Some notes and links

Well, I'm off to the dentist this afternoon to get a cavity filled.  I leave you with two interesting links: Republic of T. has a post about an interesting study of why some kids grow up to be conservatives.  I'm always trying to figure out why I turned out the way I did, coming from a conservative southern Baptist family.  And I found out this weekend I'm an exception.  A story on NPR says that since most people grow up to share the political beliefs of their parents, the fact that conservatives tend to have more babies is eventually going to change the demographics of this country (GIL points out that immigration factors could just counter that out in the end and it's probably a lot more complicated, but it's still an interesting thing to think about).  Do progressives need to raise more kids?  Not that progressive would necessairly raise more secure children as the study says but still...

UPDATE: sort of along those lines of conservative consciousness, Terrence just put another post about (fundamentalist) religion as addiction.  It so reminds me of my family and the way they view the world.  I hate to sound judgmental and on my good days I do better at just accepting that this is the way they see the world and it's the best --most comforting-- worldview they can come up with.  It's a coping mechanism.  But still.  It's so sad.  The world is so much bigger, reality so much more nuanced...but they can't give it up.  I feel badly for them.  Is that patronizing?

And also, the April edition of the Radical Women of Color Carnival is coming up, so send your submissions in soon!  The theme this month is sex and sexuality.  Brownfemipower at Women of Color Blog explains more and offers a ton of resources.  Go check it out.  Happy Monday everyone!

Comments

[Terrance]

I, too, grew up in a religious conservative families. It's one of the reasons why every time I visit home I'm reminded of why I left it. As I always tell people, I realized I was gay when I was around twelve years old. About two seconds after I realized I was gay, I looked around me and had a second realization: "I've GOT to get out of here!"

[barb]

Yeah, that seems to be the age when kids really come into themselves, not just on sexuality, I think, but on all sorts of things, 'cause that's roughly the age I felt like I sorta realized 1.) there is no Santa Claus, no easter bunny and no cartoon God in the sky and 2.) "I've GOT to get out of here!" too! lol... I started college early (during the summer) just so I could get out of the house that much sooner! I just hope I never, ever make my teenager as miserable as I was.