Who Am I?

I was a Republican my entire life – until the Bush years. I’d been a member of the Young Republicans, College Republicans etc. I’d even worked on Reagan’s National Campaign, and Transition teams; but somewhere along the line – George W. Bush and Dick Cheney – the Republican Party changed from what I’d grown up in, and I suppose I’d changed as well; in a very real sense, grown up. This blog is an extension of who I am, politically speaking. Politically, as Ronald Reagan described himself, I’m an FDR Democrat.

I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Mormon – and I’m sure some will say how can I be a Mormon and a Democrat? To that question I answer, as did the Majority Leader of the United States Senate Harry Reid, “I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it.”

I’ve spent 21 years as a member of the United States Army, both as an enlisted soldier and as an officer, having served in the Active Army, the Army Reserves and the National Guard. I’ve served in diverse places and in diverse positions; I’ve served with some idiots, but mostly it’s been my great pleasure – and blessing – to serve with some of the best men and women I know; I’m thankful for both the experience and the opportunity to serve my beloved country.

I’ve worked as both a broadcast and print journalist, and I’ve spent 10 years as a high school teacher teaching U.S. History, World History, Government, Economics, Journalism, Health, American Literature, British Literature and World Literature. I’ve fought many battles against administrators – and fellow teachers -  who were clueless and who didn’t seem to care much about educating the students. I’ve coached both football and girl’s softball and once filed a suit – and won – against a school district which thought Title IX was more of a guideline than a law (they were found to have violated the law on some 24 counts). I also once filed – and won – a USERA complaint against a rather obtuse high school principal who fired me because of my service in the Army – the US Department of Labor found the individual had not just violated, but “willfully” violated USERA. I am a peaceful person, but I will stand up and fight for things I believe in, or against bullies. A dear friend once compared me to Don Quixote with a little Ulysses thrown in. I always liked that description.

I’m a card carrying member of the ACLU, NAACP and the American Legion; I’ve stood for civil rights on many occasions; to me discrimination is wrong – period. There is nothing more to say; it’s wrong.

I know there are thousands of blogs dealing with American politics, but this is my space where I can comment on what I’m seeing and what I’m thinking. Hope those who find themselves here will enjoy what they read, and maybe look at things from a different angle.