DU is the link that holds all Progressive groups together

[Jo March]

Think about it for a minute. How many of us here work with other Progressive groups? I, for one, work with one other Progressive group.

So, add all of us up together and we probably have a DU member working with almost every Progressive group out there.

DU is the link that holds us all together! DU has become a clearinghouse of sorts due to the posters who post updates from other sites. We have so many posts that say, "Sign this petition" or "Help this group's cause" that it amazes me.

The Election Reform Group (we are still working on a name) can capitalize on DU's unique situation in the Progressive world. We are getting together a group to work towards election reform. As I see what is needed, I have a wonderful vision for our group:

Election Reform Communication Central! (Not the group's real name)

Yes, we will still email, call, fax, write, protest and generally make the thugs' lives hell, but we will be the glue that holds all other groups together and insures that the other groups communicate with each other.

We won't compete with those other groups. We will work with them and become one large powerful force for election reform!

Can you picture it, DU? Can you see all of the Progressive groups communicating with each other, mobilizing, becoming a large force for change?

I can see it, DU. I see the power of this board and the DUers themselves.

We will bring those bastards down - together!!

[rucky]

1. I was hoping there was another place to go...

the battered stepchildren tend to slow things down around here.

[brainshrub]

2. Progressive are like nurturing parents.

The battered stepchildren are welcome here.

[rucky]

4. Point well taken.

Frustrating as it may be. I'm usually a patient person, but lately...

[Jo March]

8. Ignore the negative posts and go to the posts that are action-oriented

That is the only way to get around and through this mess.

DU has been my home for a while and it can get a little depressing at times but I will not be stopped.

I want to act, not complain or point fingers or scream. I want to channel my anger into action.

Come on. Join the group that wants to fight and leave the disagreements to others! :)

[autorank]

26. Great point, IGNORE WHINERS!

I love a good debate on policy but whining like "oh, I'm leaving if...bla,bla,bla" really taps the spirit of this place. I'm on one single thread forum that got seriously trolled a couple of times by a freeper. He finally went away when every body there just timed him out, ignored him. Good policy.

[blm]

3. That's certainly a big plus, and also why so many GOP operatives pop up

here to stir up dissent, further divide the left, and make outrageous suggestions to undermine this board's credibility.

[myschkin]

5. How about

Democratic Revolution (Group)?

Movement against democratic apathy.

[BeFree]

6. More than a just a link

It is the chain which binds us.

All the groups are the links in that chain. I see that you, arnheim, are attempting to become the welder of the links. In order for you, or anyone else to do so, I feel you may have to become a known entity and not remain an anonymous poster. Are you ready for that? I wouldn't be ready to relinguish that freedom, but someone needs too, eh?

[Jo March]

11. Am I ready for it?

Interesting question. :)

I started my website, www.domainofarnheim.com, as a safe haven for myself. All of my skeletons are there. You can't see them now but they are still saved on the website. Slowly I've been "coming out" to friends and family. Maybe I knew this would come.

I look at my life and it's all lead up to this point. I started becoming political at age 6, believe it or not. My mom was constantly frustrated at my attempt to "save the whales and all of that liberal crap."

LOL. The fights I used to have with my dad would shake the house. He loved Reagan and the NRA and hated most everything else.

I'm okay with relinquishing my freedom. I worry about my family, of course, but I know that I have to make the US a better place for them.

It's been great being arnheim. I rather like the anonymity but it's slowly fading away as it is. It's just one more step, right? :)

[BeFree]

16. One small step

But it can become a giant leap.

In my little community, I am becoming well known. I have to be careful, and not be so free as I am here. Still, I am free to speak on the issues confronting this community, that, they will never take away.

But once mantled with a responsibility such as being the welder of all the links, one must be totally open and observable. Note Ms. Harris' recent rise and fall amongst her peers.

Also, as I took on the mantle of speaking for a large number of people, and my comments were seen as representing them and their diverse opinions, my freedom to be free with my comments had to be reigned in so as to not misrepresent those folks.

It's a tight-rope, all the while being under the microscope.

Good luck.

[Jo March]

17. There are many drawbacks, I know. (

That is why people are so scared to step forward and do things like this. Look at what was done to Gore and to Kerry. It's shameful.

BH made many mistakes but most of it was her inability to delegate for whatever reason.

This group is not mine. That's why I am working to get a core group together to be the point people for the various categories. If I falter, there will be others to carry on with the fight.

It is bigger than me and I am grounded and humble enough to realize it.

Thanks for the words of encouragement and caution. :)

[MelissaB]

7. I can see it, arnheim!

We need this! We need to work together and mobilize for this cause.

:toast: Thank you for all you do here and your vision and willingness to work and make it happen.

[Jo March]

9. Awww...I owe it all to bunnypants

For making me mad enough to get back into the game. The last time that I was politically active? During *'s daddy's term and during Reagan's time in office.

It took this travesty of justice and rape of Democracy to wake me back up.

I'm glad that DU is here. I would have gone crazy without it.

[GetTheRightVote]

10. I hope you are correct, I am wishing it so.

:mad:

[Bill Bored]

12. I was just thinking that posts from DU should be spread around.

If someone sees something on DU they would like others to get involved with, they should post links to it elsewhere. I'm sure this happens from time to time, but why not all the time (within reason of course)?

Let's say we try to launch a letter-writing campaign. Members of other groups/forums should spread the word on their venues.

Sorry if this is obvious, but while we are a hub in a sense, we also need as many spokes as we can get. Then we will have one big squeaky wheel!

[Jo March]

15. Bill Bored, that is what I picture for our group

If we can set up a "media tree" as was suggested, then we can be the media and alert all media organizations. Well, there is no reason that we can't set up a Progressive site alert tree and send out the word!

Of course, that goes both ways. If other groups need our help, they call on the Election Reform Group and we get to work mobilizing.

I can see it. I hope that all of you can see what we are on the edge of here. It will be great to be working side by side with other groups to defeat * and his cronies by legal means and a grassroots movement.

[FogerRox]

13. Be prepared for the Internet to have restrictions on Political free

speach within 18 months.

[marions ghost]

19. why?

don't they want to know what's going on too?

[Bill Bored]

21. This would of course make things more difficult

and it's not totally unexpected either, given who we are dealing with.

If it happens, it's time to move on to a free country somewhere, either virtually on the Net, if possible, or physically by getting outta here! The Internet is the last bastion of free speech.

So what's the evidence that this will happen?

[EuroObserver]

25. See this:

Ahimsa Gone and Returned: Responses to the Seizure of Indymedia Harddrives

[MelissaB]

27. Also here:

This is their website I visit. Look for the small black box on the left that says, "FBI seizes IMC servers in UK".

http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml


I couldn't believe this happened! :scared:

[FogerRox]

28. it is too be expected--so we need to have a contigency plan

Bush did not have a a contigency plan for Iraq and look what happened.
Lets not make tha same mistake--we need to be prepared.

[marions ghost]

14. Thanks for moving on this...

:toast: to you arnheim

I am completely in support of your vision and will help in some way as it comes together. I already do a lot of volunteering, so hardly have much energy to spare but will see what I can do. Do appreciate your efforts to organize Communication Central and your positive can-do spirit. Positive action = exactly the right antidote to the shocking and unforgivable abuse of trust that we voters have recently experienced in 04. And we who come into it now owe a lot to those pioneers who took up the fight immediately after 2000.

I urge others here not to worry for a minute about the negative posts, the disinformation specialists, the consistently critical naysayers. There WILL be opposition. Just keep moving forward.

FOR MORE INSPIRATION AND POSITIVE OUTLOOK TODAY READ THIS:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=267513&mesg_id=267513

It's a good picture of the emergency vigil phase--as I see it --From Selection Day to Objection Day--

This new movement is truly an evolution and a logical extension of the Civil Rights movement. It's time we finish the job and create a real democracy. And it has to be done along with all the other fights ensuing on every front at the moment. All part of the whole.

[Jo March]

18. Thanks, marions ghost

For those kind words and for the volunteering that you already do. We need your spirit and kindness to keep us motivated.

I have a feeling that it's going to get pretty bumpy as we start fighting back. :(

[cyberpj]

20. If true, to make your statement useful, other groups would need to agree

As I said yesterday, the unification of the groups is needed if rallies and protests are to become more effective.

How do we go about getting all those groups to agree to one point of contact for receipt and dissemination of information?

This is truly the most important issue if we are to increase our numbers and share all the fragments of information we each hold.

[keepthemhonest]

22. OK sounds like a plan

again we really need to be as organized as possible,I hate to say it but like the Christian coalition is. I am with you.

[FreepFryer]

23. Listen to those who know about unity among great obstacles:

DU is a great forum, and a great way to meet up - now, let's build bridges between progressives, liberals and 3rd parties, socially-moderate republicans and fiscal conservatives.

Let's remember Gandhi's (a man of peace) and Sun Tsu's (a man of war) words:

"I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love."
--Mahatma Gandhi

"Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking."
--Mahatma Gandhi

"He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious."
--Sun Tzu

[Coexist]

24. I love DU because

people from BradBlog, RawStory, Truthout and others come to post their breaking news.

It really does provide a common source for all progressives.

[Jo March]

29. Beautiful. Thanks for posting them. nt

[FogerRox]

30. Sun Tzu--my fav is --on dangerous ground, manuever, on Deadly ground fight

[keepthemhonest]

31. yes that is a good one

We need to follow that one.

NGU