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2007 is going to be the most significant year in our nation's history since 1968. It will be a year of progress and change, not because of the Baker Group or some insight on the part of Bush & Cheney. The progress will, however, take much of its form within the new Congress. But, most of all, it will be the result of the tireless efforts of the activists found across the nation at the grass-roots level.
Just a few short years ago, many of the ideas and beliefs expressed on DU were the type of things that the corporate media scoffed at. Things have changed. That change wasn't from the top. It started at the grass-roots level. That change in perception resulted in the new Congress.
In the past few weeks (and months and years), it has been evident that there are a wide range of thinking, beliefs, and values to be found within the progressive community here. This is a strength. We face a wide range of problems in this era, and a narrow range of thinking will offer few solutions.
When I was young, Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman taught me this: "Think for yourself, and act for others." He also taught me that there is strength in unity. One of the things that unites people on DU is a common enemy: an enemy of people as individuals, that dictates who can or cannot get married; an enemy that denies certain people the medical care they deserve; an enemy that will dump its poisonous waste products into the environment you inhabit; an enemy that makes it too expensive for some young people to get the education they deserve; an enemy that declares preemptive wars based upon gross lies, and fully expects others' children to fight, kill, and die in it; an enemy that wants to deny you and I any access to that Constitution and its Bill of Rights that makes this country worth our investments.
Chief Waterman taught me that this common enemy will attempt to isolate us, so that it can break us as easily as it can break an individual finger. Yet when we unite, we individual fingers form a powerful fist. We can use that fist to protect our common interests. We saw the result of that "fist" in the voting booths last November. We need to see a lot more of it in 2007, taking full advantage of those tools listed in that Bill of Rights, and protecting those treasures found in the entire Constitution.
Happy New Year, DU !!!
Get Up. Stand Up by Bob Marley & Peter Tosh
Preacherman, don't tell me, Heaven is under the earth. I know you don't know What life is really worth. It's not all that glitters is gold; 'Alf the story has never been told: So now you see the light, eh! Stand up for your rights. Come on!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight! Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!
Most people think, Great God will come from the skies, Take away everything And make everybody feel high. But if you know what life is worth, You will look for yours on earth: And now you see the light, You stand up for your rights. Jah!
Get up, stand up! (Jah, Jah!) Stand up for your rights! (Oh-hoo!) Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!) Don't give up the fight! (Life is your right!) Get up, stand up! (So we can't give up the fight!) Stand up for your rights! (Lord, Lord!) Get up, stand up! (Keep on struggling on!) Don't give up the fight! (Yeah!)
We sick an' tired of-a your ism-skism game - Dyin' 'n' goin' to heaven in-a Jesus' name, Lord. We know when we understand: Almighty God is a living man. You can fool some people sometimes, But you can't fool all the people all the time. So now we see the light (What you gonna do?), We gonna stand up for our rights! (Yeah, yeah, yeah!)
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