Front Page
Login
Archive
ByLines
Mission
Resources
Tips
Our Store

Sections
Humor/Satire
Projects

ConyersBlog

Kudos from feline: One of the many things I love about this chatroom is knowledgable people who can instantly gratify my need to be informed, and immediately exchange ideas - I love it!

Neither Rain Nor Sleet, Nor Dark of Night

FrostedFlake

Seem to have picked up a cold. At last evenings weekly protest. There was in evidence no Bi-Partisanship. Nor did the horizontal rain dampen turnout. Though it did make it difficult to speak, to hear, and to see drivers passing giving five finger, two finger and one finger salutes. If you didn't know, you might have thought the election was next week.

And, No, we did not call it early on account of rain. And wind. And cold. And dark of night.

And neither did the flag-wavers.

Nothing is over. Our government continues to hammer away at the Law, not to break, but to destroy. Same story in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Guantanamo and in the SECRET PRISONS, excepting that the targets being hammered vary from place to place. The reason differs not. Power. Unreasoning, unrestrained, uncontrollable.

Used to be, that was just the way it was. War was taken to be like rain, a natural phenomenon, quite frequent, which must be endured or physicaly avoided, not prevented. But we learned, we grew, we came to understand that war, when it comes, comes because it was decided upon (by an Asshole) and we fixed that. We seperated warmaking authority from warmaking power. It does not follow that everyone enjoys that. Just 99.9999999999999999% of us. There remain, the Assholes. Those who put boots on necks because and for no better reason than there are boots, and there are necks. Ask them why, and it becomes your turn, to stomp or get stomped. You are either with them or against them. There is no neutral center. The object is to divide our house because a house divided against itself cannot stand, and chaos benifits the ruthless.

And in a classicly obtuse misrendering of the circumstance, we now are hearing from Washington the choir singing hosannas (hose on us) in praise of togeatherness, of Bi-partisanship, of forgiveness, of reapproachment, of "Can't we all just get along" (Mr. King). This would be great, if it were, but it isnt, because reality differs. The reality is, our Nation has been dragged to the brink of disaster, and there teters, still. The results of the elections were, to get away from the brink. Had this been the action thereafter taken, everything would be, if not great, at least close to normal. But, instead of the republicans advancing to where the democrats were, and there proclaiming the virtues of Bi-partisanship, what has happened is, the democrats have advanced to where the republicans still are, at the brink of disaster, and have expressed the intention to teter there in a Bi-partisan manner. Presumably, untill the revolution.

This is not what I voted for. It is what I voted against.

How 'bout you?
Frosted Flake

Comment # 1 ~ tahoebasha1 ~ 11/01/2006 03:31 GMT

I think I agree with you, Reed. Probably, the most important thing for any prospective "leader" to do would be to "rejoin" the American people, literally and in principle -- a "leader" whose goals and principles coincided with those of the American people and the purposes of our democracy. That would be a number one step forward. And, then, of course, the business of rectifying all the ills, all the illegal and unconstitional "laws" that have been put into play, repealing each and every one of which is unconstitutional and illegal, and, finally, getting on with the business at hand: education, concerns about the environment, all social and domestic issues, efforts to be "rejoined" in the world community as a "trusted" nation amongst nations, and on and on. Good post, Reed -- hits "home."

Comment # 2 ~ Reed31463 ~ 11/01/2006 13:04 GMT

I neglected personal courage. That is the ability to do the right thing, even though it is not the popular thing or the easy way out. This encompasses the ability to say, I made a mistake. I have learned from it, now this is what I will do next time.

I do not see very much personal courage coming from the Dems, some but not much. Except for one or two politicians, ie Walters and Paul, there is a complete void in the GOP.

Comment # 3 ~ unspun ~ 11/01/2006 13:15 GMT

Timely post Reed. The Democratic Party is still looking for leadership that has all the leadership qualities you list in your post, plus the one you mention in Comment #2: "Courage". In a comment on Daily Kos, I mentioned that Bush "cut & ran" from serving in Vietnam, while Kerry didn't, and that it's easier to talk like a hero than to act like one. But, personal courage alone isn't enough to be a dynamic, effective leader. I don't know if leadership is something that can be taught, or if it's innate. It seems that America had an abundance of high quality leaders in the Revolutionary times, and now suffers from a scarcity of great leaders. That includes both Democrats and Republicans--but difference is that the Republicans are evil, bullying, and rich enough to buy their way into power. They also lack any conscience about how they grab and maintain power, just as long as they do so.

Comment # 4 ~ tahoebasha1 ~ 11/01/2006 17:13 GMT

Unspun -- I think there is further reason for the scarcity of leaders. The dollar has become the "God" in this country -- so many people have long ago "sold their souls" or "sold out" -- once, you sell your soul, it's difficult, if not impossible to restore. Usually, what happens is that the person just goes on selling out over and over again to the point, where a "self" has become lost, if there ever was one in the first place. One has to know who one is first. How can there be personal courage without a sense of "self?"

Courage is also the quality of being honorable and the quality of being convicted in purpose and truth. It's many things. I don't have more time.

Comment # 5 ~ Rusty ~ 11/03/2006 19:12 GMT

As Netroots activists, we have to be leaders. And the media. And America's conscience. On November 8, we may have use what the 1st and 2nd Amendments tell us we can use, and take our government back the hard way.