30
Happy Birthday! Passages May 27 #31
Happy Birthday to you, my friend, and thank you for your gift of fighting niyad May 27 #32
Thank you, Niyad Stuckinthebush May 27 #44
It is my privilege to do so. niyad May 27 #51
I was 59 yesterday. Oh, no, that's not right. It was 10 years ago. viva la May 27 #33
Indeed! Stuckinthebush May 27 #39
Happy Birthday Stuckinthebush! lucca18 May 27 #34
Thank you, Lucca! Stuckinthebush May 27 #40
Happy Birthday. sinkingfeeling May 27 #35
Celebrate! ZDU May 27 #36
Happy Birthday, Stuckinthebush! MIButterfly May 27 #37
I'm going to use that today! Stuckinthebush May 27 #42
Correction: MIButterfly May 27 #56
Happy Birthday! kooth May 27 #38
Happy Birthday! KT2000 May 27 #41
Aw, thanks, KT! Stuckinthebush May 27 #43
Well said, you speak for many.. Permanut May 27 #48
HA! Well that does make me feel better! Stuckinthebush May 27 #54
Best wishes on your special day! ShazzieB May 27 #50
Happy Birthday LetMyPeopleVote May 27 #57

Walleye

(41,538 posts)
4. Happy birthday, I know just how you feel even more probably
Tue May 27, 2025, 10:46 AM
May 27

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.

Stuckinthebush

(11,165 posts)
8. Yes you do
Tue May 27, 2025, 10:57 AM
May 27

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)
15. I think it's a line from a Dylan song that goes. "Here I sit so patiently.
Tue May 27, 2025, 11:08 AM
May 27

Waiting to find out what price, you have to pay to get out of going through all these things twice“ absolutely we can’t get tired and quit because the other side seems to never get tired of it

ShazzieB

(21,206 posts)
47. Reproductive rights!
Tue May 27, 2025, 02:07 PM
May 27

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.

Xavier Breath

(5,897 posts)
6. Do you have any street-destroying, genital-compensating, ego-soothing, vanity parades planned for yourself?
Tue May 27, 2025, 10:55 AM
May 27

Didn't think so.

Happy birthday.

Stuckinthebush

(11,165 posts)
10. HA!
Tue May 27, 2025, 11:00 AM
May 27

I asked my hometown in Alabama to pull out the tanks for me but they politely declined. Go figure!

usonian

(19,356 posts)
11. Happy Birthday! We win when we fight together.
Tue May 27, 2025, 11:00 AM
May 27

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)
13. Thank you and such a powerful post you had there!
Tue May 27, 2025, 11:03 AM
May 27

It is important to remember all of those who did fight in the darkest hours.

livetohike

(23,558 posts)
17. Happy Birthday Stuckinthebush! Thanks for the
Tue May 27, 2025, 11:37 AM
May 27

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.

Deep State Witch

(12,042 posts)
20. Happy Birthday!
Tue May 27, 2025, 11:46 AM
May 27

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.

bif

(25,991 posts)
26. Happy B'Day and never give up fighting!
Tue May 27, 2025, 12:29 PM
May 27

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)
45. Indeed you have!
Tue May 27, 2025, 01:43 PM
May 27

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)
27. Happy birthday Stuckinthebush
Tue May 27, 2025, 12:29 PM
May 27

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)
28. Hey, Happy Birthday man. Wonderful post. Not my birthday, I'm 15+ years older, live in a blue state, and I didn't
Tue May 27, 2025, 12:30 PM
May 27

stumble upon DU until 2012 or thereabouts. But your story is roughly mine -- so it was really rewarding reading it. Thanks for sharing.

niyad

(125,554 posts)
32. Happy Birthday to you, my friend, and thank you for your gift of fighting
Tue May 27, 2025, 12:49 PM
May 27

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!

viva la

(4,200 posts)
33. I was 59 yesterday. Oh, no, that's not right. It was 10 years ago.
Tue May 27, 2025, 12:51 PM
May 27

Time passes so quickly, the less time we have!

lucca18

(1,413 posts)
34. Happy Birthday Stuckinthebush!
Tue May 27, 2025, 12:54 PM
May 27

Have a good day and enjoy your birthday!

Thank you for sharing, as I feel the same way!
🍰

MIButterfly

(901 posts)
37. Happy Birthday, Stuckinthebush!
Tue May 27, 2025, 01:13 PM
May 27

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. 😀 🎂 🥂 🎵 ❤️

MIButterfly

(901 posts)
56. Correction:
Tue May 27, 2025, 07:19 PM
May 27

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!

Permanut

(7,380 posts)
48. Well said, you speak for many..
Tue May 27, 2025, 02:08 PM
May 27

And just incidentally, I have socks older than you, you're just a kid.

Happy birthday.

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