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My 1,000th Post on DU! Seems like only yesterday I discovered this place, lurked around a bit as someone without an Account, finally learned how to sign up and then became a Donor as well as a Daily Visitor.
I'm a proud Democrat from a long line of Democrats. My father was best friends with our town's Mayor and Police Chief and politics was often discussed when they came to their once a week dinner. So, politics is in my blood, in some way. I realize the stupidity of it, the potential good it can do and the constant threat of it being poisoned by greed and self-centered impatience. Of taking the short-term "what can I gain" view rather than the long term "how's this going to come back and bite me in the ass" view. And it always does, you know. Come back to bite you in the ass, I mean.
As great a place as DU can be, though, there are several things I've had to adjust to and make peace with in order to enjoy not only coming here, but continuing my donations and visits.
Not every Democrat or Progressive or Independent -- and in the interest of time and simplicity, when I write Democrat, please understand I also respectfully imply at some level Progressive and Independent as well -- on DU is going to be as informed, as kind, as patient, as intelligent or educated, as honest as you expect they would be. I just assumed that we Democrats were always better than repugs, but that's not the case. There's stupidity and blind, willful ignorance of the facts on both sides of the aisle.
Not every Democrat on DU is going to build up their Candidate using the policy positions their Candidate has offered, the facts of their life and what they hope to accomplish in Office. Oftentimes, people on DU try to "build up" their candidate by using slander, smear and regurgitation of sh*t about another candidate. Basically, the same bullsh*t right wing MSM-driven erroneous talking points we often assail the media over.
In fact, whole Threads are started simply to try and somehow wound a candidate. I wonder what it would be like if the same number of Threads were started to solely Build Up someone instead of amateurishly trying to drag someone else down. Is it possible that people have whole days available to start thread after thread tearing someone down? Seems like it sometimes. But maybe that's just what I see.
And I'm not perfect. I'm sure some here hate me. I suspect some here can't stand me and wish I'd disappear. And I trust there are those who enjoy what I have to say, appreciate the times when I do my best to be level-headed and see the issue from both sides and commiserate with me when my frustration hits the boiling point and I lash out in well-spoken anger. I'm human and have good days and bad.
But at the end of the day, I love DU. With all it's frustrations, irritations and flat-out "aaaaaaagh!!!!!!" moments, it's the ONE place I start my day with and check frequently for news. Is it perfect? No. But neither is a Democracy that gives people the right to say and believe in what they want. That gives people the right to not only disagree, but also be stupid, uninformed asses about it. As well as become better informed and, subsequently, better people.
Like Democracy, DU isn't pretty and sometimes doesn't make sense, but I suspect we'd all be lost without it.
So, here's to my entry into the 1,000+ Club!
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