Being Raised By A Democrat
In this year of many new voters in the Democratic Primary season, and many more that have finally started to vote again due to any number of different reasons, I have not been able to shake this voice that keeps coming to me in my head at times that aren't always well suited for me to be hearing voices.
But this is the voice of Robert Doyle Meador.....my Daddy. He went on ahead in 1989, and I have missed him so much. Especially when I am trying to repair my car (which I never learned well because I didn't pay attention during those lessons in life)...and when I am trying to do home repairs (ditto)...and many other times.
But no more than when I am dealing with or thinking about....politics. Daddy was a World War II veteran, who won a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart taking out a German machine gun nest while being shot up so badly that his partner was killed and the Germans must have thought that he was. Much blood, similar to what I see when I cut myself shaving, was left soaking into the sun drenched French soil in the hedgerow country just outside of St.Lo, France.
That experience, which was followed by 3 months in an Army hospital, molded the political views of the man to whom I DID pay attention to when talking politics. In his entire lifetime, he voted for ONE Republican for ONE office....Dwight D. Eisenhower for president in 1952, and out of loyalty after serving under him in Europe. (He said he vowed after only about 2 years of Ike, that he would NEVER vote for anything but a Democrat for the rest of his life....a vow he held to).
In 1960, he found his third child...all of 5 years old...to be very interested in the party conventions that year, and the goings on within them. He allowed me to sit on his lap, and share with him HIS first live view of a political convention. And since there was a definite LACK of interest from Mama and my older siblings, I was able to enjoy his complete attention and wisdom on the subject.
Every election year, from that point on, Daddy and I watched whatever live coverage was available of both the Democratic and Republican conventions...and we did so with extremely intense vigor. He was, and I believe still is, very proud of my party activism and my letters to the editors of both local and major market newspapers.
In 1976, he told me he was completely amazed by my knowledge on the small and early campaign of a little-known peanut farmer, who was the Governor of the State of Georgia. He quickly became a believer in my cause and my candidate, and got even more politically active along side his bouncing baby boy of 21, who was stumping locally and nearby areas for the eventual Democratic nominee, and President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.
Daddy always believed that ONLY the Democratic Party represented the needs of the average American. Those of moderate to scarce means of supporting themselves. He taught me to believe, that although smaller government has some positive qualities, government could and SHOULD be the protector of all....ALL Americans. Not just the chosen few, but ALL Americans. And that it should be one of the main sources of relief for Americans who work hard, obey the rules and STILL can't get over that hump of an obstacle that seems to always be in their path. That if you take care of the least of us, it benefits ALL of us....including the rich and powerful. He always admired the accomplishments of the young governor of our neighbor to the northeast, Arkansas...in later years. And although I know he would have been extremely disappointed with the stupid goings on of the next Democratic president, that he didn't get the opportunity to cast a vote for.....he would have been, like the son he raised, a huge fan of President Bill Clinton and would have been as excited, as well, about the candidacy of the former First Lady. But disappointed in the outcome of the primaries? Probably. Enough to vote Republican or not vote at all? Neither would have been an option that even entered his mind.
He was a big believer that if you didn't like where your party was heading.....work like the devil to CHANGE IT FROM THE INSIDE!!
If I should miss voting.....at almost ANY level, but definitely in a presidential year.....he, I believe, would be rolling over in his grave.
Most people think that their Daddy is one of the greatest men ever put on this Earth. Count me as one of those and with two thumbs up!
But Daddy was 36 when I was born. So we didn't get to pass the football alot, or play catch with the baseball (I had an older brother for that), and as I said, didn't pay much attention when he was working on the car or the house. But where some fathers and sons share hobbies like hunting, guns, cars, etc......Daddy and I shared politics and a love of the process AND the country that our participation, as we see it, is required!
So, although some of the new voters that came aboard during the last 7 months or so may be more supporters of a particular candidate......I believe that our system of democratic participation can ONLY work within the party system. And that without those of us, on all sides, that stick with our respective parties no matter whom we end up nominating, the party system would collapse. And whatever came along to take its place, would never be as inclusive and encompassing as what we were graciously given by Our Founding Fathers.
So, as for me, the party whose legacy includes Thomas Jefferson and Robert Doyle Meador, will be a big part of the legacy that I leave my children and grandchildren.
And that voice in my head continues...........
A proud, albeit NEW supporter of Barack Obama 2008!!
But this is the voice of Robert Doyle Meador.....my Daddy. He went on ahead in 1989, and I have missed him so much. Especially when I am trying to repair my car (which I never learned well because I didn't pay attention during those lessons in life)...and when I am trying to do home repairs (ditto)...and many other times.
But no more than when I am dealing with or thinking about....politics. Daddy was a World War II veteran, who won a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart taking out a German machine gun nest while being shot up so badly that his partner was killed and the Germans must have thought that he was. Much blood, similar to what I see when I cut myself shaving, was left soaking into the sun drenched French soil in the hedgerow country just outside of St.Lo, France.
That experience, which was followed by 3 months in an Army hospital, molded the political views of the man to whom I DID pay attention to when talking politics. In his entire lifetime, he voted for ONE Republican for ONE office....Dwight D. Eisenhower for president in 1952, and out of loyalty after serving under him in Europe. (He said he vowed after only about 2 years of Ike, that he would NEVER vote for anything but a Democrat for the rest of his life....a vow he held to).
In 1960, he found his third child...all of 5 years old...to be very interested in the party conventions that year, and the goings on within them. He allowed me to sit on his lap, and share with him HIS first live view of a political convention. And since there was a definite LACK of interest from Mama and my older siblings, I was able to enjoy his complete attention and wisdom on the subject.
Every election year, from that point on, Daddy and I watched whatever live coverage was available of both the Democratic and Republican conventions...and we did so with extremely intense vigor. He was, and I believe still is, very proud of my party activism and my letters to the editors of both local and major market newspapers.
In 1976, he told me he was completely amazed by my knowledge on the small and early campaign of a little-known peanut farmer, who was the Governor of the State of Georgia. He quickly became a believer in my cause and my candidate, and got even more politically active along side his bouncing baby boy of 21, who was stumping locally and nearby areas for the eventual Democratic nominee, and President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.
Daddy always believed that ONLY the Democratic Party represented the needs of the average American. Those of moderate to scarce means of supporting themselves. He taught me to believe, that although smaller government has some positive qualities, government could and SHOULD be the protector of all....ALL Americans. Not just the chosen few, but ALL Americans. And that it should be one of the main sources of relief for Americans who work hard, obey the rules and STILL can't get over that hump of an obstacle that seems to always be in their path. That if you take care of the least of us, it benefits ALL of us....including the rich and powerful. He always admired the accomplishments of the young governor of our neighbor to the northeast, Arkansas...in later years. And although I know he would have been extremely disappointed with the stupid goings on of the next Democratic president, that he didn't get the opportunity to cast a vote for.....he would have been, like the son he raised, a huge fan of President Bill Clinton and would have been as excited, as well, about the candidacy of the former First Lady. But disappointed in the outcome of the primaries? Probably. Enough to vote Republican or not vote at all? Neither would have been an option that even entered his mind.
He was a big believer that if you didn't like where your party was heading.....work like the devil to CHANGE IT FROM THE INSIDE!!
If I should miss voting.....at almost ANY level, but definitely in a presidential year.....he, I believe, would be rolling over in his grave.
Most people think that their Daddy is one of the greatest men ever put on this Earth. Count me as one of those and with two thumbs up!
But Daddy was 36 when I was born. So we didn't get to pass the football alot, or play catch with the baseball (I had an older brother for that), and as I said, didn't pay much attention when he was working on the car or the house. But where some fathers and sons share hobbies like hunting, guns, cars, etc......Daddy and I shared politics and a love of the process AND the country that our participation, as we see it, is required!
So, although some of the new voters that came aboard during the last 7 months or so may be more supporters of a particular candidate......I believe that our system of democratic participation can ONLY work within the party system. And that without those of us, on all sides, that stick with our respective parties no matter whom we end up nominating, the party system would collapse. And whatever came along to take its place, would never be as inclusive and encompassing as what we were graciously given by Our Founding Fathers.
So, as for me, the party whose legacy includes Thomas Jefferson and Robert Doyle Meador, will be a big part of the legacy that I leave my children and grandchildren.
And that voice in my head continues...........
A proud, albeit NEW supporter of Barack Obama 2008!!
This year, she was a Dennis Kucinich supporter and fan. She still feels he would have been the "Best Democrat in two generations" to run for POTUS, but she has warmly and enthusiastically accepted Barack Obama as nominee. Today, in a telephone conversation, she went on and on about Michelle Obama's intellect and great taste in clothes. She is Jackie Kennedy and Dolly Madison rolled into one, according to my mother!
I too am a Jimmy Carter Democrat. I went door-to-door for him in Illinois in 1976. My first campaign work. Thanks for the post, Cato.
Yesterday, Jacob's post was the first one I read...today it was yours. Man, I've got one smart guardian angel on my shoulder. Have a great weekend!
Peace.