"It's time to ask the American people to be patriotic about something besides war"

[Coexist]

I sat through an hour of Tyra interviewing John Edwards. It was odd... sometimes a little cute, sometimes embarrassing - I was feeling too old and it was getting too much to watch.

Then it got real. Very real. One of those moments when an entire concept becomes clear and a thousand thoughts race through your head.

A young man from the audience asked a question about Global Warming.

Senator Edwards, after giving the pat "I'm against it" preamble, delved a little deeper. He mentioned that the U.S. is currently the biggest polluter on the planet, and how we can't spend our way out of this crisis (and he did refer to the climate as a "crisis"). Yes, you and I know this - but lots of people don't like to hear this.

And got a little JFK; he said that all of us, (every single one of us - not just large corporations, not just SUV driving suburbanites, not just film stars) all of us need to make it hurt a little for the greater good.

Jolt us out of our comfort zone - dozens of religions, both genders, all races, becoming uncomfortable, adding a few more things to the ToDo list, in it together, for the good of our country.

"It's time to ask the American people to be patriotic about something besides war"

Can you dig it?!

[Jed Dilligan]

1. That's pretty cool

I love Tyra and I'm warming to John...

[JDPriestly]

2. Wonderful! Thanks for posting this.

[asdjrocky]

3. I can dig it.

[Heidi]

4. Love of something besides country has to trump traditional patriotism at some point.

Love of country contributes to blind nationalism. We have to begin considering perspectives outside our borders. We Americans, and our national concerns, are NOT the center of the universe.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, FlDem.:thumbsup:

[dragonlady]

6. Absolutely

It's been my signature line for a while now. This is only one of many reasons I support John Edwards.

[swoop]

7. Yes, however....

... this is not just about America (China's coal plants wll undo any good we do if they they don't join us in reducing world usage). Right sentiment, wrong issue.

[Reader Rabbit]

8. Could you elaborate on "embarassing" and "too old"?

Was it just that the show is aimed at a younger demographic, or were there inappropriate comments and behavior?

The show's on while I'm at work, so I won't get to see it.

[Coexist]

12. the audience was very young, Tyra called him 'another black candidate'

because he was brought up on southern food, and she has a segment where he was supposed to identify the former presidents by their teeth alone - she called it "Presi-dental".

It was just for the young who are not yet involved in politics and really don't watch debates or follow the news.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. K&R

[quinnox]

10. That is a great line

One of his best.

[balantz]

11. Thank you!

That's why I support John Edwards. He isn't tiptoeing around the truth of the issues, he owes no-one! There are no oil corporations whispering in his ear and telling him to be quiet about the inconvenient truth!

[jackson_dem]

13. $0

How much Edwards has taken from lobbyists in his career.