Strength Through Diversity - This is the essential foundation of any true people's movement.

[ConsAreLiars]

And so, of course, "divide and conquer" is the counter-strategy. Cointelpro (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cointelpro if you are unfamiliar with this history) is a case in point. The methods used are well documented even if not well known.

There will always be some among us who are susceptible to one sort of form of bias or another. All of us are, to some degree, biased and thus susceptible to manipulation. But some, due to their life experiences, will be easily convinced that disassociating from and repudiating this or that "unsavory" part of our diverse community. They can be led to believe that making "us" more pure would make "us" better. Puritans purging our ranks of the undesirables in the name of getting rid of those who "make us look bad." There is a very long history of such witch-burnings.

Objectively, however, it just makes us smaller and weaker. We need to work together for the common good, and we need to fight in many ways, in may arenas, using many tactics, acting according to many different strategies, and reflecting many different ideologies.

"E Pluribus Unum" was our national motto until the fascist forces replaced it with "In God We Trust" in 1956. Many different groups working together for the common good. That is what defines us as a common people rather than isolated, divided and ineffective factions.

[shance]

1. Always remember : There are thousands more of us than there are of them.

Their power is dependent on their intentionally keeping Americans divided and fearful of one another and of "otherism" in general.

[ConsAreLiars]

4. Exactly.

Turning more of us into fewer is playing their game.

[TheConstantGardener]

2. I agree, but we shouldn't capitulate to rich minorities either

I'm all for strength through diversity. But right now the 5% of the ultrarich that have said they are part of our movement are keeping the 95% back...

[ConsAreLiars]

3. I'm not sure where the "ultrarich" begins.

By my own definition no one I know of meets that standard, but during Vietnam many with megabucks joined in the Peace Movement as individuals of conscience rather than as representatives of their class. These included heirs to the Pillsbury and Crocker fortunes and "celebrities" like Jane Fonda who helped get funding for the Indochina Peace Campaign. They all made the best effort they could, and I thank them.

But if you are talking about misleaders and pro imperialist weasels like H Clinton and, sadly, Kerry. who betrayed his past, then I see your point.

[TheConstantGardener]

5. I just think we shouldn't be a Big Tent lead by

a small corner of the tent.