OpEdNews » The Activism of Hope: Pep talk and open discussion thread

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June 28, 2008 at 09:15:59

Headlined on 6/28/08:
The Activism of Hope: Pep talk and open discussion thread

by Kathryn Smith Page 1 of 3 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Dear friends:

We all are in this together. Obviously those who are reading the diaries and articles on this site are doing so because we all are awake and aware, and wanting real news instead of the mainstream censored spin. So we all have a common goal: To help create a better world.

But as Mark Twain said very well, "the highway to hell is paved with good intentions".

I can't pretend not to be depressed and worried about all that is going on in our country. It would be pretentious and even inhumanely inconsiderate of me to pretend otherwise. I think we all are in this together, sharing our common feelings of defeat and upset and concern.

And yet, when certain things are going on which are beyond just immoral and are even heinous, such as torture and wars based on lies and legislation which is designed to intimidate by brutal enforcement of the newly unconstitutional "law", then there comes a point when I will just as honestly confess that I get very mad when we all lay down and play victim. When things are as dire as they are now, when Hitler comes marching to town, you'd better believe you get up and stop him, otherwise you are part of his crime ring.

So I think it is terribly important, as a key activist's strategy, to stress the hope right now. Even while sharing the truths and the concerns, I think the only way we can get the masses----and ourselves----proactive, is to stress the hope.

It begins in our own brains.
It begins by sharing our experiences of success in order to spread the word of hope to others.

So let me do so now.

Some people here have protested that if they write a letter to the editor, it will only be censored and will never be printed. So why bother?

My own experience is that this is far from true. I have submitted so many letters to the editor and have had so many printed that I have lost count. Since Bush took office in 2000, I think I have had at least 150 printed, no kidding. About 25 per year, or maybe more.

Included among those letters printed by the San Francisco Chronicle was a very "Different" point of view which one would usually think would be tossed out by editors: About the Al Zarqawi case, I wrote that I keep an open mind to whether or not a terrorist really is as accused. Because, I said, a mere newspaper photograph is not enough "proof" of innocence or guilt, either way, and detainees have no due process of law to prove their innocence. So how can we believe these claims that a ringleader is in captivity, given that there is noone to prove them right or wrong, either way? Yes, even the mainstream Chronicle printed this letter.

Then another mainstream newspaper printed a letter I wrote about government secrecy being the cornerstone of abuse, and about the Patriot Act and its details. THey drew a cartoon of a safe with a padlock, with a sign hung over it "Open government".

So my point is: Yes the mainstream is censored and watered down. But does that mean that *all* submissions will be turned away? Methinks not. Editors know that their job is to represent a cross-sector of social points of view, not merely their own opinion. Agree or not, their job is to print it just because they are, as journalists, bound by the ethic of representing society's thoughts. At least, that is, where letters to the editor are concerned. ("News" articles may be a whole other matter).

So I just wanted to share my experience, and hope that others will take heart.

For the rest, if a mainstream paper does censor your letters, the thing to do is to look to where we CAN have outreach instead of where we CAN"T. Looking at the donut instead of the hole may be the encouraging motivator which keeps us going.

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16 comments

Meryl Ann Butler is an artist, author and educator who counts First Lady Dolley Payne Todd Madison as well as two signers of the Articles of Confederation among her ancestors. Mary Ball, mother of George Washington is in the ancestral lineage of Butler's great grandmother, Blanche Ball. Grateful to know that the blood of America's founding mothers and fathers runs in her veins, Butler has been newly filled with matriotism as a direct result of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Lest she a...

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Meryl Ann ButlerMeryl Ann Butler is an artist, author and educator who counts First Lady Dolley Payne Todd Madison as well as two signers of the Articles of Confederation among her ancestors. Mary Ball, mother of George Washington is in the ancestral lineage of Butler's great grandmother, Blanche Ball. Grateful to know that the blood of America's founding mothers and fathers runs in her veins, Butler has been newly filled with matriotism as a direct result of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Lest she a...

to see more of bio, click on member name

YOU ARE SO INSPIRING!

Thanks, Kathryn, for an inspiring article! I think the key is to know that it is the ACTION and INTENTION that we need to pat ourselves on the back for, not the perceived result. For one thing, EVERY action in this universe has a reaction. Even if we don't see it.

All of us have experienced situations where we did something, it looked like nothing happened, and then years later, we discovered that there had been an effect, after all. So I take heart in knowing that everything I do that is proactive toward what I want, and where I want this country to be, has an effect, even if it is not immediately visible.

One of the most satisfying actions I have taken lately was to write 40 postcards to the members of the Judicial Committee to tell them I wanted them to impeach. I encourage others to do the same, a handwritten message carries alot of weight, and postcards don't have to go through any type of checkpoint, that a letter might.

I wrote about it on OEN, in my article, "Impeachment Action is Working" and included all of the committee members contact info. You can also call or fax.

The tricky part is that I may never know if one of those postcards tipped the scales, but the odds are certainly in my favor, and it is a very do-able activity. If 10 people did this, it would have more impact - I challenge 9 of you to do this too! Please respond here if you did!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Impeachment-Action-Is-Work-by-Meryl-Ann-Butler-080626-483.html

by Meryl Ann Butler (43 articles, 41 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 343 comments) on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 11:57:01 AM

I’m an ex-Nun, and I became so after reading the writings of Karen Armstrong, who is also an ex-Nun. She wrote the best-selling books, The History of God, and The Battle for God, and she makes a lot of sense to me. However, more recently I’ve read the writings of a man who feels the same way about the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), but I think more comprehensively understands what is really needed in the world – a reformation of religion and a reformation of government, t...

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RuthI’m an ex-Nun, and I became so after reading the writings of Karen Armstrong, who is also an ex-Nun. She wrote the best-selling books, The History of God, and The Battle for God, and she makes a lot of sense to me. However, more recently I’ve read the writings of a man who feels the same way about the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), but I think more comprehensively understands what is really needed in the world – a reformation of religion and a reformation of government, t...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Rock On. And there ARE Signs of Hope and Progress

Kathryn, you are quite right. When good people remain silent, it enables self-important, self-righteous people -- those who lust for personal power, wealth and domain and the expense of others -- to gain and abuse power.

That, after all, is what has happened durng the last 28 years.

But there are sign's of hope and progress. Here is the beginning of an article that speaks to that:

Despite all the signs of conflict and violence which cause so much despair and decline in the human condition, we should keep in mind that there have been and are great signs of hope and progress.

Science and technology are making great strides in discovering how we can enhance and improve our lives and improve our environment in a myriad of ways. But even more important, increasing numbers of people are realizing that they must stand up and speak up to give voice to the humanitarian Spirit of truth, in order to counter the ugly spirit of bigotry and divisiveness that has created so much conflict, violence, death and destruction in our world.

In that respect, a fairly recent sign of hope and progress in America is that mainstream progressive Christians finally began to speak up after more than two and a half decades of remaining silent while bigoted, hypocritical, aggressive right-wing conservative leaders of the "Christian Right" used their pulpits for partisan political grandstanding.

In fact, progressive Christians were in large part responsible for the victory of Democrats in the 2006 mid-term election, because they began to point out true Christian values, which naturally contradicted what the right-wing hypocrites had long been claiming were Christian values. That is a positive sign of truth winning over falsehoods, and I trust that will continue and increase.

That article goes on to point out progress that was made in the 1700s, in the 1960s and '70s, and ever since.

You can read the article here:

click here

by Ruth (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 182 comments) on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 1:30:26 PM

Hello friends
I have decided to take a break from political writing for a while and have disconnected my email address correlated with Opednews. If any of you send me a message to my Opednews box and I do not respond, I am not ignoring you: The message simply is not getting through to me because of my disconnected email at home. Thank you and best wishes, Kathryn Smith

This quote summarizes the nature of my concerns and the content of personal experiences which stir my activis...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Kathryn SmithHello friends
I have decided to take a break from political writing for a while and have disconnected my email address correlated with Opednews. If any of you send me a message to my Opednews box and I do not respond, I am not ignoring you: The message simply is not getting through to me because of my disconnected email at home. Thank you and best wishes, Kathryn Smith

This quote summarizes the nature of my concerns and the content of personal experiences which stir my activis...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Here's where I also draw hope

Thank you, Ruth and Meryl Ann! I greatly appreciate not merely your warm comments but also and especially your input. And I love the thought of "plugging away" just for the pure cause of doing it, regardless of the outcome! If every one of us does our part, we will rest easier at night knowing that we tried.

Here a few more things which give me hope, to add to what you said, Ruth:

That not only Vince Bugliosi has stepped forward to demand that Bush be tried as murderer, but two lawschools are organizing to get Bush tried for war crimes/murder.

Then there's Elizabeth delaVega's support for Kucinich's articles of impeachment.

And then there's also the State of Oklahoma which declared its sovereignty. No small step.

I think all this points to the fact that Bush/Cheney's days of literally getting away with murder may be numbered.

I also want to point out that Al Gore shook the globe with his movie. Look at how people are so much more aware and conscientious, environmentally speaking.

If he could do it, why can't we?
Why can't we also contribute to the greater climate of good with a movie which wakes people up about civil liberties, martial law, you name it.

The Foundation Center has a d-base of grants applying nationally and interenationally, in every possible category, with the intake question as follows:
"What size grant are you looking for? Under $5,000 or over $500,000?" So there is definitely money to be obtained for making such a movie. I can also say that I have received four out of five grants which I applied to, based on their d-base.

The website is here: www.fdncenter.org

Good luck!

by Kathryn Smith (93 articles, 2 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 361 comments) on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 4:36:23 PM

Wolfie

SEND ME THE HALF MILLION AND I'LL MAKE A FLICK.

You want to put it into an envelope with 42 cents postage. No return

address need be placed on envelope.

Kathryn, we have been here before. Why not tell me that Bush has

resigned. Pelosi wants it all on the table.

Reid is sorry. Hoyer wishes to make amends. Schumer is crying over

the Mukasey decision, and ..., and ...... , and ........

No? Then send me the check and I will get the furry ball rolling in the right

direction.

Your best fan, Wolfie the incredulous.

by Wolfie (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 1176 comments) on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 5:06:30 PM

Larry W. Bryant, a resident of Alexandria, Va., focuses his research and writing efforts on national-security affairs (including information-access matters and First Amendment jurisprudence). If you Google-ize his name, you'll find enough background information to satisfy almost anyone's curiosity about his activities, associations, and achievements.
LarryWBryantLarry W. Bryant, a resident of Alexandria, Va., focuses his research and writing efforts on national-security affairs (including information-access matters and First Amendment jurisprudence). If you Google-ize his name, you'll find enough background information to satisfy almost anyone's curiosity about his activities, associations, and achievements.

This Spells it Out!

See, below, my text for the picture postcard I'm sending, on June 30, 2008, to Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (chair of the House's Judiciary Committee). The brainchild of the impeach-on-the-beach postcard series is Brad Newsham of Oakland, Calif. ( http://www.beachimpeach.org ). His project makes me proud to admit I'm a (post)card-carrying extremist!
http://www.petitiononline.com/arrest/petition.html

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"The front of this postcard shows a group of Californians lying on the ground, spelling out 'IMPEACH!'. I distribute copies of this card as I continue canvassing Northern Va. neighborhoods to implant free yard signs reading 'IMPEACH HIM'. Pray tell, Mr. Conyers: what are YOU doing to help support this People's Remedy for ending Bush-Cheney's misconduct? Please ask Speaker Pelosi to put impeachment back on the table ASAP.

"Impeachfully yours,

"LARRY W. BRYANT"
" http://www.bushbusiness.com/Bryant_OP.htm "

by LarryWBryant (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 57 comments) on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 6:57:10 PM

Wolfie

THEY ARE SHIVERING IN THEIR ALLIGATOR SHOES

Try a sign made from a million pomegranites. If that does not work try

making a sign from the excrement of emu's.

If all else fails take a sledgehammer to the United Nations Building and

carve out the words FUCK BUSH!

Good luck!

by Wolfie (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 1176 comments) on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 7:15:36 PM

I love this!

Great idea! Love the image! Why not send it to all 40 of the members of the Judiciary committee??

by Meryl Ann Butler (43 articles, 41 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 343 comments) on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 12:31:12 AM

American Expat in Asia
pftAmerican Expat in Asia

After 7 years of this BS

People should be at a stage today where they are hitting the streets. Instead they are talking of change and hope that a new President will make it all better, and within days of locking up the nomination, Mr Change morphed into Mr Same-Same Flippity-Flop.

People are in denial. They do not want to wake up. You can write all the letters you want, talk till you drop, blog, comment, whatever. Next year mention FISA and 70% of people will give you a blank look and wonder why you want their Visa. Some are dumb, some ignorant, some just uneducated, some apathetic, some get it but have too much to lose and pretend ignorance. Sweet dreams.

If we were Myanamar, the US would be saying we need to be rescued from the tryant Bush. If we were Iran, the US would say we had a controlled democracy, the people only able to vote for candidates pre-approved by the Ayatollahs. If we were Zimbabwe, CPI would still indicate there was 4% inflation.

Reality is what the vast majority believe. Perception management has evolved to such an extent to make it virtually impossible for anyone but a small minority to see that the Emperor has no clothes. The matrix exists.

Hope? Leave it at the door, and wipe your feet.

by pft (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 464 comments) on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 10:31:29 PM

August Adams is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology. He is an activist striving to create a fair and just world for all.
August AdamsAugust Adams is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology. He is an activist striving to create a fair and just world for all.

Sadly, I've lost hope

I agree with the previous writer, where are the real signs of "change".

What does "change" even mean? We are about to have a change in regime that will make some small changes for the people. That I have no doubt, but the infrastructure to destruction is so entrenched. It is systemic. It's in our courts and their decisions, its in our selected officials, the media is so manipulative it should be outlawed.

Our military industrial complex and Big Oil are dictating our foreign policy and the people are playing soccer, watching their ball games, and numbing out to American Idol.

The local "world can't wait" meeting drew a whopping 10 people and no action plan. We did all wear our "impeach both" caps, and got stares to and from the meeting - but little discussion. The movement is dying from apathy. It gets these periodic boosts. Like Kuccinich's resolution and Bugliosi's book, but the real criminals are not only free, they are still in power. Now that's incredible.

If you have taken the time to read Bugliosi's book he lays out what anyone that has been paying attention knows. There is absolutely no reason for Congress to continue to ignore the facts - but amazingly they do. This present misled the people into a war of aggression, that's a high crime, and it's a war crime. People hang for that, and here, I'm amazed at the educated people (who claim they have too much to lose) that just say, well, he'll be leaving soon. Like the destruction we have caused is somehow ok because we still have gas, food and the rest of the world who cares...

I'll continue to write, I'll continue to go to meetings, I'll continue to hold up a sign and be part of protests (if I can find any) and I'll even to go to my Congress Persons office.

But so far, the change I'm dreaming of, is being slaughtered by the very people we have put into office. And their excuse is - we will ruin our election chances.

Is that why we put people in office? To collect big money and destroy our civil liberties, the country and the government.

This is not a democracy - don't know what it is anymore...

Hope... we need ACTION. But getting people off the couch and connected - got to get them to unplug first.

by August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 442 comments) on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 9:38:07 AM

But there ARE Great Signs of Hope and Progress

Just look at my previous post on this thread, and read the article I cited.

The problem is that people are so discouraged that they've lost hope. I don't blame them, or you, but all you have to do is recognize who is really telling the truth.

The truth is that while arrogantly proud, militant, corrupt and greedy people have indeed made a mess of things, there is a way to enable good people, humble people, peaceful people, to inherit the earth.

by Ruth (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 182 comments) on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 1:55:39 PM

B.Soc.Sci (Aus). Helped start an Organic Food Co-op and a Local Energy Transfer System (goods & services exchange, no cash). Lived near permaculture's Bill Mollison for a time, saw semi barren land transformed into gardens and orchards. Worked in a Community Support Center. Currently in NZ/ Aotearoa.
AuroraB.Soc.Sci (Aus). Helped start an Organic Food Co-op and a Local Energy Transfer System (goods & services exchange, no cash). Lived near permaculture's Bill Mollison for a time, saw semi barren land transformed into gardens and orchards. Worked in a Community Support Center. Currently in NZ/ Aotearoa.

"thank you"

"If we say "Yes" to life and "thank you" for every opportunity we have, however small it may be, instead of thinking of all that is lost and bemoaning our fate, we may end up with a different country."

... and a different world :)

"Thank you Kathryn" - some of us really needed that reminder.

by Aurora (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 345 comments) on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 12:56:07 AM

Wolfie

STOP THAT CRAP!

We want pity and that is what we need in groves.

Sob, sob, sob. If you optimists want our support, forget it!

We are toast and there is no peach preserves to sweeten it.

The sky is falling! Or is it just bird shit?

Same old ,same old.

by Wolfie (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 1176 comments) on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 9:11:24 PM

GW is a proud American from NY State, concerned about media manipulation and overconsumption. He believes in fiscal responsibility, small government and strict ethics. He recently changed careers to become an inner city schoolteacher. A firm proponent of international adoption and curbing overpopulation, he hopes to adopt a third child and enjoys history, "honest" music and art and obscure vinyl records.
Gustav WynnGW is a proud American from NY State, concerned about media manipulation and overconsumption. He believes in fiscal responsibility, small government and strict ethics. He recently changed careers to become an inner city schoolteacher. A firm proponent of international adoption and curbing overpopulation, he hopes to adopt a third child and enjoys history, "honest" music and art and obscure vinyl records.

Hope and Despair both on display here

VERY interesting to see the replies here, Kathryn. Some supportive, some cynical, some dripping with despair.

I think we all feel the outrage, we all know about the mounds of evidence of Bush's crimes and are disheartened that so little is being done. Bugliosi's campaign is the latest of many, harkening back in a way to Lt. Ehren Watada's trial. He refused to deploy, prepared to assert the war was illegal in court. This ended in a freakish mistrial.

But our nation's problem with Bush is not the evidence, or the argument, it's the enforcement. This leads back to what I shared in a reply to Kathryn's previous post. What we can do specifically to help correct the problem? Clean our Congress!

You can get major attention focused on your Member of Congress via this very site. When you write an article, it's indexed for anyone searching the Member's name in Google. This will be key in November when people search Congressional names. But if the articles are too new, they only go into Google News, so you need to post now to have them in Google "web" searches later.

When I did this, bringing attention on my Rep's scheduled appearance to speak at Rev. Hagee's "doomsday" conference, it was picked up by various newspapers and websites, leading to outcry and published appeals for him not to attend.

So I suggest everyone stay on top of your local Congressional race and share here the good, the bad and the ugly.

As for Obama, I was down after hearing his AIPAC pandering and seeing his vote for telecom immunity, but I was glad to see the online community so active in condemning the vote, leading to a promise of a filibuster within a few days.

I still think coalescing behind Obama is the best move for now. The movement is even stronger then the candidate - we have to understand the election game but can insist on progressive goals. If we just complain, we are ignored, but if we act we are heard.

I'm sure Obama's campaign monitors progressive sites (Obama has posted on HuffPo himself). We can make this site better by sharing solid, usable information and which ACTIONS we have taken that have worked, rather then making readers sift through so much whining.

Let's do it! Thanks Kathryn.

by Gustav Wynn (58 articles, 38 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 276 comments) on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 12:59:44 AM

I am a 58 year-old, straight, white, male. I have been a Green (of the German kind) since 1968. I like to discuss(?) politics. I am into music (rock n roll) from about 64 to 70 with special emphasis on psychedelica. I have a cat and live on SSI.
ed krinerI am a 58 year-old, straight, white, male. I have been a Green (of the German kind) since 1968. I like to discuss(?) politics. I am into music (rock n roll) from about 64 to 70 with special emphasis on psychedelica. I have a cat and live on SSI.

Hope in 1776

Hope was abandoned by the first patriots that challenged the world's greatest super power during the American Revolution. They "knew" they couldn't win and went ahead and took a stand anyway. They "knew" they couldn't win but wrapped their feet in newspaper at Valley Forge. They "knew" they couldn't win but they drafted a Declaration of Independence anyway (Hancock signed in large print so the King would be sure to see his name).

Hope gets you Pelosi, Reid and Obama and nothing else. It gets you the Patriot Act, telecom immunity, torture, economic exploitation, and illegal wars/occupations. No, hope gets you nothing. Refusing to participate in the charade gets you sitting down at your jobs and at the malls. Refusing to participate gets you to boycott an obviously fixed election (Obama Hillary McCain is the only candidate).

The hope I have is that Americans will strike/boycott 08!

by ed kriner (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 27 comments) on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 9:04:48 AM

THIS JUST IN - EASY WAY TO WRITE LETTERS TO MEDIA

(I just rec'd this email from Tobi Dragert/ National Impeachment Network.)

Below is a link to all media outlets wherever you live (I got it from someone who got it from www.GiveMeLiberty.org)!

E.g., when I entered my zip code, it gave me links to all media in California -- Including TV stations and trade publications. This is an incredibly useful link. Please keep it in a safe place -- somebody did unbelievable work putting this together on the GiveMeLiberty web site.

1. Copy and paste into your browser (clicking on the link won't work):

http://www3.capwiz.com/y/dbq/media

2. Enter your zip code. UNCHECK the "Show national media in results," option and hit "GO."

NOTE: DO NOT click on "Select a State" and do not click on the map to view by state (if you do, all the media within your state will unnecessarily appear and overburden you).

3. Select five media outlets.

4. Click on "Compose Message." Write your letter.

5. Enter your contact information. Click on "Send Message."

It gives you the option of either sending by email or printed letter. If you choose printed letter and "save" it puts your letter into immediate format (including mailing address) for you to print out and send!

IF we all wrote to five media outlets a day (start from the top of the list and work down), just MAYBE they'll start covering impeachment in a serious way. For instance: Why are they not discussing or analyzing each of Kucinich's AOI and letting citizens see for themselves whether BushCo should be impeached?

You could likely write and send the same brief letter to all the media, or maybe with slight modifications.

We all know the media is every bit as complicit as Congress, which is complicit with BushCo. Media plays a huge role in this mess. Let us demand they do their job as well as Congress!

by Meryl Ann Butler (43 articles, 41 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 343 comments) on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 11:25:30 AM

I'm an old hippie chick who was part of the Woodstock Generation and the New Left back in the 1960s and '70s. I was enamored with Stephen Gaskin, who led his group to settle on The Farm in Tennessee. For the last few years, though, I've joined a small group of others who are trying to spread the word about the work of the messenger who goes by the pen name of Joseph J. Adamson. I believe that his work, even though it has been rejected by his generation so far, will eventually be spread and help ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Sarah MorganI'm an old hippie chick who was part of the Woodstock Generation and the New Left back in the 1960s and '70s. I was enamored with Stephen Gaskin, who led his group to settle on The Farm in Tennessee. For the last few years, though, I've joined a small group of others who are trying to spread the word about the work of the messenger who goes by the pen name of Joseph J. Adamson. I believe that his work, even though it has been rejected by his generation so far, will eventually be spread and help ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

A Grand Idea

This is a quote:

America is at a crossroads, and Americans have a big choice to make, because their choice will affect the whole world.

I urge all Americans to not allow themselves to be pushed backwards by those who like the political-economic status quo and still wish to virtually rule the world in the name of religion and/or patriotism and/or "global free market economy." That would only make things worse than they already are. After all, they’ve had their way for far too long, and look where it’s gotten us.

I urge Americans to instead progress forward now, toward the day when ALL human beings, nations, religions, races and cultures are respected and treated as equal.

It is the choice of the people, and I hope the people choose wisely.

But, I’m not talking about merely choosing a Democrat for president. In fact, as I discuss on the page titled Partisan Politics, even though that would certainly be better than what we have now, it would not really fix things, and it would only perpetuate the division, polarization, and instability. No, I’m talking about a much bigger choice, a choice that will actually change and improve this nation, establish government that is really of, by and for the people, and make America a truly good example to the whole world.

I believe we all should hold these truths to be self-evident: that all human beings are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are the rights to life, liberty, equality, justice, safety, health care, complete education, fair and adequate compensation for their labor, adequate social security (if and when needed), and real freedom in the pursuit of happiness.

We do not have any of those rights now. Not really. In fact, our rights have been diminishing, and there is no politician in America right now who will establish those rights. They may say they will, but they won’t and cannot, not as long as we perpetuate the present political-economic system.

Quoted from: http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com/NewDeclaration.html

He goes on to propose exactly how we can reform our political-economic system to establish equity, fairness, equality and justice.

by Sarah Morgan (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 176 comments) on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 2:46:32 PM