SARTRE24
invited writer
The rationale for getting involved in political action is so simple when we look at the issues we face and compare them to the misdirection oozing from the halls of governance and the White House itself. Republicans would have you and I believe that they are the everyman party and they represent the values and issues faced by common, everyday Americans and that my dear friends is their most disturbing lie. They want us to believe that as Democrats, liberals, and the like that we have no values and that we have no sense of the moral issues our country faces but they are working under the very public assumption that the abortion and human sexuality are the only moral issues. This may be a result of the right-wing religious fanatics own the party but that is another discussion for another time. As a Democrat, I hope to convey to people that we face wider-reaching and very real moral dilemmas in this country. The education of our children is a moral issue, making sure our citizens have health care is a moral issue, not forcing our elderly citizens to choose between eating and taking vital prescription drugs is a moral issue, promoting real and inclusive constitutional and civil rights is a moral issue and it is high time that those of us who aren't conservative Republicans start explaining to people that we too believe in advancing some important moral issues. Republicanism has become synonymous with big business and allowing the wind to follow whatever direction the corporate lobbyists are blowing. I am not suggesting that all Republicans are alike but they are a party that knows how to follow the leader and the leaders has duped this country into believing that he cares about real issues when in reality he has no concept of what problems we commoners face on a day-to-day basis. We on the other side have sat silent as our troops were sent to die for reasons that at best were misleading and ill-founded. We have been bullied and attacked and called un-American because we promote global responsibility and try to view our political structure as an extension of our character and we have yet to stand up as a group and counterattack.
To my fellow gay and lesbian citizens I say that this should be even more important to us because this President and this party won the 2004 election on our backs. In a campaign of divisive hatred they brought conservatives to the polls to vote not for a president but against the advancement of civil rights in this country. By attacking the validity of our relationships they were able to gather a viscious momentum that gave our president his second term. Getting involved is a moral issue for us now more than ever.
You need to get involved because your country has been hijacked, because our reputation in the world is at stake, and because the people in charge DO NOT care about you no matter how many heartfelt homeland tales they tell. Government should be an extension of what is best about its people, not the product of a corrupt and unjust campaign of fear, hatred, and dishonesty. Our elections cannot continue to be the result of whose smear campaign was most successful. What does it say about us that our political discourse has degenerated to the verbal equivalent of beating each other with clubs.
When the government is failing its people it is because the people are failing to govern. You and I have a responsibility to ourselves and our country to get involved, we owe ourselves a place in the conversation.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Getting involved??
Getting involved is as easy as showing up and speaking out. I have invited friends and somewhat like-minded individuals to contribute to this blogspot with the hopes of isolating action items that could move US towards a real democracy, you know, one where citizen participate in governance.
Lets do this thing.
Lets do this thing.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Ellipse Art Gallery
some of the performances at the Ellipse indoor picnic transformed a casual night out into a deeply cathartic happening
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Sunday, November 20, 2005
Chalk4Peace
Chalk4 Peace artist and activist John Aaron thrilled us with a dedicated pitch to join his event on September 16, 2006.
For the kids in your life, for the child in your heart give into a goal of 1 million young artists all over the GLOBE! drawing with chalk....drawing for that oh so simple thing: PEACE ON EARTH! Develop a following and grow the movement.
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Saturday, November 05, 2005
Moveon.org Vigil for Peace
TO HONOR THE DEADClarendon Central Park- Clarendon & N. Highland StWednesday, October 26th, 6:30 PMCome to a candlelight vigil in Clarendon Central Park to remember the2,000 American service members and others killed in Iraq. Gather at thefountain midway in the park, which is behind the Clarendon Orange Line.Bring candles, bring your friends and family. This will be a respectfulgathering.Location: Arlington, VA 22201Host: Kristine MontamatStatus: Public, open for RSVP, 92 Guests (Max 350)---------------------------------
I witnessed, at the Vigil to Honor the Dead, what I will term as disregard from many of people in the passing cars. People drove along in pursuit of their day-to-day lives. A few people slowed their vehicles,perhaps to get a good look at the signs or maybe with some caution, perchance they felt concern that someone mightaccidentally flow out from the vigil onto the street. I wondered how many knew what the vigil would be for: to bring troops home.
There were signs with various messages to the President, asking to bring soldiers home. The people at the vigil all respectedthat people had died, as one sign informed us 55 Virginian's thus far.
Rep. Moran paid his respects, in a dark suit with a worried face. He was shaking hands and engaging in quiet conversation. I was glad to see him. His office often sends letters to my home assuring me that Rep. Moran is glad to hear the voices of his constituents. I spoke with a couple who I was sure had lived through the SecondWorld War --you know, the one that was to end all wars, until the nextwar. They assured me that THIS TIME is DIFFERENT. They had never beforeexperienced a whole world asking one nation not to enter into battlewith one world leader disregarding all cries for peace.
Representative government: what does that mean, please help meunderstand. Who is being represented? Is there a time when young men andwomen who enter military service and answer the civic call to protectlife, liberty, and the pursuit of freedom can say to their governmentthat the request is just not appropriate? No, they depend on us, thoseof us who are in a position to ask HONEST QUESTIONS.As an American, I have the right to ask honest questions. I have theright to ask WHY and not be dismissed by other as being unpatriotic. It is my right to question authority: I am expected to do so with respect for dueprocess. I am expected to do so with courtesy.
When my honest questions are not respected, then what am I to do?We have invaded Iraq and we have shaken their earth with shock and awe:it is not a simple thing to leave without ensuring the devastation willbe taken care of, but how??I would appreciate thoughtful comments on how to promote transparencyand respect as the United States military is phased out of Iraq.
Inparticular, I ask for comments from people in the armed services whohave first hand experience with conditions in Iraq.Let’s open the floor to honest questions and reasonable suggestions.
Friday, November 04, 2005
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