Some thoughts on the energy here in GD. We have incredible
potential to make a difference. I've seen it happen a
number of times. When I first came here I saw DUers get together and
accomplish a number of amazing things, through letter writing and educational
efforts, research etc. But there is so much redundancy here, discussions that go on and on repeating stuff that we've all said and heard before. What are we DOING to improve our situation? We all seem to recognise the situation is an EMERGENCY!
If we are upset about ABC for example, lets FOCUS and make
a group effort to pressure them, bombard them with letters and calls.
Most times when someone tries to make an effort to harness some of the energy here to actually accomplish something the thread dies a quick death while too many people seem to prefer dissipating the energy in circular repetitive arguments and jabber-jawing. This kind of thing is perfectly OK, but it seems to eclipse everything else. GD moves very fast and the non sexy threads have a hard time competeing. But are we really here to change the world or simply kill time?
When the Congress was discussing that 87 billion dollars, MoveOn was
organizing a major lobbying effort. A few people, including myself,
tried in vain to bring DUers attention to it. It was basically
impossible. The threads went nowhere, while Freeper trivia and Nader
flame wars loomed front and center. So while MoveOn was mobilizing people around the country, we couldn’t even get interest here. Come on folks it's all about energy and we are wasting too much of it!
When someone posts a thread that actually offers some constructive idea or action that can be taken, no matter how small, help them out, at least with a kick here and there. I know this is general DISCUSSION, but there are a ton of boards out there
where people sit around and shoot the bull, complain, vent, whatever.
That is fine here also, it serves a real purpose, I like to do it myself, but that’s not the main reason I am here! I also want to change the situation we find ourselves in.
We have so much potential here! Even a small amount of focus
can accomplish wonders.
When Plame was outed, I put together every petition and email/fax link I could find (and there were many) that called for an independent investigation. It was a simple useful thread where someone could send a half a dozen letters and sign petitions in one quick sitting. Unfortunately and frustratingly it could not compete, and most people just plain ignored it and would not even give it a helpful kick. Yes, I know we have an activism forum, however GD is where the bulk of DUs population hangs out, and there was no lack of folks complaining about the Plame leak.
So, what am saying? I guess I’m just wishing we could at least focus a bit of all this energy. There is going to be ONE candidate nominated and they could very well be our next president. Whoever that is why aren't we brain storming on how we will hold them to their promises and make sure we have a voice when that time comes?
Whoever that is they will be inheriting an absolute nightmare from the criminals in the WH. How will help them deal with that?
Discussion of the candidates and their policies is crucial!
But accusing each other of being 'cultists', working for Rove, bla bla bla is destructive! We are taking good energy and frittering it away.
So if you made it this far and sympathize with what I am saying. How about considering clicking on my other thread and sending a Fax to the Miami State Attorney concerning civil rights abuses durring the FTAA meetings? I spent the better part of an hour putting it together, and it could make a small differnce in terms of all our civil liberties. :-):-):-):-)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=867856------------------------------------------------