If you spend more than 3 hours a week on DU, please please PLEASE

[frictionlessO]

Join the frickin' Activist Corps already. 1034 out of how many?????.... let me try and convince you.

The assignments are easy and if you're a foreigner you can still help and in some cases foreign letters get more notice. So you could even be more of an asset.

There are no penalties for not being able to do all tasks, your Activist Corps line on your profile just says inactive after a few missed assignments.. no biggie.

Don't know how to word up a letter? Plenty of people will gladly help you out. There's plenty of contact info available the in the DU activists HQ.

Plenty of support for just about anything you could need activism wise.

There really is precious few reasons if you spend 3 hours or more a week here at DU for you not to be in the Activist Corps.


-----------------------------------------

Ok so allow me to get a bit rough here, sorry if this offends anyone.... really. I'm just very very frustrated over this.

So yes, if you spend 3 or more hours a week here posting rants about how bad some DU'er is for posting a controversial link and you're not in the Activists Corps I think you have your priorities wrong. If you spend 3 or more hours a week here posting one line answers in "me too" threads but aren't in the Corps, same thing... I don't think I need to lay out another example. You get the point right? I mean I'm not saying your bad or wrong just that your priorities might not be all they can be in regards to the political nature of this site.

I mean cause this isn't high school or anything... this is real. People are dieing from policies that this government does in your name, those peoples relatives wont be looking at political affiliations if they get their chance for vengeance.

Speaking of political affiliations did you know your vote doesn't count much anymore??? Check out all the research in ER&D if you don't believe me, heres a link...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=203
If you do your research with some thoroughness it'll take you a couple of weeks. I'd think with all the people here who consider themselves politically aware that this would mean a lot to you... enough so that you'd join your fellow DU'ers in a task that takes at most a half hour out of your DU week.

Supreme court justices are getting looked at.

More Abu Ghraib pics are coming soon.

The DSMs are still out there waiting for their chance.

Rove/Plame......

There is major issue after major issue coming up and we need everyone we can get, to do this thing with us. Make your voice heard, be a part of the effort not just some wet blanket droning on and on about the uselessness of the entire situation.

We are still here with some modicum of freedom left, we are still here with some ability to fight. We have a voice and with our voices united maybe just maybe you'll be a part of changing history. You'll be able to tell your grandkids how you were one of those internet activist that brought the Bush regime down and how you were so very proud that day they dragged senior administration officials out of their offices. The camaraderie that you felt in a victory that might very well save the Earth if not just our very country, will glow across your face in remembering and maybe your descendants will take on where you left off.

I want you to be with us on this, not just read about it. I want you to feel how good it felt when Boxer stood up for Ohio, or when Conyers delivered our signatures and we knew that we were a part of that. A part of the reason why that happened....

You can and you should feel that good, and you should feel that good about your compatriots in such endeavors. I've made some friends here on DU that I will try to keep for the rest of my life because I feel like I've been on the front lines with them in the worst of political warfare. I want that for all of you....

So please from the very bottom of my heart and with all sincerity, consider joining us in the DU Activist Corps we are waiting with open arms.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=announcement&id=167

[JRob]

1. kick

[peacebird]

2. okay - i am joining and will give it my best effort

i admit i have sloughed off on the letter writing etc in basic disgust since the coronation. it's time i hauled my lazy ass back onto the front lines...

[frictionlessO]

6. Oh you have brought tears to this activits eyes!!!

You have just made a half hour of editing and re-writing oh so worth it.

Thank you for getting back to the fight (verbally speaking of course!)
:toast: :hug:

[peacebird]

8. thanks for slapping me upside the head, frictionlessO!

i needed it!

:toast:

[frictionlessO]

25. Oh, hope it didn't hurt!

and you're most assuredly welcome! thanks again!

[NoSheep]

59. We can do this together! The first action Skinner posted was filled with

all the help I needed to get started. I wrote a letter and sent it to my local paper. Then, I sat down tonight, and copied it and sent it to a few more. My SO wrote one and I sent his too. It's easy, the right thing to do, and next time you gripe about the administration, you'll know in your heart you've made an effort to do something about it. Thank you for joining! :hi: :kick: :pals:

[acmejack]

3. O speaks the truth!

This no time for armchair patriotism. It is time to get involved doing things that advance Our cause. Please? Pretty please??

[frictionlessO]

26. Well put! I could have weedled down my whole post to those two lines!

Thanks!

[wryter2000]

4. Already joined

:bounce:

[frictionlessO]

27. YAAYY!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Matariki]

5. Hi there

what would have helped would have been a clearer indication of what these tasks were going to entail. I might have missed it, but that's what kept me from signing up. I didn't want to commit to something unknown.

[frictionlessO]

9. Are you going to join now? Or were you asking for a clearer statement from

me?

Its real simple stuff and isn't about protesting in real life demonstrations or anything . Just letters petitions and that sorta thing.

Really you're not commiting to anything other than your word that you'll do your best to complete these tasks... nothing bad or drastic.

[Marnieworld]

7. Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay Okay

I just did it. Are ya happy?

Seriously though, this post really kicked my ass in gear. You can consider it your good deed for the cause today. Believe me, I spend way more than 3 hours a week here and I have been feeling frustrated that I haven't done more. So I'm in and I'm glad I'm in. :hi:

[frictionlessO]

12. Okay Okay okay!! Thank you thank you thank you thank you!

Yes you made me very very happy!! Thank ya again!

When I first got to DU I was so whiplashed by being on mixed (or coed with freeper type) boards, that I just hung out and had a good time in the most awesome lounge on the internet. As I got over the shock of the faux election, I started going to ER&D and those folks made an activist out of me.

When Boxer stood up with Tubbs-Jones and contested Ohio... I balled like a baby, like I was tear gassed. It wasn't just that small and at the time our only ray of hope. It was the first time that I had been a part of something important politically that actually panned out. I felt soooooooooooooooo good. Thinking on it now just made me tear up... and I guess thats what Im saying here it feels good to work on these things even when you dont get what you were hoping for in total all the time, the ones you do get will rock your world and shake your core like a religous experience.

Thanks again for joining, we needed you.

[Jo March]

34. frictionlessO, on Jan. 6th I was pumping my fists with joy

I made calls, signed petitions, faxed letters, wrote LTTEs. The payoff? Watching Sen. Boxer stand up and fight for us!

The payoff ever since then has been watching Dean and Clark and Kerry and Boxer and Edwards and Kennedy and Conyers and so many others stand up for us!

A few clicks here, a LTTE there - that's all it takes. I wrote and sent 2 LTTEs today and it felt great to go back and report that I had completed the task.

It's a feel-good, win-win kind of thing! I'm loving that "my" DU has started this. It's a great thing to see all of the excitement and the enthusiasm.

Thanks for this post. Some of us are rabble-rousers from the word "go." Some need more persuasion to come on in and raise their voices.

[frictionlessO]

42. You were very inspiring to me when I started going to ER&D.

You are an invaluable asset to our cause and I look very much forward to buying you many of your favorite drinks at some meet up in the future.

Wasn't the 6th just the best! The Boxer rebellion was the day that half this country realzied they weren't alone in the halls of government and the other half was put on notice that we would not go meakly and weakly into the new American fascism!

Color me blue and orange!

[Jo March]

51. Aww, thanks!

Man, January 6th was a great day! We need more like it, don't we?

I hope that we can meet in the future. Maybe at the DC march on 9/24?

:loveya: to Boxer and to you!

[NoSheep]

58. Yeah baby!

:hi: :kick: :pals:

[livvy]

10. I completed the first assignment today.

I wrote a brief letter to the editor of a local paper. It took about 20-30 minutes to write, 5 minutes to find the email address to send it to, and another 5 to proof and revise the letter. Really it was not time consuming and not difficult to do.
I've already received an email from the editorial staff. They are considering the letter for publication. Whether they publish it or not, it felt good to let them know my view was out there.

[frictionlessO]

24. Ahh a perfect testimony! thanks for posting!

and thanks for volunteering.

[bear425]

11. I'll join if you tell me how you do that. Your user name, that is.

Ok, I already belong to the DU Activist Corp, but I still wanna know. ;)

[frictionlessO]

16. Ya know you're only one of about 3 peopel who have ever gotten that!

Very very obscure and intense Tantric study from my younger days...

I need to stop there because... well you know why.;-)







(I really did start giving you some description though!! and then deleted it!)

[bear425]

20. Oh, man. Thanks for at least starting to tell me the good stuff.

I guess I'll just have to do my own research and development. Oh,well. ;)

(I've actually wanted to ask you for a while now, but had just enough wine tonight to do so. Don't know what that says about me that I'm one of only 3 people who got it.LOL)

[NMDemDist2]

23. LOL good decision O

and most folks don't have the discipline for tantric studies, despite the promised rewards

good on you!

[frictionlessO]

28. Yeah I thought about it, and was like...

"ya know, I think I've pushed enough buttons lately"... besides there is just know way to describe such a thing here.

Ahh but its the most joyous discipline in the world. The greatest reward is (despite my name) the absolute soul entwining moments with your partner.... Better than any drug ever!

Oh, is that too much? I tried to be really good in my phraseing...

Thank you for the goo on me.

[NMDemDist2]

30. goo? goo no good

:rofl:

on another note, thank you for this thread. I can see the effort you put in to the phrasing and it is appreciated!

and FWIW I did the first "Activist" action yesterday. Took 15 minutes start to finish to send a short letter to the local AZ red newspaper.

[frictionlessO]

40. Well goo on you then!!

Oh man talk about a perfectly placed mistake.

Thank you for the thank you.

And thank you for your activism and Moderating. Its hard to get any cred as Mod and you ALL deserve many accolades.

[NMDemDist2]

41. LOCKING!! Sex talk!

:hide:


:yoiks:


:rofl:

[frictionlessO]

43. Yikes!

Oh you are in sooo much trouble.
:spank: :spank: :spank:



LOL!! Naughty naughty AZdem!

[frictionlessO]

64. Crap! quick explanation...

I know that "no" is not spelled "know", please forgive me that mistake (amongst others).

[Jo March]

35. Oh, some of us got it

We're just too shy to ask. The last time I asked what something was (fisting), I was embarassed to say the least! I've learned to just leave things unasked sometimes!!!

:blush:

[frictionlessO]

44. Hehehe,

When it comes to ceratin.. ermmm proclivities it is almost always a good thing to ask. Knowledge is not action after all.... but yeah some things are better left unanswered and unasked.

the blush was used to good effect in your post.

[bear425]

71. Oh, now I feel bad for askin' . It was the wine and it's now worn off.

:blush:

BTW. I knew what it was. I was just foolin'. ;)

I guess I was just feeling all happy with myself for getting my assignment done today. Woohoo!

[Broken Acorn]

13. Ok, since you put it that way...

I'm in!

[frictionlessO]

17. Thank you very very much and welcome aboard!

Wish I could give you a hug.:hug:

[NoSheep]

61. Yeahhhhhhhh!!!!!!

:bounce:

[babylonsister]

14. Just bookmarked this, trying to catch up after being out of

touch. But will search activist groups and figure it out and yeah, I imagine I'll be happy to join. Thanks, frictionless0!

[frictionlessO]

18. Hit the link at the bottom of my OP.

Welcome back and thank you Sister!

[politicaholic]

15. You see, the specific duties of the Corp haven't been stated...

How are we supposed to know how much time it will take or what we need to do? This has been so vague so far.

I have helped organize a few protests in my life and that's pratically a full time job for at least a month to two months for the main organizers. Permits, security, crowd control, traffic control, speakers, march route...

Even letter writing campaigns can be a horrible nightmare. Funding, materials, participants, addresses, petitions, follow-up...

I mean, I have time to volunteer to lick stamps a night a month or take a Saturday to staple "on-message" signs to sticks for an up coming protest, but organizing these things, that's just too much.

[frictionlessO]

21. Its nowhere near that intense here.

There is nothing you need to organize but your own thoughts.

It is almost completely internet based activism, and maybe some real paper letters every now and then.

Please consider joining, you get automatically notified of the task via PM, and then you click a link when you've completed it by the accomplish by date. Its really really simple and easy, I promise.

Hope you join and thank you for your comment.

[politicaholic]

29. Thanks, I just signed up.

:hi:

Let's get some shit changed.

[NoSheep]

60. WoooHooo! Thanks politicaholic!

:toast: :bounce: :hi: :kick:

[elehhhhna]

19. Endorsement; Isen t one quick email to the loca paper & it RUNS TOMORROW!!

How cool is that?!

Took me two minutes (as you'll be able to tell if you read it).

[frictionlessO]

22. And dont ya just feel good about i?! All a twitter and whatnot??

You're going to post athread to it when its pub'd tomorrow right?

Congratulations!

[NoSheep]

62. Good job elehhhhna!

:7

[NMDemDist2]

31. Here's a couple links about the activists and how to keep tabs

on what's involved if you want to watch and see for a bit :)

the main forum is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=106


Here's is the discussion how we came up with the first action alert:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=17363&mesg_id=17363

[frictionlessO]

46. Great Links!!, wish I would have thought of that for the OP...

Might have answered a few more questions of the unsure....

Thank ya again!

[hang a left]

32. If I join up....which I have zero talent, and little to offer.....

won't the FBI put me on some kind of list or something?

[NMDemDist2]

37. you know I asked myself that question last year as I was planning

to attend a Cheney protest. I also didn't put a bumper sticker for Kerry on my car until August 04

You know what I decided? I decided I refused to live in fear and I refuse to let them imtimidate me out of exercising my Constitutional Rights!

and I figured since I probably already have a FBI file from protesting 'Nam and Gulf War I, what would a few more entries matter :rofl:

Seriously though, everyone has to stay with in their comfort levels, but ask yourself, if you don't exercise and defend your free speech rights... Do they actually exist?

Use 'em or lose 'em is my stand.

[Justpat]

33. People need to realize that is was through similiar

orgainization and committment to their ideas that the right wing
rose to power over the rest of us.

DU'ers, lets do this.

[NMDemDist2]

45. as one "old broad" to another

thanks! and you are so right, congrats on the LTTE too!

[cleveramerican]

36. not sure if I'm up to the task

I'm not a policy wonk by any stretch of the imagination.
I hit DU daily for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on my mood and the level of discourse.
I'm a member of the Teamsters Union and an Irish-Catholic from Boston. I attended the Democratic National Convention in Boston. I was there to see both Senator Edwards and Senator Kerry's acceptance speeches.I worked a few days for the Kerry Campaign cold calling people in Iowa and Virginia.
I'm a lifelong democrat who comes from a long line of democrats.
I'm liberal by most folks standards but I am not a cartoon character. I'm not wild about the extreme outer edges of either party. The middle is where consensus lies. Democracy relies on people of different views coming to consensus through respect for the others view and a passionate belief in your own.

Of the people
By the people&
FOR THE PEOPLE
This third part is the basis of liberalism in my view. I believe that the individual citizen is good and worthy of any and all public policy arraigned on his(or hers) behalf.

[Justpat]

38. I wasn't sure I could do it either.

I work seven days a week. I'm wasn't sure I had the time,and
truthfully, I wasn't sure I had the intellect to participate.

But I just fired off a letter to the editor of my local paper.
I thought about it a lot today. I jotted down some note during
the day and then gave it my best shot. It's all you can do.

[frictionlessO]

47. Great advice and very much the truth. You can do this!

Join us!

[cally]

48. It just took me a short time to write the letter

I only wrote two paragraphs and I was told today that they will publish it. I just read the letters others had written and posted on DU. I then wrote my own. It didn't take any additional research or any knowledge that you don't already have by reading DU.

[frictionlessO]

50. Wow another one to be published!! See it works, people it really works!

Join us and help save America!

[BamaBecky]

39. kick!

[frictionlessO]

49. Thanks ever so muchly Becky! this thread will need some kickers

through the night.

[BamaBecky]

68. kick

[SheepyMcSheepster]

52. kick!

[Vincardog]

53. Give me a K give me an I give me a C give me a K

[LiberalAndProud]

54. Present.

Thank you, frictionlessO
for your eloquence

I pledge to do what I can do.
And in taking action, regain
my Hope for my country and my world.

[frictionlessO]

57. Ohhhhhhh, that was lovely just lovely.. thank you for the chills!

and welcome aboard!

[frictionlessO]

55. I am such a dork!! I only just now remembered to hit the completed link!

Sent it yesterday...

and no Im not PUI!

[NoSheep]

56. Great Post. It's so easy to take a few minutes to write a letter. And if

you have more time...you can send it to more addresses. Perhaps there will be some actions you cannot participate in due to personal restrictions on your time, etc. I have NO money..but I've got a bit of time. Please help. We CAN change our world. I know it!

[frictionlessO]

65. Thank you, and yes a good suggestion for those who wish to do more.

A small fragment of time can change the course of history.





on edit: just a lil off the top...

[KansDem]

63. ok...OK...OOOOOKAAAAAY, you've shame me into volunteering!

kansdem shamed :hide:

Put me down on "the list!" When do I report?

[frictionlessO]

66. Immediately!!

Yer late soldier!

LOL... no shame intended at all, just suggesting and reminding people how good it can feel.
But your response is so damn cute, Im kinda glad you were!

Good Kansdem good good Kansdem...now go sign up for the Corp and help save the world.
(ya know ya want to)



:puffpiece:<-------- Just pumping ya back up!

Thank you kindly for doing this, I appreciate it tremendously.

[hiley]

67. joined the other day

but I will recommend and kick
thank you frictionlessO.
Hiley

[Sugarcoated]

69. I'm kinda new to politics and this site

I didn't even know about it. I'm in!

[Sugarcoated]

70. I want to add

I do write letters on my own, though.

[hiley]

75. kind of thought you probably did.

Before I finally started posting here I had been writing letters and raising cain for years.
I hope you like it here.
Hiley

[frictionlessO]

84. You are just the kind of person we are looking for!

Thanks for joining!

[hiley]

74. Sugarcoated that is wonderful !

Welcome to DU and a very busy world of political issues..
Glad to see you here!
Hiley

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: Sugarcoated:woohoo:

[rasputin1952]

72. Kick

:D

:kick:

[osaMABUSh]

73. 3 hours a week? How about 3 hours a day?

Or more if I could get a way with it at work

[frictionlessO]

79. I actually am allowed to surf from work, Im on DU 8-12 hrs a day!!

and I still manage to have a somewhat normal life.

LOL, I thought 3 hours a week was the bare minimum that I could ask some to donate a half hour or so a week from, and not feel all mean about it.

But yeah I know what you mean!

[il_lilac]

76. kick for action

:kick:
Let's get 2000!

[frictionlessO]

80. I'd love to see 2000!! or 5000!!!

Well one can dream, no?

[lonestarnot]

77. Damn I haven't done this week's activist activity yet! Have been so busy!

This fw blog event is taking a toll! Gotta "git er done" yuck! Damn I hate that phrase.

www.freewayblogger.com

[frictionlessO]

81. LOL, sometimes its hard to choose which activism to go with.

FWblog is very very worthy though.

*snortle* "git 'er dun" yucky....

[lonestarnot]

87. Well just do all of them and then you won't have to worry

about making a choice! LOL;)

[frictionlessO]

88. I forget does lack of sleep eventually kill a person??

Truly Bushco has made so many worthy causes to champion it quite literally boggles the mind.

[lonestarnot]

90. Yes... you must rest!

[cleveramerican]

78. i signed up!

and I'm going to hold up my end of the agreement.I'm determined.

[frictionlessO]

82. Thanks and you wont regret it.

Determined people will save democracy!

[frictionlessO]

83. 1062! I started this thread when there was 1034. Don't know how many

joined because of this thread but BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG THANK YOUS, to all who joined!

:toast: :bounce: :thumbsup: :loveya: :grouphug: :headbang: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause:





:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[frictionlessO]

85. Please, just another 1000... thats all Im asking for....lol.

[crispini]

86. Agreed. My LTTE took me 10 minutes to write.

There's no reason why you SHOULDN'T sign up!

[Catherine Vincent]

89. Kick!

:-)