This is My "I Love Rasputin 1952" Thread. What a Mod !

[K Gardner]

That's really all - just had to get that off my chest !

:yourock: :patriot: :applause:

[leftstreet]

1. "Barrel of gas, check; matches, check" n/t

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I'm with you!

He's a great, thoughtful, intelligent guy!

He should post more too, IMHO...

:fistbump:

[K Gardner]

13. Second that last thought, CalPeggy ! n/t

[Lithos]

3. He most definitely rocks!

A gentleman, a scholar, a friend, and a hell of a moderator to work with.

L-

[rasputin1952]

4. ...

:blush:

[jus_the_facts]

9. He's a MAN among mere men.....

....I mean that in the most complimentary way and I miss you. :loveya:

[Adelante]

20. ..

:hug:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

5. Add me to the list of admirers!

:yourock: my friend!

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. We in the mod hot tub like rasputin1952 as well.

:woohoo:

[Maeve]

31. However, for what it's worth...

(penny for your thoughts or putting my two cents' worth in...)

No mod decision is made alone, especially the locking of a thread. Love it or hate it, they work together even though only one gets the glory/blame.

That being said...Ras rocks. So does The Magistrate, greataunt, Lithos, PP, and a host of other current and former mods, much too numerous for me to type here (especially since the cat just jumped on my lap!)

[Uzybone]

7. K&R

Its not easy work I bet.

[EFerrari]

8. K&R

:yourock:

[babylonsister]

10. Rec'd! Thoughtful and fair, what a combo. nt

[firedupdem]

11. I'll admit my "mod crush".....he's great!!! n/t

[Jennicut]

24. "Mod crush"..lol

I have one too. Love ya, Ras

[DevonRex]

12. I love Rasputin, too! He's my hero and is among the reasons I

haven't thrown in the towel here. The biggest reason being a fairly extensive ignore list once again. :)

But Rasputin: :yourock: :fistbump: :toast: :loveya:

[countingbluecars]

14. K&R

[AntiFascist]

15. Thank you for locking that thread...

"how can I join you? now, how can I divide you!"

[Number23]

16. You obviously missed his reasoning for locking that thread

You should check it out. Could be illuminating for you....

[cwydro]

21. Talk about missing the point there.

Rasputin made the point perfectly as you saw and I did as well.

But I guess others will see what they want.

[AntiFascist]

23. oh it was illuminating alright...

with friends like these, who needs enemies?

[DevonRex]

25. Woah. That's out of line, IMO.

[AntiFascist]

26. If you wonder why the LGBT community is not posting so much on DU lately...

perhaps it has something to do with the condescension here. The unfortunate fact is that we are extremely active, we just happen to be taking the action elsewhere.

[Number23]

32. I will concede that there was some condescension in Mehr's post

Particularly towards the end of it. And I hate being condescended to as much as the next person. It is maddening, isn't it??

But will you concede that there is a very small but powerfully obnoxious group here who identify themselves as gay who are some of the most hateful people on this web site? And before you try your hardest to misunderstand me, I am not talking about even a sizable minority of gay posters here on DU. I am specifically mentioning the 7 or so folks who have made it a personal mission to poison the environment here.

Even though there was some condescension in that OP, I still think it had the potential to do some good here. But whatever potential it had was shut down as soon as the Banshees arrived, which is pretty much what Rasputin said in his locking note.

[AntiFascist]

33. I will concede that gays and lesbians can often be powerfully obnoxious...

and our sarcasm is legendary. God knows I often have to restrain myself! It kind of comes with the territory and may take some getting used to if you're not familiar with that aspect of the 'culture'.

Even being called a "homophobe" should not necessarilly be taken that negatively if it is referring to someone that simply is new to interacting with gays and lesbians. I was incredibly homophobic myself, at one time, while coming out of the closet. Even gay men who are comfortable with each other can be homophobic towards lesbians, and vice versa. I've seen this quite a lot, although younger generations are probably getting past it faster.

I think the problem with people who may have the best of intentions when wanting to help our community is making the mistake that they may "know better" about some aspect of what we are stuggling with. When I was a lot younger, during the AIDS crisis, I used to volunteer to go into gay bars and try to distribute condoms and literature in order to educate people about the disease. I often wasn't treated very well and kind of took it personally.

[rasputin1952]

34. Allow me to interject something here...

first and foremost, I do not act alone. I have no "special power" as a Moderator. I am one of a group who discuss things before taking action.

As for the individuals here who are not gay, and yet support the Human Rights of all, far too often, they are seen as the "enemy", or not "able to understand the situation". Sorry, but I'm gonna call foul on that notion. I am not black, but I have marched for Civil Rights, along with others, blacks, Jews, AmerIndians, Asians...we were there facing dogs and water hoses to assure that Human Rights were assured for these people. I have stood long for Equal Rights for everyone in this nation, I am not female, but I stand for Equal rights for women, in fact I've been called a feminist, something I am proud to be called. I am not gay, but I have stood up for Equal rights for Equal Rights for the GLBT community; I've been called many things for that as well, and I am proud to stand up for the Human Rights of the GLBT community.

I will not march lock-step to any ideology, and I do not expect anyone else to either. The issue that was being discussed needs to be discussed, however, there is a difference between discussion and argument. I am flexible, when I see an issue that needs people to stand up and create change, I will do so...but that does not mean I have to accept everything in that ideology, whether it be political, social or any other of a myriad of ideological issues.

My fight for the Human Right for gays to marry will not be tuned out because I have differences with some who post here. The main area of contention is that while some call for "understanding", they refuse to "understand" where someone else is coming from. One cannot slap someone in the face and expect the "slappee" to follow the "slapper"...regardless of who stands on what side of the line.

I think explanations far outweigh ad hominum attacks. If we work from a base of explanations, great advances will be made. Any change must maintain dignity and respect for others. I believe we shall see positive changes in the future, but it will take the work of a unified force, unity will never come about without flexibility, understanding and empathy.

[AntiFascist]

36. I understand and I agree....

and I greatly appreciate your kind of support.

I did not have a problem with the original OP in question and I, too, felt that it looked like a thoughtful post that deserved discussion. I didn't begin to react negatively until I saw a number of DUers, who I happen to respect, seemingly getting beaten up for not doing enough and complaining too much on DU. If this was some sort of attempt to "heal the divide" then obviously it turned out to be an epic failure.

Where was merh right after Proposition 8 passed? Did he/she not see the incredible amount of grassroots effort put forth on the internet in organizing massive, nationwide protests? Personally, I have been posting my brains out trying to keep people updated on Proposition 8 legal arguments and related actions. Prior to the election, I was submitting post after post in the GLBT forum trying to stir up interest in donating money to No on 8 in order keep up with the Yes on 8 side. At least we were able to ultimately surpass the other sides donations. I have also participated in local protests, signed petitions, and written plenty of letters.

For a relative newbie to GLBT causes to suddenly waltz in and accuse the DU GLBT community, and many incredible allies, of not doing enough, I found highly insulting. DU is much more than a place to air complaints, and I'm sure that you and the others are well aware of that, and it is a tool that many DU GLBTers have been trying to use effectively, for anyone paying attention.

[rasputin1952]

37. I understand frustration...been there many times myself.

I also know that the first rule in any type of confrontation is that one must know their "enemy". Only by exploiting the weaknesses of the opponent, can one hope to win the battle, and with the least amount of casualties along the way.

From what I've seen, those who pushed Prop 8 had better organization and funding, but that's all they had. I don't know why the GLBT community did not see this coming, and to be honest, since I'm here in Nebraska, I had no idea it was even on the ballot. Better organization on the part of the GLBT community would have made this not just a CA issue, but a national one. Those sympathetic to the cause could have added funds and written letters, sent e-mails an the like. However, it was CA that needed carry this through to defeat Prop 8.

Since that is history, it is now up to the courts. I can't say for sure just what will come of this, but on this end, I am supportive and am doing what I can to help overturn Prop 8, but in all honesty, it's up to the lawyers as well as the GLBT community and those sympathetic to the fight to get things done now. I have a feeling Prop 8 will be overturned, but I don't know the law, so I'm more hopeful than anything else at this point. Time will tell.

[AntiFascist]

38. Yes, I totally agree

Ever since I joined DU in 2003 I began, with another group of people, on a deep research project involving "The Fellowship" and many other aspects of the religious right leadership responsible for helping put Bush into office and various other nefarious projects. That's why, when I found out that Howard Ahmanson was one of the biggest donors to Prop 8, I realized that many of the same Dominionist-types were exercising their power further. Rick Warren is also loosely linked in with them - a 2005 Time Magazine article identified Warren as "America's People's Pastor" with Ahmanson as their Evangelical financier.

I am also very hopeful that Prop 8 will be overturned so that finally the Constitution will win out over theocracy. If not, then we must fight to put in place new initiatives.

[AntiFascist]

28. Ah, the most illuminating post was #121...

if rasputin1952 really understood the issue at hand, maybe he would be a little more understanding. I could go into more detail, but what's the point? Whenever I press this issue over and over I'm being told that I'm "attacking friends". Well, the real issue is that I'm attacking Obama's religious principles, and that's the basic problem isn't it?

[AntiFascist]

29. crickets n/t

[Number23]

17. He has definitely made an impression

I thought his response to Mehr's OP that got locked was a good one. Too bad that the folks who should heed what he wrote most won't....

[ShortnFiery]

18. Yes, this one I can genuinely concur.

Kudos Rasputin 1952. :yourock:

[opihimoimoi]

19. Raspy Rocks :o)

:yourock:

[pecwae]

22. I don't like him

just for his Modship. I like him because he's a good, fair and compassionate human being. I only wish there were more Ras' to go around.

[cali]

27. A wonderful mod!!

[RFKHumphreyObama]

30. Yes, as a former moderator, I can testify to what a thoroughly great person he is

And his personality reflects in his moderating -fair, balanced, compassionate, understanding and a great person overall:yourock:

[mtnsnake]

35. Here here for Rasputin and K Gardner, too!