After a day of feeling overwhelmed by all the data coming at me and posting blog article after email after email after blog post and getting virtually nothing else done all day, I've come to one conclusion: the protest marches people have been calling for just may have begun.
Today, people moan-- 'Where is the passion? Why aren't we taking to the streets?'
It looks to me like we have plenty of passion and we ARE taking to the streets-- of the 21st century.
It may not FEEL as exhilarating as marching with hundreds of people by your side -- but it can be far more effective.
Back in the 1970's we marched in the streets and held rallies because those were the only methods available to get our messages out there: get a rally going, alert the media, hope they show up, pass out leaflets, chant, scream, stomp, sing, shout.
Today, we can reach more people from behind our keyboards than we could have dreamed of reaching 40 years ago.
Protests don't HAVE to consist of kids marching in the streets yelling, 'Hell no, we won't go!' or 'Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?'
People like me -- almost 60 years old -- can be as involved as any 20 year old even though I probably couldn't keep up in a march and certainly couldn't run away from the cops like I did back then. I'd be mowed down.
People of both sides are saying the Senate all-nighter was a stunt. Maybe it was. But it was in response to something. Congress hears us and is beginning to stir into action.
I think the marches have begun.
You know --I think just maybe-- I'm beginning to feel a little optimistic about getting something done here, after all.
What do you think?
Just wondering along. . . .
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7 comments:
I've made it to three protests this year (one by accident). It's like the old days in the 1960s when my blood was spilled by assorted police and guard units in several American cities. I stood quietly in the fringe clapping, leaving the yelling and screaming to the young folks. For three years in the 1960s, I traveled the east coast as a spokesman for the peace movement. I think my words have impacted more people in the last nine months of blogging since I move to Blogger.
We live in what may be the darkest time in US history, but maybe it's darkest before the dawn.
Well, I needed to be injected with some optimism! Thanks TC & TC!
You're welcome, TA.
hey, TA
I do think the internet and our prez' own ADHD may save us.
I was discussing this same issue on my blog with my daughter who is a journalist. I was telling her that I felt that bloggers are similar to the underground in France during WWII in that we are getting information out and fighting for our freedom by encouraging others to ban together. So much misinformation is out there and this seems to be the most effective way to bring clarity to what is happening.
When the main stream media is not telling the whole story, it's almost impossible to "connect the dots". Bloggers and those who are putting together the great YouTubes with film of speeches and incidents, are doing the job that the main stream media quit doing a long time ago. I really think the Democrats/Progressives have it all over the Republicans when it comes to the internet. They just don't seem to 'get it'. They put out stupid propaganda and get slammed whenever they are confronted with the facts.
Not to mention, when you want to go onto a right wing blog, unless you are "one of them", you can't get on. On liberal blogs, anyone can comment and discuss. They just don't get the whole idea about blogging and discussion. Right wingers may "own radio" but the liberals own the blogs, IMO.
Sorry for that long post...I get carried away. :-(
:) M E --
long comments welcome here,
as you may have noticed, I'm not a woman of few words, myself. :-()
so, comment to your heart's content-- as long or as short as you like. and, to be honest, I actually prefer comments [whether they agree or disagree with the post] that make points rather than those of the 'I agree' variety.
that's just personal preference acourse.
[note to any trolls who may take this as an open invitation: I DO ask that all discussions remain civil -- flaming and name-calling aren't acceptable and are likely to be censored.]
---
as to your observations:
I agree ;)
I think we ARE like the underground movements of Europe of WWII [tho I hadn't actually thought in those terms before you brought it up].
what's needed in today's situation, rather than blowing up bridges with bombs, is the blowing up of assumptions with reasoned arguments. and we have the technology to provide that service.
you also make the good point that the liberals are allowing all stripes to participate in their discussions while the conservatives are shutting out those who disagree with them [note the video of the young republicans on my sidebar. when they realized the reporter didn't agree with them, they threw him out.]
people who realize, at whatever level, that their arguments don't hold water tend to suppress discussion. people who welcome discussion tend to be those whose arguments will stand up to scrutiny.
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