We can all enjoy peace this holiday season by thinking of 05 progress

[JudyM]

Just wanted to share some quick thoughts before I take off for the weekend, welcoming y'all to add your own.

Things are turning around.

The MSM is not quite as mute as it was last December, not quite so blindly bleating back everything the WH feeds it. Thanks to Olberman, Air America, all the bloggers who had the audacity to speak the Truth and the tenacity to keep speaking it.

Members of Congress and others in power are not quite as conformist as they were last December. Despite disbelief (shock and awe) about the steamrollering of the public and the press by the faux-reality of the WH, even in the face of these apparent new rules some have stood up to say NO and demand accountability over and over again. Holding hearings to get to the truth even when relegated to congressional basement closets. Keeping swords drawn even when backed against the wall on drilling in Alaska and the so-called Patriot Act. Insisting that Diebold can't assume it's welcome in N. Carolina without being held to a standard of performance. Insisting on exposing corruption. Thanks to Conyers, Boxer and Lautenberg, in particular, and of course to Fitz.

The 'other half' of the voters are not quite as blithely accepting of the 'honorability' of the WH. Think of the polls. I think of my fellow Virginians electing Tim Kaine Governor despite Bush's personal visits. Thanks to the American people, to Bunnatine Greenhouse (who exposed the no-bid Halliburton contracts, and which likely helped minimize this in the Katrina rebuild), Cindy Sheehan and our compatriots around the world, for stepping forward to stand shoulder to shoulder as they begin to recognize the travesty of the smug double-speaking, cronyistic forces seeking to erode our Constitution.

The general public is not quite as homophobic as it was last year... it's clear that Massachusetts' gay coupling is not causing the dreaded results that were trumpeted by the neocons. Companies are continuing to creep in the direction of equal rights, training in diversity which breeds broader acceptance. Soon the homophobic laws will be the outliers.

The fundies don't have quite the 'moral high road' burnish they had last year. Only the deluded take Pat Robertson seriously, Rush has lost respect. Some groups, such as Reformed Jews, are vocally taking issue with real moral issues of this leadership like the impact of the budget cuts on the poor while the fundies are focused on whether people are saying Merry Christmas and whether evolution can be doubted as just another theory. This is becoming more transparent to the majority of Americans, unlike last year when most cited moral issues as the reason they voted (presumably) for *.

It has been a hard year emotionally, following such painful defeats in November 04, and we've worked hard to keep things as sane as possible; it has been a precipitously uphill battle. But there are many instances of inspired leadership, at all levels. I am grateful that we are finding a toe-hold. Our efforts are not going unanswered. I have the best hopes for '06 for the entire DU community, for what we are to each other, and for the rest of the planet.

Peace.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Salaam

I think you are right. I was heartened when the Democratic Senators voted as one against the immoral Budget bill. I was cheered when an apolitical coworker told me, out of the blue, that what Bush had done in snooping on US citizens was an impeachable offense and that he was willing to march to make sure something was done. I was glad when I heard that people of faith were standing up against the right wingers who practice a convoluted form of Christianity.

Things are changing. Keep peace in your heart, for that is where Peace begins.

Salaam, Shalom, Shanti.

[JudyM]

3. Yes, peace in our hearts is key, not just activism. Thanks! n/t

[shenmue]

2. Things are shaping up

I have a little more hope too.

:patriot: