Joe,
Thank you for your web site. I read the letter "Happy Without Money or Social Position" and your response, and tears rolled down my cheek. In September of 2005, I sat in hot long lines, my windows rolled down so my car would not over heat, my family and I were running from Hurricane Rita. I was nearly overcome with exhaust fumes, then I overheated. Leaving the Golden Triangle of Texas (Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange) was another beginning of my realizing what was truly important. As an artist, it nearly tore my heart out to leave my art studio to weather the storm. I lost 57 paintings to Rita.
As we and twenty other family members shuffled from one refugee house to a motel, ten days later I imagined what it must be like to be an Iraqi refugee. Later, I looked around the room filled with my friends and relatives who were worrying about the possessions they had left behind, and I observed out loud, "there is nothing like fleeing from a hurricane to make one realize what little importance all the stuff we accumulate truly is."
I was the first person to locally break the "Downing Street Memo" story through an editorial. Me, a nobody from nowhere, got the facts from an overseas newspaper, on the Internet, quoted and paraphrased them in my editorial. It was the bravest thing, to date, I had ever done. I was amazed the article was printed.
With my printed article in hand, I marched to my local Democratic headquarters with a rough sketch of an idea for billboards to be pasted all over the Triangle. I proudly gave it to my local Democratic Party chair. He knew nothing, at that time, about the Downing Street Memo and was openly amazed that my editorial was printed. He took a copy of my article and my sketch and politely listened to my plea for the local Democratic committee to seize the opportunity to expose this presidential cabal. I was convinced the Downing Street Memo exposure would be the end of President Bush and the beginning of protests in the streets of Beaumont, Texas. Long story short, no billboards ever appeared.
Later, I became involved with a local "progressive" democratic group. They held monthly meetings, had a mission statement and were "looking into" forming a non-profit organization. Over two years, they spent most of their time complaining about the person holding the Democratic Chair position, talking about but not actually organizing local events, complaining about the lack of media coverage for their events, needed funds and state democratic party reforms. I urged them to create a web site and a blog and become connected with other bloggers across the state. I also urged them to conduct virtual meetings so that those who could not afford the high price of gas could participate via the Internet.
I was informed they had plenty of "talented creative types" with all sorts of "expertise" and educated folks at their disposal and unless I would commit to becoming a committee chair, (in other words, donate lots of time and money, neither of which I had) they did not need or want my ideas. At the end of my two-year stint, they still had not gained a non-profit, 501(c) (3) or 527 designation and the committee "looking into it" was still bogged down in paper work. In 1992, it took me three only weeks to get a non-profit corporation status and get another group up and running, but, hey they didn't need my help.
Shortly before the 2006 elections, I wrote another editorial about the GAO's report confirming that votes were "lost" during the 2000 and 2004 elections. I warned that while, yellow, blue and progressive Democrats "dithered" about needed party reforms, votes were being lost. Sure enough, reports of absentee and voting machine irregularities filled the airwaves, locally and across the state. On election day, those who knew I had become disillusioned with the "progressive" group called me and wanted to know what they should do.
God, can you imagine my shock? They were calling me, a nobody from nowhere, about what they should do.
I am disgusted, frightened and concerned for my country, tears fill my eyes every morning. I have bad dreams several nights a week and see a future for my grandchildren that is not so rosy. So, I hug my children and grandchildren as often as I can, read blogs, overseas newspapers, write editorials, sign online petitions for two hours every morning, and try to thank and encourage those who are much better than I to verbalize the pain behind my tears. Thank you for your writing. Those of us in the wilderness are heartened and encouraged by your words and your shared pain.
Onward,
Debra
Texas
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Dear Debra,
I am afraid that your experience is far too typical. Right now there are more people willing to help the Democrats get back in touch with their traditional constitiency than any time in the last 40 years. Apparently though, the Dem leadership, both national and local, is doing business as usual. To my mind, the Democrats can sweep the next elections and it would still be meaningless. What good is winning if you do not return to power with viable, meaningful concepts and fresh ideas that actually solve problems for Americans? The truth is that the party is only going to get those ideas from the grassroots, not from then usual assortment of "talented", creative smartasses with all sorts of "expertise" in bullshitting people.
(sigh)
Solidarity,
Joe
