How I Know I’m Not Crazy
On any given day, a sense of despair can come over me. Be it the apathy of the masses or the stubborn righteousness of many, it’s easy let the world push you back in total frustration.
It seems today, that activists are almost oddballs. Why fight? Why bother?
But for me it’s easy because my grandfather and namesake was greater than I will ever be.
This article published today in the Clarion Ledger (Mississippi), “South needs another Clifford J. Durr†reminds me to never stop. I don’t know what else to do.
Today, fear has again become a popular theme of politicians. We are supposed to be afraid of al-Qaida, or the Iraqis, the “Axis of Evil,” or the bird flu, or whatever new fear our government wants to use to distract us from other things that have gone very wrong. Today, just as much as in the 1950s, we need leaders who are not afraid to tell us the truth and act accordingly. We need a new Rosa Parks, and when she speaks out, we will need a new Cliff Durr to defend her. - Luther Munford
While the TLKs of the world straddle the middle, others take a stand. I prefer the Jack Gray’s of the world. At least we know where they stand.
Clifford Judkins Durr
April 24th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Well Cliff, that pretty much explains you now doesn’t it?
April 24th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
I am glad you think you know who I am and whether I or not I take a stand. I can assure you I more battle scars and more worn out shoes than most people combined on this site. Hense my confidents in raising 10k for Nephi or Vermont Beer Drinker to run for congress on the anti bush, anit war ticket.
Give it up Cliff, when confronted withsomeone who doesn’t agree with liberal thinking, it cause conflict in you logic. “How could someone be capable, smart and not agree with me.” The attitude is getting old, I really hoped this website expanded past more than just Anit-Republican DNC propaganda, guess it’s time I admit that isn’t the case.
All I have seen here is people that stumps, DNC lyrics, and compliments themselves for thinking they stuck it to me, and by sticking it to me you stick it to all right leaning/thinking people.
Take a stand? Let’s see you guys out there in the community, bringing it together, making serious changes, instead of this divide. Pointing fingers and saying ’see republicans are the reason why americans are unhappy, why there are poor people and why there is crime”. The fear of god approach doesn’t work, just like it doesn’t work for the far right.
I can assure you the problems in the middle east stem much farther back than the Bush Administration. Remember we helped many Middle East Countries defeat communist. We proided aid, we provide food, which Saddam used to fund his Bio-weapon development, see the ISG report.
Maybe it is time to really look at the situation and instead of blaming someone else for the problems really make a difference. If you don’t like Bush, run for congress or support a candidate that will call for the removal of Troops, and the impeachment of Bush. Instead of sitting here in the cheapseats, lets see some action. I worked hard in2004 against the DNC in CA, OR and WA, and I am proud of mytime spent, and would do it over in a heart beat.
Now that I am in Utah, I have already begin to help people that don’t think left of right, but the future, and how to deal with problems realistically.
Like I said my offer is geniune, file and run for Congress under the anit-bush/war platform and I will raise you the money. Because I would love to see reality set in, and at that price, it’s a bargin.
*Again I would like to remind someone of you, this isn’t anger, defensive or whatever else. This is calling you on your B.S.
April 25th, 2006 at 12:54 am
TKL - I’ve been read your garbage for too long. You need to be right more than you need to know the truth.
Your writing and spelling (excluding typos such as “my confidents” reflect your inability to learn.
I suggest you you write less and read more.
TLK- A big league player who claims “I more [sic] battle scars and more worn out shoes than most people combined on this site.” hardly inures the vaulted position of sage.
It doesn’t really matter where you did you mission, because doing it from the perspective of a stubborn high-minded missionary yields only enough chutzpah to put your foot in your mouth.
At least Cliff has laid his cards on the table. You hide behind your anonymity. Take stand, or go away. But don’t waste you breath if you can’t be a man.
Be tough. How about a rank, name, and serial number? Or are you a hider?
April 25th, 2006 at 1:06 am
TLK - I only suggested you and many don’t take a stand. Moments come and moment go in life when one is defined by thier ability to take a stand. Now would be one of those times.
Your choice. It’s not that complicated unless you are still stuck in a tribal allegiance of some kind.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:35 am
Cliff,
If you remember back to when I first started posting, I posted on where I stood with issues. I remember you scoffing at the term, Moderate middle, and my use of “Fiscal Conservative, Socially Liberalâ€. Scoff all you want, that is exactly where I stand, as well as, there are plenty more like me out there. I posted plenty of positions in the beginning, you, Nephi and a few others automatically assumed I was the extreme right, Bush loving asshole. Well there was no basis for that, but it’s okay though, that is the typical response from a Democrat. The DNC believes the people are there for the party, and they are wrong, the party is supposed to be there for the people. You find way to much arrogance with a controlling section of the DNC. It goes back to Keynes really, he believed that people didn’t know any better; Government had to tell you what to do for your own good. “Means to Prosperity†is an excellent example of that attitude. It was published, I believe in 1933, so any University Library will have it. A large number of Americans are stuck in between the two parties, socially they are forward thinking, fiscally, they believe that Government should have its limitations.
For example, though Rove thinks it was the Evangelical vote that pulled the 2004 election, there was something far greater at play. There are more people everyday finding they are stuck between the Republican Party, and the Democrat Party. Though fiscally conservative, socially liberal places you square in the Libertarian Party, this is a two party system, most people who only vote in Presidential elections are not going to know or understand the Libertarian Party. Kind of like general public misconception of Beta and VHS they opted for what they thought was easiest and they understood. The Libertarian Party has many of the short comings a 3rd party would typically have, and since I choose to be involved, I am left with deciding with Democrat or Republican.
Census data shows that people from their late 20s to their early 40s are picking up and moving away from big cities and the Western Coastal states. They are picking places like Reno, Phoenix, Boise (not sure why yet) and Salt Lake City to name a few. The reason being discovered is not that surprising. They are new families, people who are looking for lower property values, taxes and better education opportunities. They are looking for states without these budget problems like we are seeing in all three coastal states. These are people that believe that government shouldn’t have a big involvement in your personal life, as well as, they shouldn’t be over taxing your property and income. These people are buying their first homes, have small children in school, becoming apart of the PTA, these people are getting a real look at how things affect them at the local level. For my experience with many people in this situation, their response is “holy crapâ€; usually I hear “I am liberal, but not that liberalâ€.
So how does this affect Utah? Well, many people like me are going to move here, and with them bring their moderate values and political ideology. The more that do move here the large the increase will be between the non-Mormons and the Mormons. Which, if the “church†embraces the new people instead of treat them like the enemy, word will get out that Utah is not only beautiful, but on the verge of prosperity and unbelievable growth. However, going to the extreme left will not play, that has been a big cause to the issues that have driven these people away from California, Oregon and Washington.
Schwarzenegger was on to something when he suggested the Republican Party should take a couple of steps to the left. Remember though there is and R next to his name, he is Eastern European and by their standards he his very liberal. Also and asshole, he would stand outside his restaurant and decided whether or not you were allowed inside. I am surprised by how he has conducted himself in office, here is a guy that was told “yes†his entire professional career, and he enters a situation where people will tell you “no†because they just don’t agree with you based on party affiliation. Besides, if CA Democrats actually united behind Gov. Davis, he would not have been recalled. Davis inherited problems from Wilson, the R before him. Wilson stalled on creating new energy sources for California while he made an attempt to run for President in 1996. In 1994 he promised voters that he would not run in 1996, so he lied, and they voted him out. If Bustamante did not run and stood behind Davis, he would still be Governor. I admire Bustamante’s courage to run as an Hispanic and it was his right to do so, however, there hasn’t been an Hispanic Gov. of California since it belonged to Mexico. So the odds were strongly against him, his returns show he pulled exactly the vote he would have, the percentage of the voters that would support a Hispanic candidate.
So Cliff, I don’t think you take stands either. It is easy to sit here and throughout poll numbers and tell each other how right you are and how wrong Republicans are, and how they are too blame for what’s wrong. Great if that is all you want to do, but your site is called One Utah, so far all I have seen here is Far Left Liberal Utah. You are just as guilty of dividing as the people you blame. Such as Pricilla seems to think for some reason that I am Mormon, well there really isn’t any justification for that assumption. From what I have read and been told about you, you come off more as an instigator and not as a leader, not someone who could use this platform and voice for unity. “You walk around with blinders on and unless you completely agree with Cliff, you are an idiot Republican who is corrupt and evilâ€.
Is your community a better place because you are involved? Can your neighbors and supports say that their community is better off because you are out there fighting for them? Or are you simply here to spout off about how G.W. is the worst President in history and how Republicans are all corrupt evil bastards?
Make a deal with you Cliff, I will stop playing the extreme Devils advocate just to piss you guys off, if you actually start to talk about substance, and stop trying to put people who disagree with you, no matter how great or small the disagreement, and live up to this Blog’s name, One Utah.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:12 am
I appreciated Luther’s piece on Clifford Durr in yesterday morning’s edition of The Clarion Ledger. I commend the newspaper for taking time to highlight lives of exemplary merit.
My mother’s family and the Durr family have been close since both families emigrated from Germany to Montgomery, approximately one hundred and sixty years ago. The most pleasurable and highly-valued association between the two families has continued to the present day. I had the pleasure of being with three of the four Durr daughters at the Clifford and Virginia Durr Lecture Series in Montgomery, three weeks ago.
I have commended that lectureship as a model for one which may be soon endowed in Jackson; in memory of Rabbi Perry Nussbaum, who like Virginia and Cliff, had the courage to envision the amelioration of social injustices (in the face of fervent fear about social change, new ideas, and a future which is not a carbon-copy of the present nor one’s imagined past).
I differ with Luther’s analysis of Clifford Durr’s life in one particular: Perhaps the most important aspect of Virginia and Cliff’s lives was their commitment to a South — their beloved South and a community of Southern people of whom they very much saw themselves a part — in which progressives could operate effectively; which had room for both progressives and progress. Such an idea is anathema to those who seem to suggest that there is an inevitability about the religious right and the triumph of Republicanism in today’s South.
My loyalty to the circle of people of which the Durrs, the Munfords, my family, and our mutual friends are part is entirely in line with such hope for a South other than the stereotypical Bozart of the Sahara of which Henry Louis Mencken wrote. (Mrs. Mencken was a member of the Haardt family who also emigrated from Germany to Montgomery, I should note). When I send you OpEd pieces or suggestions for articles and editorials, it is with an eye to opening people’s minds to the possibility of progress and amelioration in the Deep South; rather than a slow descent into a world of Newt Gingrich, Tom Delay, Dick Armey, and their like; which finds suspect anyone who does not promote a feudal world with distinct classes of rich and poor and without the government regulation which is said to stand in the way of a supposedly better world.
I am confident that the Durrs and their daughters would much prefer that the spirit of Virginia and Cliff be kept alive than that their praises be sung and statues erected to them. The world cannot be saved without their like: Hope for the future can only occur when conditions are conducive for people like Virginia and Cliff Durr to succeed. Such a definition of national security is perhaps more in line with that of the founding fathers than what the post-9/11 America seems to pursue.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:58 am
As for your question "Is your community a better place because you are involved? Can your neighbors and supports say that their community is better off because you are out there fighting for them?" I can proudly say yes. Here is one of many examples. My neighbors also appreciate that I have helped deliver high quality after school programs all around Utah as a co-founder of Rhythms of Life, and free in-school anti-bias and diversity programs as the Chair of The Human Rights Education Center of Utah. People also appreciate the work I did to assemble wide support for the anti-bullying resolution that passed the last session. You are welcome to ask around the Olympus Cove 9th ward.
I know people appreciated the work I did on this site to support Buttars/Ruzica attack on gay rights. Can you take a stand on that? Is equality too far right?
You see TKL this is where we differ. I think OneUtah represents the mainstream of our hearts in Utah. Governor Huntsman and Attorney General Shurtleff support my position on equality and immigration, so I question your statement “but your site is called One Utah, so far all I have seen here is Far Left Liberal Utah.”
Do you support equal rights for the GLBT community? It’s a yes or no answer.
Is criticizing Bush really that far left when a large majority of Americans agree? I wonder how would you have characterized my criticism of Clinton?
TLK – I do appreciate your participation in this board because it means you are at least in the game, and it is my hope that you will begin to understand, that I am closer to the mainstream than you are. Come on over man. TAKE A STAND!
April 25th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
I didn’t bring GLBT issues into this, if you must, I have been a advocate for equal rights of anyone who is a legal citizen, and if you aren’t, then lets go you documented and nationalized and get you onboard. If you aren’t legal, you can’t be protected from Asshole employers who will capitalize on your situation.
I was apart of the ground work for a group to be able to lobby and support candidates that support getting the government out of marriage, period. I don’t care who you decide to spend your life with, and who you feel you have connected with as a soul mate, and neither should the govt. A battle I fought between the Pacific Greens and the OR Republican Party on Gays and Lesbians in the Military, anyone who wants to serve should be able. If a woman wants to be a front line troop, then fine. Anyone who wants to serve this country shouldn’t be held back because of sex or sexual orientation. The Unit will adapt and get over it, remember a lot of the remarks made against these issues aren’t too far off from remarks made about letting people of black skin join and serve the armed forces, and even with the issues of mixed couples married. They are all biased on ignorance and racism.
What I was able to get through to the Pacific Greens was, it doesn’t matter what your orientation is, if you ordered to charge a hill or bunker, you will get killed the same way. Though the approach was wrong, Clinton was on to something with “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”. He just handled it badly, the military doesn’t have a right to know, and you are not required to tell anyone.
In college I was an avid support of the GLBT clubs and communities, although, I was merely a member, when they needed an extra voice of support I was always there for them.
To this day I will support candidates that are gay; however, they need to be more than just gay or lesbian, where are they on issues. If all you have is your sexual orientation, then that is all that will become of your campaign. So what about education, economy, and other local issues I ask. If they can’t answer, I wish them luck and move on my way.
I have been pretty clear about socially forward, so I am not sure why you went there, other than to spout your position and hope I would disagree. I don’t, and I was glad to see the support earlier this year when G and L issues came up at the state capitol.
I was brought to Portland, to help fight PPS on preventing Military recruiters on High School campuses. What the school board and supports didn’t seem to think about, many kids in lower income schools will not have any other option out there, or have any way to get to college with the Military. It came down to one argument, do you want some kid out there in the parking lot breaking into your car and committing small criminal acts until they land in jail on a serious charge. Or would you like to see them go off and join the National Guard, Coast Guard or one of the other branches of military. See these kids go off and rescue stranded climbers off of mountains, out of the ocean, fill sand bags, or bring freedom to someone that couldn’t defend themselves?
If you go to the VFW, you can still find some old veterans who went into the military when the draft was around. Some of them will tell you it was either Jail or Boot camp. So instead of going down the path of Jail, they went the other, today they own businesses, went to college, became valuable members of their communities and contributed. That is what military recruiters do for these kids.
In Portland at that time, talking about the Military was no easy task. Many others gave up and went home, but this was a fight that needed to be fought for those kids that don’t know it yet, for the ones that get passed through the system as someone else’s problem, or maybe they will be a warm body in some factory somewhere. You want to talk about taking a stand, I have gone into more than one hostile room and swayed the opinion, found support, and made some friends.
April 25th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
I didn’t see a yes or no. I think its safe to assume you will do not stand for equality. I’m very sorry about that. - Peace
April 25th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
I am sorry to see that what I was told about you is right, you are an ignorant ass.
April 25th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
I am the director of a small human rights organization in Utah. I am so proud to know Cliff, and to read of the great accomplishments of his grandfather. It is apparent that Cliff continues to carry the banner of equality (with courage and great integrity) here in Utah. One person, can and does make a difference, and thank God we have people who will speak up for what is right. Whether a blog, convention or informal gathering, Cliff speaks for those who have no voice. He volunteers his time, and puts his money where his mouth is…..all in the name of justice and equality.
One of my favorite quotes from MLK is “In the end is not he voice of the enemy we will remember, but the silence of our friends.” Thank God I have a friend like Cliff, and it is bearing witness to the courage of men and women like him that inspires me to keep on keeping on.
April 25th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Hold on let me get Hallmark on the phone!
April 25th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
HOW I KNOW I AM NOT CRAZY
I find a site such as One Utah and find there are others you think like me -Even in Utah. See TKL, I am a proud, liberal Democrat. Its gets a little old hearing TKL and others like you say that is the DNC Talking points. Maybe we believe them. But, more importantly, MAYBE I BELIEVE THEM.
HOW I KNOW I AM NOT CRAZY
3 YEARS ago I was called unpatriotic for not supporting Bush’s War. Now instead of the minority, I am in the Majority.
HOW I KNOW I AM NOT CRAZY
I read TKL’s Post. I love his adult comment. RUN FOR CONGRESS. Listen Buddy, as long as I pay taxes and vote and MORE Importantly am a Citizen of this GREAT COUNTRY, I can have an opinion and I Can voice it!!!! GET REAL.
Plus answer me this, how come people on the right, call people names - such as your comment ignorant ass comment toward Cliff. IN matter of fact you used ASSHOLE, ASS through out your postings. The Rush’s, Hannity’s of the world, always name calling or very condescending when people don’t agree with them. Even you name Ted Kennedy Liver is condescending. I mean if you really support Bush and his path, you would use the Nick “Bush’s Brain” but that is an oxymoron
April 25th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
The following post was removed in the interest of civil dialogue. I do not deserve to be called names, and nobody here wants to engage with a bully.
I challenged TLK to take a stand on equal rights for GLTB folks. You are free to express your position, but I will not stand to be degradaded, especially by someone who lacks the courage to identify themselves.
You may not agree with my conviction or my stand on human rights and equality, but I can assure you, it is only because of people like me, that you are free.
Even if you believe homosexuality is a sin, you may not deny anyone the same rights that you enjoy.
Please clean it up.
Ted Kennedy’s Liver Says:
April 25th, 2006 at 1:33 pm e
I am sorry to see that what I was told about you is right, you are an ignorant ass.
April 25th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
Will I only have come to show such disrespect, since origianlly I was shown, I will treat you the exact same way I am treated first. If you introduce your self as Mr. So and So, that is what I will address you as unless otherwise asked. If you point fingers at me, defy logic and call me names, then I will treat you like the child that you have shown to be. Now, if you don’t believe me, feel free to read my first post, you will see I have changed my respect and how I address Cliff, Nephi and others. I show them the respect they deserve and proven they only understand.
April 25th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
What is your stand on gay marriage TLK?
April 25th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
I do enjoy how you are quick to assume that I am this homophob, even though I have said everything to support the fact that I work towards equal rights, not just for G and L. Since you ask, as long as the goverment requires a Licences to reconize the union between 2 people, I do support the same sex couples to be reconized. To make it even simplier for you and hey, I will make it obvious even to you:
I support Gay Marriage. I have never hide that fact.
Remember, Socially LIberal? Remember me saying, I actually fall into the Libertarian party, except I choose to be involved.
Governement should be invovled in Marriage, it should be something between two people that commit to each other, their family (if they choose) and their religion, (if they choose). Personally it is between two people who care about each other and thats it.
The days where Govt. need to be involved in Marriage are long gone, and so should this law. This is an example of Govt. having too much involvement in personal life of it’s citizens.
Clear enough for you Cliff? Now if you re-read that post, maybe you will see that I already said all of this, next question.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:24 pm
Wow! Thankyou TLK, I love you more each day.
So how do you stand on abortion, Private choice, or policians choice?
April 25th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Remember Soically liberal, so what do you think? Hmm. Woman’s choice, yes. In oregon the GOP is discussing droping Abortion and Same Sex issues from their platform altogether. Exciting isn’t it.
However, I do run into one problem, the issue with girls under the age of 18, should they be able to get an abortion without parents knowledge. See, I am out trying to decided who rights takes priority. The Parents, since they are ultimiatly repsonsible, or the privacy of the girl.
Right now I can’t answer that question. I don’t have children yet, and if I had a girl, if she had an abortion at the age of 16, should I or my wife know about it. This is a pickle. If I don’t know about it, then I don’t know something is wrong or that my child had to face this alone. Now, if my child didn’t tell me about this or my wife, then we also have serious trust issues, in other words, our daughter didn’t feel safe/comfortable enough to come and talk to us. Which means as a parent I would have failed.
On the other hand, if I or my wife knows about it, then maybe we can help and be there for her.
I will tell you, that if the girl wants to have an abortion, it is her choice, however, should the parents still be notified?
I just want to make sure that I still stand by her choice regardless ofwhat the parent say. The issue I see, is if the parents should know about it at all, even though they have no say in her choice.
April 26th, 2006 at 8:28 am
Wow, TKL is a downright, bona fide liberal. I knew it!
April 26th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Well we are only taking about social issues, want to get into, Free Markets, Free Trade, National Health Care, Immigration, and ‘Big Govt’ I am all conservative.
April 27th, 2006 at 9:21 am
Don’t know whether this has enough space, Cliff. However, I did love Luther Mumford’s article
on my father, your grandfather. Of course, knowing him as I did, there were many things
that he missed in his briographical sketch if Daddt. I still find it fascinating that Daddy was fired from the
job he held as a lawyer for the Alabama Power Corporation because Daddy went to his
boss Logan Martin and suggested that the high level lawyers, himself included, take
pay cuts so that the lesser paid would not descend into poverty doing the depression. This
idea is now unheard of but immenently practical. I will try to include my own tribute I did in Alabame but
it probably won’t fit into this space
A TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER
MY LATE FATHER, CLIFFORD J. DURR’S LEGACY REQUIRES RESURRECTING A VISION OF DEMOCRACY AND IDEALS WHICH HAVE BEEN PERVERTED BY SO MANY SELF-SERVING FABRICATED ILLUSIONS AND BURIED UNDER SO MANY LAYERS OF SUBTERFUGE, HIS REAL LEGACY MAY NEVER COME TO LIGHT AT ALL. MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO DO THIS IN FIVE MINUTES IS AN AWESOME TASK.
IN CONTRAST TO MOST CIVIL LIBERTARIANS, MY FATHER BELIEVED THAT LAW SHOULD BE FOUNDED ON THE MORAL LAW OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. HE ALSO TAUGHT ME THAT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL PEOPLE TO LIVE TOGETHER, IF IMPERFECTLY, BY THESE COMMANDMENTS. THIS DID NOT DEMAND OF US A SACRIFICIAL LAMB – CHRIST, HIMSELF ALREADY HAVING MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. HOWEVER IT DID REQUIRE US TO CONFESS OUR SINS, TO DEMONSTRATE TRUE REMORSE, TO MAKE AMENDS TO THOSE WE HAVE HARMED AND TO PRACTICE FORGIVENESS ON A DAILY BASIS. HE DID A BETTER JOB THAN ANY I HAVE EVER KNOWN OF LIVING BY THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS. WE MAY BE GRAINS OF SAND BUT PARADOXICALLY WE – AND NOW I AM SPEAKING ABOUT ALL OF HUMANKIND, ARE INEXTRICABLY CONNECTED WITH ONE ANOTHER. WHAT WE DO AND SAY TO ONE ANOTHER MATTERS. EVERYTHING, MY FATHER TOLD ME, DEPENDS ON HOW WE BEHAVE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER IN AS SMALL A UNIT AS THE FAMILY AND EXPONENTIALLY HOW WE SEE AND BEHAVE TOWARD OUR UNIVERSAL FAMILY. IT IS ALSO PARAMOUNT THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THIS EARTH ON WHICH WE SERVE OUR TIME AND RESPECT NOT ONLY THE MIND BUT
THE SPIRIT OF ALL LIVING CREATURES..
IN A BOOK I HAVE WRITTEN TITLED “IN SEARCH OF THE GOLDEN RULE.†I DESCRIBE DADDY, A FARMER AT HEART AND A LAWYER BY PROFESSION AS ONE WHO PLANTED REAL AND METAPHORICAL SEEDS FOR REAL AND METAPHORICAL VEGETABLE GARDENS. HE WAS NOT A FLASHY CULTIVATOR OF FLOWER GARDENS. THIS WAS MY MOTHER’S SPECIALTY. HIS GARDEN COULD NOT ONLY SUSTAIN HIS OWN FAMILY BUT COULD FEED ALL WHO CAME WITHIN THE RANGE OF HIS VISION.
AS A CHILD, I HAD MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT GARDENING. THE WEEDS, THE WORMS, SMELLY MANURE, ROCKS THAT SCRATCHED MY HANDS AND PRICKED MY KNEES MAKING THEM BLEED, ABOUNDED. MOSQUITOS INSIDIOUSLY INSINUATED THEMSELVES INTO MY CLOTHES AND NOSTRILS. AND THEN THERE WERE GARDEN SNAKES – HOW I HATED THEM! I PREFERRED TO LIE ON MY BACK UNDER THE COOL SHADE OF A TREE, AND DAYDREAM ABOUT BEING GORGEOUS IN A GORGEOUS GARDEN. SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER MY FATHER COULD LURE ME AWAY FROM MY DESULTORY FANTASY LIFE TO WORK WITH THE PROMISE THAT IF I HAD THE PATIENCE AND WORKED HARD ENOUGH, I JUST MIGHT SEE SOME EVIDENCE OF THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR. EVEN IF I DIDN’T SEE WHAT I WANTED TO SEE RIGHT AWAY, THERE WAS SOMETHING QUITE WONDERFUL JUST BEING AND WORKING WITH HIM TO CREATE OUR FAMILY GARDEN.
WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY NOW MAY SEEM TO DEVIATE FROM THE GARDEN METAPHOR BUT BEAR WITH ME. GARNERED FROM MANY LONG CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER, WHILE WE WORKED TOGETHER IN HIS GARDEN, HE LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PURPOSE OF DEMOCRACY AND ITS ACCOMPANYING GUARANTEES WAS AND IS AS MIRROR TO MORE RELIGIOUS CONCEPTS, I.E., DEMOCRACY WAS CREATED TO KEEP ALIVE THE IDEAS AND THE HOPE THAT THE DISEMPOWERED MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY CAN ENGAGE IN CIVIL DIALOGUE WITH THOSE IN POWER WITH SOME REALISTIC POSSIBILITY OF NON-VIOLENT RESOLUTION AND CHANGE. NON-VIOLENT SPEECH, NEGOTIATION, COMPROMISE, RESPECTFUL DISSENT AND PROTEST WERE THE METHODS HE HAD EDUCATED HIMSELF IN TO REDRESS THE TERRIBLE IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS WITHIN THE HUMAN FAMILY. FAILING THAT, HE BELIEVED IN NON-VIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. WE DISCUSSED THE OBSTACLES AND DIFFICULTIES ONE FACED WHEN IN SEARCH OF THE GOLDEN FULE. WE DISCUSSED THIS ON BOTH A PERSONAL LEVEL AND AN ABSTRACT LEVE. THESE CONVERSATIONS WERE HELD IN THE GARDEN AS WELL AS ON THE FRONT PORCH DURING EARLY MORNING COFFEE AND SOMETIMES AT THE TIME OF DAY WHEN THE SUN WAS SINKING AND A DAYS WORK OF GARDENING HAD BEEN COMPLETED. WE TALKED ABOUT THEM NOT ONLY AS THEY APPLIED TO NATIONAL ISSUES BUT AS THEY APPLIED AND APPLY TO EVERYDAY LIFE.
I FEAR THAT IN THESE PRESENT TIMES OF GLOBAL DISTRESS WE BELIEVE THAT OUR SURVIVAL LIES IN KEEPING UP WITH THE RAPIDITY OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, EVER NEW BUREAUCRATIC DICTATES, COMPETITIVE PRODUCTIVITY, ADVERTISING, CELEBRITY WORSHIP AND POLITICAL SPINNING. IN OUR ANXIETY TO KEEP UP WE THE PEOPLE OFTEN BECOME COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO OURSELVES AND TO ONE ANOTHER. AT HOME AND ABROAD. WE FORGET TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR LITTLE GARDEN PATCH MUCH LESS SHARE WHAT WE KNOW TO HELP MAINTAIN THE COLLECTIVE GARDEN.
OUR FAMILY (AND NOW I AM TALKING ABOUT THE FAMILY OF CLIFFORD AND VIRGINIA DURR) ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS IN THE SOUTH SUFFERED MUCH FROM THE CHAOS, THE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL FRAGMENTATION AND THE MOMENTS OF LOST HOPE THAT OCCUR WHEN THE TECTONIC PLATES OF HISTORY SHIFT. CHANGE DOES NOT COME ABOUT WITHOUT SOME SUFFERING AND STRIFE. IT IS A DIFFICULT TASK TO DETERMINE THE POINT WHEN CONSCIENCE AND TOO MUCH HUMAN SUFFERING REQUIRE CONFRONTATION WITH AN ESTABLISHED SYSTEM OF HIERARCHICAL ORDER WITHIN OUR FAMILY AND WITHIN OUR GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN WE MUST DEPART FROM OUR SELF SHORT-TERM SELF-INTERESTED COMFORT ZONE AND WORK TOWARD BRINGING ABOUT MORE OF GOD’S JUSTICE AND THUS RESTORE SOME BALANCE IN OUR UNIVERSAL GARDEN. IN ADDITION WE NEED PATIENCE AND DISCERNMENT.
HOW DID MY FAMILY SURVIVE DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ERA. SOME WITHIN MY OWN FAMILY HUDDLED TOGETHER DURING STORMY TIMES IN AN EFFORT TO WITHSTAND THE CENTRIFIGUL FORCES THAT SEEMED CAPABLE OF SUCKING US INTO THE DEEP DARK HOLE OF OBLIVION OR BATTERING US TO EXTINCTION.
SOME OF US FLED INTO THE ESTABLISHED SYSTEM OF POWER TO FIND SOME ORDER AND RELIEF. SOME OF US CHOSE TO BASK IN REFLECTED GLORY. MANY OF US DID GOOD WORKS FOR OTHERS ON THE SIDE TO PLACATE OUR CONFUSING SENSE OF GUILT. SOME OF US BELIEVED THAT AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION SHOULD GO A LONG WAY. WE LET IT BE KNOWN THAT BEING FIRED “AT WILLâ€, CONTROLLED EXCLUSIVELY BY “THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE MARKETPLACE. WHEN WE ASKED FOR JUSTICE, DEMOCRATIC REFORMS, WORKABLE SOLUTIONS AND ADVOCACY EVEN WITHIN THE HEART OF FAMILY,MUCH LESS WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS AND PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS, CORPORATIONS AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES, WE TOO OFTEN RECEIVED SILENCE OR A FIRM REBUKE. WE FACED BEING FIRED, POVERTY, AND OSTRACISM FROM FAMILY, SOMETIMES WE BEGGED AND PLEADED. SOMETIMES WE GRITTED OUR TEETH, GOT ANOTHER JOB AT LESSER PAY, RACKED UP OUR CREDIT CARDS, BORROWED FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND DESCENDED INTO MENTAL ILLNESS OR ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS. A FEW OF US, NOT MANY, WENT BACK INTO THE STORM AND SHOUTED TO ONE AND ALL, “WAKE UP!!, WAKE UP!! ANOTHER STORM – MORE MASSIVE IN SCOPE AND MORE VIRULENT IN NATURE IS ON ITS WAY. WE CAN STOP IT ONLY IF WE TRADE IN WORLDLY SUCCESS FOR MORE SPIRITUAL SUCCESS, I.E., TRADE IN AT LEAST A BIT OF OUR COMPETITIVENESS, EGO AND PRIDE FOR EMPATHY AND COOPERATION.
THIS IS NOT AN APPEALING MESSAGE TO THE TIRED AND WEARY OR THOSE OF US WHO FEEL SAFE, ENTITLED AND PROTECTED WITHIN SELF MADE FORTRESSES. “ WHY NOT BASK IN THE REFLECTED GLORY OF PAST HISTORICAL VICTORIES?†WE RATIONALIZE.. WHO WANTS TO SEE THE BOILING RAGE OF INJUSTICE ERUPTING INTO CATACLYSMIC VIOLENCE WHEN WE HAVE CONVINCED OURSELVES THAT WE ARE
EXEMPT FROM THE KIND OF SCAPEGOATING, VICTIMIZATION, EXPLOITATION AND SUFFERING THAT BELONGS TO OTHERS NOT LIKE OURSELVES.
CHANGE IS DIFFICULT. WE RESIST SEEING THE OMEN BECAUSE IF WE DO SO WE JUST MIGHT SEE A NEED TO ACT NOT ONLY ON THE GLOBAL STAGE BUT ON THE LOCAL STAGE, WE FEAR IF WE SPEAK UP ABOUT WHAT WE SEE AND DO NOT WANT TO SEE OR FAIL TO JUDGE THE SUFFERING AND THE POOR AS “PEOPLE UNLIKE US WHO BROUGHT THEIR SUFFERING UPON THEMSELVES,†WE WILL BE NOT SEE MORE JUSTICE AND PEACE. RATHER, WE FEAR TOO MUCH WILL BE EXPECTED OF US OR THAT WE WILL BECOME ECONOMICALLY RUINED, OSTRACISED AND CRUCIFIED JUST LIKE JESUS, HIS DISCIPLES, THE PROPHETS, GHANDI AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WE SAY TO ONE ANOTHER WE ARE NOT MADE OF THE STUFF OF MARTYRS.. WE FORGET THAT OUR CRUSADERS, SOCIAL ACTIVISTS AND PROPHETS DIED FOR US SO WE CAN COLLECTIVELY USE THE PRINCIPLES THEY COURAGEOUSLY STOOD FOR AND DO THIS WITHOUT RESORTING TO THE CRUCIFIXION, OSTRACISM AND DEATH THEY EXPERIENCED.
AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN THE DURR LECTURE SERIES, I’VE NEVER BEEN CONVINCED THAT ONLY HAVING NATIONALLY PROMINENT SPEAKERS, INSPIRATIONAL AS THEY MAY BE, GETS TO THE CORE OF MY FATHER’S PASSION WHICH WAS TO ENGAGE IN CIVIL
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THOSE IN POWER AND THOSE WHO FEEL POWERLESS SO THAT WE
CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND MOVE TOWARD A MORE JUST, CIVIL AND OPEN SOCIETY. I THINK THIS WAS MY FATHER’S GREAT CONTRIBUTION TOWARD CREATING A MORE BEAUTIFUL AND SUSTAINABLE GARDEN FOR OUR HUMAN FAMILY.
I STILL HAVE HOPE THAT THE LECTURE SERIES WILL DO JUST THAT.
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:40 am
Ben…
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August 28th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
download mp3 online…
news…
October 30th, 2007 at 2:30 am
Online Marketing Business…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…