Rice and Beans
This is semi-serious.
I am upset about Susan Rice, a fellow hooter-toter who makes my iPad look dumb. The Republican Party did not help themselves by giving her the opportunity to look like a class act by forcing her out.
They went after her with vitriol generally reserved for those they believe to be terrorist sympathizers, which admittedly, to them is anybody other than white Republican old males. I guess what bothers me the most is the loss of the visual of her beating Lindsey Graham so hard that his grandchildren will be born afraid to open their mouths.
Madeleine Albright calls it appalling. It is.
On the other hand, Susan Rice has become an icon for women and minorities about where they stand with old white Republican men. I hope this message trickles down to young Republicans, but I doubt it will. There’s something about a closed mind.
Little Friday story – I had a son at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital. One day a local Republican came to visit him and stayed to chat. My son’s primary care doctor showed up. He’s an Italian citizen and had a charming heavy accent. Next the pain control doctor came by – he’s African American. The nurse was Filipino and then the specialist dropped by – a woman on loan from Russia. Shift change — gay Hispanic nurse.
The Republican visitor expressed surprise. He said, “Your doctors are from all over, but yet MD Anderson is still ranked the #1 cancer hospital in the country.”
My son smiled and replied, “Maybe it’s because of the diversity that it’s #1, not in spite of it.”
Republicans just don’t get it.
I am married to an immigrant and a daughter of one(dad’s side).
I am 4th generation on my mother’s side.
My family tree is filled with firemen, police and milkmen, jobs traditional held by the Irish in the late 1800’s in NY.
A hundred years ago, hannity and o’reilly’s relatives were the bane of the US, the Irish Catholics.
1How quickly they forget!!!!
So basically those idgits on the right think they are gonna force our President’s hand into handing them a Senate seat for Scott Walker by rejecting everyone BUT John Kerry?
2Considering Rice was their grab for the narrative the day after the election it is sooo obvious.
Yes, she does not play nice, she say’s it like it is and doesn’t take crap from no one, it’s the dang Secretary of State, not Secretary of etiquette! she is exactly what we needed in that position and once again, the Rethugs prove that they would rather see this country fall apart, than let the possibility of success be attached to “That black Man and his tribe”.. Disgusting…
What leaves me spittin’ outraged about the repugnants outrage over Susan Rice, is their convenient memory loss of another woman whose last name was Rice, who did serve as Secretary of State. In that woman’s wisdom, she ignored *months* of warnings about imminent threat, and the aftermath is what we now call “9/11.” More than 3,000 died. Did they haul her in front of ugly congressional hearings, was there any question about what she knew and when, and her subsequent judgment? NO!!! These [choose expletive], make me want to puke.
3Wow! Lindsey Graham has grandchildren??? He’s never been married so are his kids illegitimate?
JJ ~ I am so sorry your son has cancer. I’m an agnostic so no claim my prayers will do any good, but can’t hurt & might help. ~ Hugs, Moms
4Diane,
Good point about the Irish. I think Hispanics are right where the Micks were about a century ago and thing will get much better for them. I just hope they don’t spawn any Paul Ryans or O’Reillys.
5IMHO.. McCain already tasted bitter defeat at the hands of voters & Graham will, too… but Susan Rice will go on to do great things, not only as our UN Ambassador, but beyond… maybe our future president. Karma can be tough or beautiful!
6Chip’s words of wisdom live on. Thanks for sharing that story, Susan. I never knew him, but I can tell, he sure was something special.
7Myrna is right about Condi Rice! She was given a pass on a much greater lapse of duty! My blood’s been boiling over about it so I didn’t trust myself to post decently, so I’ll just ditto – Thanks Myrna!
8Sorry, JJ. Didn’t read carefully enough. ~ Moms
9JJ, Thanks for the uplifting story about your son. It couldn’t be more true.
My hubby had knee replacement surgery this week. The hospital looks like the United Nations. Because the employees all share a goal – to help sick people get better – they work together like a well oiled machine.
People working together for a common goal are usually more successful than those trying to force their own agendas. Congress should take note.
10The Irish only got to be scapegoats until the Italian wave came over. People who had been abused now got to do the abusing of the wops, guinees, dagos and eye-talians. The Irish kept their grumps for so long that neighbor Mrs. Geary was still looking for eye-talians to spew at during WWII, when all five of my mother’s brothers were in uniform. She took her spite out on five-year-old me. Wonder what she’s thinking now?
11JJ, very nice story about your son.
I just love going to Vanderbilt or the Nashville VA – attached to VUMC – it is a GLOBAL VILLAGE of physicians, nurses, techs, scientists, et al and really makes me feel that having all those brains and cultures in one place makes for some truly BRILLIANT medical care.
12Lindsay Graham and grandkids? That cat has been out of the bag!
13My mom was in Columbia Presbyterian in NY before she died.
14It was fascinating to see and hearing all the different people from around the world.
Ah yes, the Irish and the Italians. The construction of the Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul MN, was the vision of an Irish archbishop. Lots of Irish in St. Paul, yeah, I too was surprised to learn that. Long story short, he did not allow the Italians to hold their services in the cathedral, they had to use the basement – which as you probably guessed, was “unfinished.” Dirt floor for the eyetalians. Good cathollics.
15Maybe my take on this is all wrong, but one thing I thought is that if Susan Rice couldn’t take the heat from the GOP, maybe she wasn’t the right person for the job. I can’t imagine Hillary backing down. I think you’d have to be pretty tough to do that job well. Of course, I don’t know all that much about her career, so like I said….
(Feel free to correct me as I am just speculating here.)
16@Lynne, perhaps it was a case of discretion being the better part of valor?
17Is Lindsey Graham gay?
18Don’t be surprised if that Philippine nurse is an MD in their country. I know a few in Ft Worth who are. A nurse in the US makes ten times what a doctor does in the Philippines and their training is just as rigorous.
19That was a lovely story about your son, Susan; it sounds as if he was a very special person.
Diversity is progress; we all grow up under different conditions and certainly people from other countries do. When you live in a closed society, you don’t learn as much about people, the world and the various ways to approach problems and people lose their creativity. Without creativity, everyone loses as progress is stopped. That is one of the biggest problems with our schools; children are not encouraged to be creative and most of the classes that let them be creative have been stopped in the interest of money and mandated tests.
20Your son was a saint, much like his mom. Wise beyond his too few years.
21I had a couple of great doctors from India when I had a caar accident. Love them both!
22Havung been a patient there many years ago – my nearly 84 years attest to their capabilities – the staff was multinational even then. They were #1 then and still are – no doubt about THAT!! I love all of them there. Besides my daughter became a radiology tech there……….yeah, I am biased but with good cause, doncha think?? We are a country of many peoples and that is why it is such a great country – despite our warts.
23I’ll never understand why republicans don’t get it, but I’m proud to be on the side that does- and grateful to you for sharing this remarkable story.
24