Hi Miriam,
I don't have to tell you that you did the right thing.
When leaders allow the "Cause" to take precedence over people's lives then it is time to either get out or force a change.
Back in the early and mid 40's, when it was still legal to belong to any political organization, my parents belonged to the Seattle Communist Party. As a small child I remember sitting in an old store front on Queen Anne Hill while people droned on and on. But mother found it difficult to attend with three small children. Just keeping us occupied and quiet was taking all of her attention and energy. So she stayed home and let my dad do the politicking. Us kids were certainly happier. One evening my dad really leaned on mother to attend. He even found a baby sitter so she would not have us to fuss with.
At some point during the meeting, the leader of the group, a sharp faced woman, began dressing down my mother for not attending the meetings. Bad mistake. Mother set her jaw and explained that her children came first in her life.
"Well," the woman admonished her, "you had best understand that the Party comes first." Mother picked up her purse and marched out the door without a backward look to see if dad was following.
He stayed for the rest of the meeting. Very big error. Mother walked the mile back home and was still boiling when dad finally opened the front door. More bad judgment on his part.
After "discussing" the events of the evening Mother unjoined the Party. If they had really been card carrying members she would have torn her's up and sent it to "That Old Crow", as she referred to her from that day forward.
Dad's enthusiasm began to slide after that and by the time Harry Truman declared belonging to the Communist Party to be Un-American and a crime, Dad had settled down to being a Liberal.
Just as you did, Mother knew where her priorities were. Even if the so called Leaders did not.
*Miriam 1: Jernigan 0*
Crazy Carl
Hi Miriam,
I don't have to tell you that you did the right thing.
When leaders allow the "Cause" to take precedence over people's lives then it is time to either get out or force a change.
Back in the early and mid 40's, when it was still legal to belong to any political organization, my parents belonged to the Seattle Communist Party. As a small child I remember sitting in an old store front on Queen Anne Hill while people droned on and on. But mother found it difficult to attend with three small children. Just keeping us occupied and quiet was taking all of her attention and energy. So she stayed home and let my dad do the politicking. Us kids were certainly happier. One evening my dad really leaned on mother to attend. He even found a baby sitter so she would not have us to fuss with.
At some point during the meeting, the leader of the group, a sharp faced woman, began dressing down my mother for not attending the meetings. Bad mistake. Mother set her jaw and explained that her children came first in her life.
"Well," the woman admonished her, "you had best understand that the Party comes first." Mother picked up her purse and marched out the door without a backward look to see if dad was following.
He stayed for the rest of the meeting. Very big error. Mother walked the mile back home and was still boiling when dad finally opened the front door. More bad judgment on his part.
After "discussing" the events of the evening Mother unjoined the Party. If they had really been card carrying members she would have torn her's up and sent it to "That Old Crow", as she referred to her from that day forward.
Dad's enthusiasm began to slide after that and by the time Harry Truman declared belonging to the Communist Party to be Un-American and a crime, Dad had settled down to being a Liberal.
Just as you did, Mother knew where her priorities were. Even if the so called Leaders did not.
*Miriam 1: Jernigan 0*
Curious Carl
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