our "lefties"

I'm an old woman who has moved left as I've aged. I look at how we've abandoned entire generations. I look at how mean-spirited we have become, how we have lost the generosity that America was once noted for.

Anyway, a few years ago we were at a big Media Conference. All sorts of left of center groups were there. We saw, and spoke to Amy Goodman, Phil Donahue, David Brock, Bernie Sanders, etc.

At one point, a young woman was handing out leaflets supporting the RCP (Revolutionary Communist Party) -- we told her to get an AK47 for self protection. Her response was SHOCKED silence. Then she asked if that was a gun -- we said, yes it's a fine self defense weapon.

She was SHOCKED, SHOCKED I tell you! Just the idea was totally out of the question.

We let it go -- but I wanted to ask her, "what part of 'Revolutionary' don't you understand?". That's one of the problems with lefties here in the USA, many do not understand the concept of self defense.

How can you even think about changing the status quo if you are not willing to defend yourself?

This is a sign of where we are. People who call themselves "Revolutionary Communists" seem to expect the civil authorities to protect them. People who claim to want real change expect to be protected by the very people who support the status quo. Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

Anyway, that seems to be where we are today. People who want "change" want it to be "nice", when it's never nice.

Look at the fights for Union rights, for Civil rights -- advances are made by fighting for them. People die. They are called names in the press. They are only celebrated by those who benefit from their sacrifice -- and that only for a while.

My country is gone. The tough old folks I looked up to as a young person are only a memory.