Hilary Coakley and Bradley Baker
Recorded
April 30, 2023
Archived
April 30, 2023
50:02 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddv002438
Description
In a One Small Step conversation Hilary Coakley (54) and Brad Baker (65) discuss the role religion plays in their lives, politicians they admire, the importance of freedom of opinion, fear of the divisiveness in the United States, and the unique place the U.S. holds as a republic.Subject Log / Time Code
Because of his partying, Brad Baker (BB)'s parents quit paying for college so he went into the military, expecting to learn a skill and leave after four years. He stayed for thirty years, loving the travel and learning about different cultures.
Having lived in Germany when her father worked as a scientist, Hilary Coakley (HC)'s siblings and her father are traveling to Switzerland this summer to hike the same places they did in 1978. This trip was one of her mother's final wishes before she passed ten years ago.
HC is frustrated with both political parties; her son is as well and doesn't follow traditional media but does his own research.
Both HC and BB expressed that their parents did not share their political beliefs with them as children, unlike how parents are today.
HC volunteered under Jimmy Carter with Habitat for Humanity. She identifies and a doe and helper and always resonated more with liberals, though she found out later her parents were conservative.
BB agrees that volunteering is great because the "payoff is right here in your heart." The volunteering opportunities in the military put a good face on the military and shows responsibility to younger troops.
BB brought his son with him while deployed in Germany when his son was a freshmen in high school; at first his son hated it, but later recognized the unique experience it was. BB's son later joined the military and traveled all over, identifying as libertarian now.
BB will fight for your right to have your beliefs. He swore an oath to the constitution he sees our politicians treating as a joke.
HC is hoping someone can lead us out of the divisiveness and her fear is there isn't anyone. She struggles with watching the news.
BB doesn't want our republic to be torn down; he's seen countries that don't function (Turkey, the Philippines) and HC has heard first hand accounts (Turkey, Peru). Both are glad they live here.
BB admires Ronald Reagan because 'he didn't seem to be like "what can I get out of this job," not like now.' He also likes his Kentucky congressman, Thomas Massie, a libertarian.
HC's husband also loves Reagan. She and he cancel each other out politically; at their wedding their cocktail napkins had elephants and donkeys on them.
The last time BB flew back from the desert people cheering for his service; he thought that if these people could celebrate a stranger, this country isn't that bad.
BB is turned off by how corporate his church feels and how much they tithe. His daughter is mormon now.
HC's faith is important to her and grows out of a morning bible study she regularly attends.
BB will take away that we're not all divided and he will continue to fight for your rights to your beliefs. HC enjoyed hearing BB say that it didn't matter what her beliefs were; he is willing to fight for her because she is a good citizen.
Participants
- Hilary Coakley
- Bradley Baker