Don Roach

I have enjoyed your comments on various blogs and this is a good idea-your own blog.
I won’t be posting on RIFuture or Kmareka any more.I haven’t the time or inclination to deal with the doctrinaire and immature attitude displayed on the former,particularly via the odious rating system,nor the truly narrow world views expressed on the latter.
Additionally the preachy, condescending gems from “klaus” and Jessie kind of exemplify the liberal who has no idea who he is talking to and tries to put people in boxes.And they think conservatives stereotype!
Listen,don’t feel funny being a Black Republican-how do you think I felt being a Jewish Border Patrolman?As with most stereotypes,it was not what it seemed-there were two other Jewish guys in my Academy class.
The whole racial/ethnic obsession is going to ruin this country.
My blood relatives include every ethnicity except Asian.I like it that way,but it wasn’t planned or anything.When diversity happens,it’s good-when it’s manufactured,it isn’t.
Ask my Hispanic wife of 39 years about her take on illegal aliens-actually ask almost anyone in her family,which includes people of Peurto Rican,Honduran,Mexican and Cuban backgrounds.You’d think you were at a RIILE meeting.
I’m not a Republican-I often vote for Democrats who share my point of view on issues.I’m not a member of any party.
Feel comfortable being what you like-who the hell is anyone else to tell you how to think?There’s a reason people break their asses trying to get into this country.
I have never gotten an impression of your age.I am 63.I’ll guess and say you’re 35-40 just from the way you write,but I could be wrong.I’m not Steve Schirripa,after all.
Good luck with the blog-and please announce it on Anchor Rising.
Joe

Thanks for the kind words, Joe. At some point, I was ashamed to call myself a Republican. But, I’ve moved beyond it and now want to persuade others to join. But, and this is a big but I’m many things before I’m a republican namely husband, father, and friend. I also see no reason to vote for a Republican just because he’s a republican – think Lincoln Chafee in 2006.

I just turned 32 so you’re in the ballpark. I may make mention of this on a comment on AnchorRising but at the same time I think I frequent enough blogs that it’ll get out there. Previous attempts have been too focused on a particular theme or issue, while this blog hopes to be a bit of everything. One of the things that’s very dear to me is my eldest son who is autistic. The trials and tribulations he faces is something I wish to share with other parents of autistic and typically developing children. I’m still trying to figure out how to do that in an appropriate manner.

I tend to think that many seek to put people like you and me in a box. Oh, Jewish guy he must be X or Y. Oh, black guy he has to like A or B when nothing could be further from the truth.

I’d encourage you to continue posting on RIFuture and Kmareka. They are, at times, difficult to swallow with some of the rhetoric but I think it’s very refreshing for me anyway to see you posting thoughtful comments. To me, I feel if someone gives me a 0.00 rating on RIFuture that’s the best form of flattery. It means I evoked an emotion within them causing them to try and tear my point down, not with words, but with a silly rating that says my comment was unproductive. I think it has the opposite effect as most people like to read the comments that get rated – good or bad. So, hang in there.

I’m looking forward to this blog and what it will become. Thanks again, for the kind words.

Strange you mention autism-my daughter was a bilingual special ed teacher in the Providence school system for about 9 years(actually she also held other positions in her last few years)and is currently teaching at a university where she is getting her Phd.
One of her jobs while at RIC was with the Groden Center as a home respite provider for an autistic child.She developed an unusaul relationship with this young lady,who was very high functioning,that lasted right through my daughter leaving the state.
I have to admit that I never had any experience with an autistic individual,and had just assumed it was a form of retardation.
When I took abnormal psych back in the early 70’s we did cover retardation,but I don’t recall autism ever coming up in the course.
it must have been much more uncommon years ago,or maybe undiagnosed.
the main problem with the blogs I mentioned is the gutless refusal to argue oints directly-all that comes up is “equivalence”i.e.”what about Cheney,Bush”etc-what about them?I didn’t vote for them,so don’t bring them up to me.
Or-”you are repeating Rush Limbaugh’s talking points”-hard to do when I don’t listen to that windbag.
I asked “klaus” some very specific questions;same with Nancy,who seems to have a cause for every day of the week.I got evasive aanswers or none at all.
If someone asks me something secific,they get an answer.I can’t guarantee they’ll like it.
For what it’s worth I’ve known some very conservative Black people-most have been either in law enforcement or had served in the military,or both.Maybe that’s because I’ve been in both and that’s who I meet-makes sense.
I see Moe Green is running for state rep.i’ve known Moe for many years through the job.I never knew he was interested in politics,let alone Republicn.He has his work cut out for him in Slater’s old district.Tom Slater was an old fashioned liberal who did a good job for his constituents,unlike an Art Handy,who I met once and felt like taking an immediate hot shower afterwards.Handy is downright creepy.
If you ever want to feel demeaned by your “own”government just testify at the Statehouse on a pending bill.Unless you are a professional testifier like Steven Brown(let me puke now and get it over with),expect a condescending and patronizizng attitude from those who “represent” us.
i ahd a good time debating both Steven Brown and david Cicilline on different radio shows-by them not being allowed their infamous voice-over rants either time,their fallacies were exposed.They should learn not to underestimate an experienced interrogator,particularly one who frequently worked the interrogation in the language of the person being questioned.Dealing with them was almost fun.
The best way to defeat a “progressive”is being armed with facts.The extreme radicals,like Shana Kurland are just there to rant and scream and are best ignored.The last thing you want to do is pretend that they are capable of a conversation.
I’ve been to Drinking Liberally a few times and it wasn’t too bad.I certainly was outnumbered,but anyone who’s been an INS agent takes that as a normal condition.
One night Jerzyk and Pichardo double teamed me on the immigration issue-it wasn’t that challenging.I was doing the job before Matt was even conceived.He is a bright guy,though,can’t deny that.Pichardo is kind of a hack.
What Pichardo and Diaz are trying to do to Bob Perkins is a sin.My daughter worked at Roger Williams while he was there and she has the highest opinion possible of him as an administrator.This man is being crucified for crass ethnic political purposes.
If he is fired,I hope he sues the ass off these people and puts them into bankruptcy.
joe

HeyDon this blog is a good read. I gave up on blogs because they usually become a long form twitter. As for being an enigma in politics I have noticed a few more minorities at conservative functions this year than in the past and have found that almost everyone is conservative at heart with the exception of some “hot button” issue. I am a union pipefitter and am definately in aggressive hostile liberal company most of the time…until you discuss issues. As soon as you do that then it becomes much more clear that its more of a hatred of some boogey man than a conviction of spirit about the country and it’s direction. Keep up the good work and sorry for any typos this blackberry keyboard is tiny.