First, let me apologize for not writing sooner, as we all should. Yes my life has been very busy. The economy is picking up, and as a CPA consultant so has my work. The change has been very noticeable and profoundly encouraging. I know we're not out of the woods yet, but we seem to be heading in the right direction on the clear path we built out of this awful haze.
Secondly, I am very disappointed in Obama's apparent decision to concede the public option section of the health care plan. But I believe we've got to pick up the pieces quickly and realize that, since January 20th and before, this is the first time this administration has done anything I disagree with of significance. I'm sure President Obama is exhausted, and he's done amazing and superlative things to this point. I'm not ready to throw him under the bus because of this, and nor should anyone else in our camp, regardless of how strongly they feel about this event. He is our guy and our family. We should not simply forget how far we've come in just a few months, nor should we forget how much pressure and challenge Obama has had to endure to this point. The man is a study in seemingly superhuman endurance. We shouldn’t simply give up on him because he is a human being.
Another thing to consider is that to simply rail against the Obama administration now is to cause our own undoing. We need to take stock of what we have accomplished in this moment of frustration, because we will lose a lot of ground to break apart like a herd of cats. To do so emboldens the distortion makers and obstructionists. People like Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. And like Dick Army.
Let's take a deep breath and catch our composure. Let's remember that we must stick together and stay together, even in tough times.
To President Obama, the only thing I would like to say, other than to express my continued support and respect, is that I believe it is better to go down fighting and lose the health care fight with dignity than to give in to the lying minority, even if they have touched a nerve in the general population. This time of emotionally charged criticism will pass, and when we are on the other side of these troubled economic times, people will see that we as Democrats are of integrity and strength. People respect that, even our detractors. That is what will carry us through 2010 and beyond as a governing majority. Please stay strong and resolute in your convictions and plans. I realize there is also the risk of becoming Bush/Chaney-like and completely disregarding new facts that come to light that indicate our direction is flat out wrong, but I strongly believe the decision to push to public option clause of the heath care plan overboard was premature.
Let's regroup and go forward as the team of which I have been so proud to be part. I know we can regain our momentum and strength of unity back again.
There were only four of us at the Quitman ‘We The People United’ meeting and walk today but we had enough passion for twenty. We didn’t know each other. We had come together, driven by a deep desire to unite at a grass-roots level and campaign for change.
We held up signs to passing traffic. ‘Democrats for Change,’ ‘Republicans for Change,’ ‘We The People United’ and even one, saying ‘I love Jesus, USA and Obama.’
We were part of a nationwide movement for unity which took place on major university campuses today. A show of hands of those who want to stop the bickering and get to work. Perhaps we didn’t make a great impression on the drivers which flitted by in the afternoon lull, but we turned some heads and got a few honks and waves. A couple of times I thought a car would stop. I saw brake lights, but then they chickened out. Perhaps another time…
We had planned to peacefully walk for an hour, but remained stationary instead at the Quitman city park for 45 minutes. Until a police car pulled up. A uniformed police officer stepped out of the car, greeted us and asked politely, “Do you have a permit?”
We didn’t. We were unaware that holding up a few signs required a permit. There we stood, exercising our First Amendment rights, and had no permit. Hmm…
He made us put our signs down. We could go to city hall and request a permit, he said. There was a small fee. City hall would fax the document to the police department and we would be free to hold our signs up until our arms fell off. Or at least as long as the permit permitted.
We chose not to get one. We’d had our 45 minutes of free speech. We had broadcast our message of unity and change. We had met and swapped ideas. We had contributed to the public conversation. It was time to go home.
We exchanged contact information, shook hands and parted, feeling satisfied and justified. Next time, we’ll visit city hall first and ask permission to speak. Then, we might campaign against having to pay to proclaim our message.
Now that would be a good place to start changing things…
This also posted to my blog 'Finger on the Pulse of Life' at http://tiny.cc/FingerOnPulse
75% tehastsev opposed secession from the United States Three-quarters of the residents of Texas were opposed to the idea of independence from the United States and would have voted against it, if this issue was raised in a referendum. The results sotsoprosa conducted by the American Center, Rasmussen Reports, 31% of Texas residents are confident that the state has the right to withdraw from the United States to form an independent state. However, if the question of independence was put to a referendum, then voted for the disconnect is only 18% of the citizens. Against secession from the United States voted to tehastsev 75% and 7% of respondents had not yet decided on a response. Recall the recent political elites of the state initiated a broad discussion on the possible withdrawal of the United States of Texas. Prior to Governor Rick Perry, taking part in a protest against higher taxes in the city of Austin made it clear that does not exclude such a scenario. "We have a lot of scenarios. We have a great country, and we have no reason to dissolve our union. But if Washington will continue to poke his nose in the affairs of the people of the United States, understand what may be a result of all this. Texas - a unique place, it is independent of his spirit, "- said the governor of Texas. Note, Texas existed as an independent state in 1836. In 1845 the republic was annexed by the United States and a year later, officially ceased to exist. Now, 2 March (the date of signing the declaration in 1836) states in the state of Texas Independence Day.
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In addition to being supportive of many groups, I’m also a transparent organizer, regularly laying out my ideas, my visions, and inviting collaborators. As I’ve said in many places, there’s a tremendous amount of talent in the femisphere and the movement can prosper with many leaders; we don’t all have to sign onto the same agenda or even belong to the same group. That said, the more I get to know who’s doing what, the more I see women’s movement as a vast network of groups and individuals with specializations. Recently I floated the idea of unifying women’s movement on a wiki-map with a recognition of specializations so that we can share talent, resources, know-how and connections. It seems to me that the circuitry exists–the job is to strengthen our connections. Here’s an analogy from a recent article in the NY Times on brain research:
"…research…suggests that brain cells activated by an experience keep one another on biological quick-dial, like a group of people joined in common witness of some striking event. Call on one and word quickly goes out to the larger network of cells, each apparently adding some detail, some sight, sound, smell. The brain appears to retain a memory by growing thicker, or more efficient, communications lines between these cells."
Gloria Pan of Fem2.0 replied that she liked the idea but that there were too many egos involved for this to happen, to which I replied if that’s what’s holding up women’s movement, then we women need to confront it. I’m building relationships with many women and especially focusing on women of color, partly because as a Jew (secular) I don’t identify as white (although I recognize that I have had much white privilege), but also because I really feel that women’s movement cannot succeed without leadership of women of color. Women of color will be the leaders of this phase of women’s movement, imo, and I’m gung-ho on helping this happen.
My basic organizing principle for Feminist Advisory Board for Obama is that it will be networked to all other women’s groups and will facilitate direct communication from the people with the needs to the people who make public policy. This is a very big vision, and I’ve laid out some of my ideas for this in a a proposal for a needs-based women’s media network driven by user-interactivity: Our Needs Have Not Been Met: needia
Although I already feel like you are a friend, I wanted to extend myself to you and your fellow organizers in recognition of our common cause and to open up the lines of communication. Would you please pass this email to your fellow organizers? Also, you are all invited to join Feminist Advisory Board for Obama. I’m looking forward to having meaningful conversations with Feminist Campus.
Janud aaduansaku
