Letters to the Editor
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Bush is like Jesus
He comes to seperate husband from wife, parent from child (if you let him). LW, I'm a 31 socialist -- my Republican Christian fundamentalist dad died when I was 19. I wish I hadn't spent that last year of his life fighting with him about politics and religion. Yes, it's true that the Bible is obviously and demonstratably errant; and yes, it's true that the leftist principles I adopted in late adolescence were an extension of the values I was raised with (unlike a lot of Republican Christian fundamentalists, my dad was an honest, decent, non judgemental person); and yes it's true that socialism is the creed that makes the most social and economic sense for people of our working class station. (Dad laughed at Clinton in 1992 for suggesting we need a nationalized health care plan, but he died of cancer in 1996 without health care; he probably would have lived if he would have gone to the doctor when he first started noticing symptoms ... but he didn't because he didn't want to pluck down the money for tests and doctor visits.) As true as all of this was and is, it would have been irrelevant if I would have known the moments I was spending with him were the last we'd share. I would have found better things to talk about. I suggest you do the same with your parents. If your parents just happen to be assholes in addition to being Republicans, then just keep it light and polite and fulfill your filial duties of visiting once or twice a year and calling now and then. And accept the fact that they are never going to be just to your liking. Your wife, kids, and in-laws won't be either by the way ... neither will future presidents.