Have you heard about the Conservative Schooler aka Andy Nevin? He is the 15 year old kid in Sacramento who has started his own blog, California High School Conservative, on blogspot. He is naive and ill informed. Let’s convert him.
Nevin has gotten a ton of attention recently for starting a petition to get CA Attorney General Bill Lockyer to remove a piece of art called “T’anks to Mr. Bush” from an exhibit of art by various lawyer/artists on display in the Department of Justice cafeteria. The piece, by Stephen Percy, depicts a red, white and blue map of the United States sinking into the toilet.
I just spent some time at the kid’s site, and it is both frightening and sad that this 15 year old is so brainwashed. I suppose even Hitler had his Youth. Among the more disconcerting of his posts, Nevin has a post comparing Bush’s lies about Iraq and WMD to FDR not telling the nation we were aiding the British before the official declaration of war against Germany in WWII. In a second post, he calls the ruling to remove the redistricting ballot measure (supported by [gasp] one million Californians!) from the special election ballot “judicial tyranny,” when it was nothing of the sort. Please take a minute to go over to his site and post a well reasoned argument against one of his idiotic and naive posts. You may also want to encourage him to put up or shut up by enrolling in the military after he graduates high school.
For what I wrote, see across the break.
Regarding the painting:
We live in a country founded on the idea that we the people should be actively involved in improving it. Criticism of our government is not only a right, but a patriotic duty. Sometimes, that means making shocking statements to get public attention for your cause.
It is perfectly clear that this artist LOVES America, but hates the current administration for what he feels it has done to America. You can disagree with his opinion, but the mere fact it is being discussed shows that he has gotten the attention he was seeking, and that it is indeed a celebration and reaffirmation of our basic right to free speech.
As Republican Teddy Roosevelt said:
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. (1918)”
Regarding FDR’s lies vs Bush’s lies:
What? You can’t seriously be comparing Germany in the 1940s with Iraq in the 2000s? Wow… that is remarkably naive. FDR lied, but look at the context!
Germany was actually a threat with an aggressive and mighty military, while Iraq was neither a threat nor had any military might whatsoever. Germany was actively at war with our allies and had declared war on the U.S. Iraq was not and had not. FDR did not need to fix the intelligence to make a case for war, Bush did. Hitler was on a rampage, Saddam was a bad guy, but he was contained. Entering WWII – not a mistake. Invading Iraq – mistake.
To compare the two situations is sickening.
PS. I assume that you will be signing up for military service once you graduate high school? If you really think this war is worth it, then you need to make the sacrifice and put your money where your mouth is. Otherwise, you are a chicken-hawk hypocrite just like your dear leader and most of his administration.
go there, it makes me physically ill to think that this 15 year old has been so lockstepped into the brainmush that the extremists have been spewing forth fo so long.
I read more than 10 of his posts and I started wondering if the Hitler youth of the 30’s had been resurrected.
I am appalled at this young man’s total disregard for personal freedom, guaranteed by our Constitution.
As I posted on Nag’s diary concerning the painting, the repuglicans, want to make sure that freedom of speech is guaranteed as long as it forments and perpetuates their dogman and talking points.
Native American Code of Ethics!
1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit
will listen, if you only speak.
2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit,
anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will
find guidance.
3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your
path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with
you, but no one can walk it for you.
4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve
them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with
respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community,
the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not
yours.
6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth – whether it be
people or plant.
7. Honor other people’s thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt
another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to
personal expression.
8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you
put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
optimism.
11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your
worldly family.
12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and
water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown,
give them space to grow.
13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will
return to you.
14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this
universe.
15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self,
Emotional self, and Physical self – all need to be strong, pure and
healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in
spirit to cure emotional ails.
16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you
will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not
touch the personal property of others – especially sacred and
religious objects. This is forbidden.
18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if
you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on
others.
20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
Author unknown
What was his response?
waiting for a reply
As far as I know, we all got our chance to be shallow and immature.
I’m sorry, but I can’t see any excuse for piling onto a poor ignorant high school boy – now that’s what I call sophomoric.
Attacking him will achieve exactly what george is getting in the Middle East. He needs protection, not cruelty.
atack him, I offered him a path that may well open his mind to the extraordinary possibilities of life.
I offer you to read some of the diatribe and outright hatred that this young man has encapsulated, toward those who do not agree with him or his dogma.
I read it – agreed, he is a stupid kid. I wouldn’t call it ‘his’ dogma, he doesn’t know a thing yet. There’s a reason why we have separate courts for juveniles. All I can feel for this boy is pity, and I pray he doesn’t continue on the path he seems to have chosen. I’m just saying maybe our battles are better fought with the so-called grown-ups. Children learn from example. He’s given us a perfect picture of his daddy. Maybe they’ll both have an epiphany.
That is why I offered up the ethics code for him to peruse. Maybe if he reads it and lets it mull around in his mind, maybe just maybe there might be a place for it become a part of his life.
I am not going back to his site, maybe he is not hateful, but many of the commenters are spewing forth such hatred for liberals/progressives that I for one fear for any liberal that has the unfortunate circumstance to meet these people.
I don’t agree, Alice. He is getting lots of encouragement and support from wingers and racists in his ill-conceived public campaign. If he isn’t too young to fan the flames of ignorance and hatred, he’s not too young to take the heat. No one is saying we should attack him. We should respond to him with kindness and reason. At 15 he is still teachable.
I have to agree with Lil. I am not asking anyone to attack him or be cruel, I asked for well reasoned arguments. This kid is not an idiot, just brainwashed. He has put himself into the public sphere to promote ignorance. He has a blog which allows comments. I fear what will happen if all he gets is reinforcement from like-minded right wingers. That is who he needs protection from, not me. That’s what I hope my replies might do, open his eyes to counter-arguments. Yes, he has a lot of living and learning to do and he may eventually change his mind, but why not try to reach him and teach him now?