"History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are."
-- David McCullough
Reflecting on the time I've spent on Daily Kos since September 2008, one of the more self-evident truths I've come to appreciate about those who participate here is that we are a complex group. We each come from a unique set of backgrounds, circumstances, families, geographies, cultures, and experiences. We are a diverse collection of individuals with similar and contrasting perspectives. We have made our fair share of mistakes, and have accomplished a variety of worthy deeds. In other words, we're all human -- even if we appear to be mere pixels on a screen.
We each have a story to share. I'm a strong believer that if perhaps we took the time to better understand our personal histories and how we have come to take the political positions that we do, we would have much more constructive and civil debate with one another. So with that in mind, I'd like to share a brief story about myself.