You are invited to a party.....

[magpie]

There are only 2 types of parties allowed in my community, and they are held at the same time. I attended both recently, since it's all I get for now.
The first was so dreary ...I left depressed. The women were wearing scratchy wool suits and most of the men had really strange hair. The food and drink was bland. People were talking but they seemed to be afraid to stray from some sort of script. It was really creepy, but I love to party and it was the only one of two available. I only went, really , to see what those folks were celebrating. Come to find out, they were celebrating some sort of self-affirmation ceremony. It's seems that a few of them had been arrested recently for doing some hurtful things to other people. The crimes were heinous and conviction seemed certain. But, apparently some of them had 'prayed', and some of them worked very hard, and some of them actually became judge and jury so that the offenders were released.
It was a 'party' and they seemed happy when they were together. The ladie's room was a different story. The women were just packed in there adjusting their wool suits. One of them seemed to be going nuts scratching and clawing at herself saying 'this suit just doesn't fit right', but other women hushed her and told her 'don't you dare unbutton that suit!' They were smearing all kinds of colored goo on their faces and having a hard time getting it right because they couldn't really see themselves in the mirror. I couldn't make out most of what they were talking about other than they 'hated' some other party that was happening somewhere else and they were all 'pro' somebody named Zack.
One guy, dressed as some sort of monkey, called everyone to order. People were told how and where to stand. Then, this monkey guy said, 'Merkins, (I guess that's what they call themselves - merkins) this is a proud day. We are strong. We are successful. We were placed on this planet by our creator with incredible self-hate and black-heartedness. We have channelled that ugliness around the world. We have learned to hate more than ourselves, to hate as we hate ourselves.' The crowd was prompted to cheer, and they did. I left.
The other party was at my house this year, and will be at somebody else's next time. It seems we can't just find one place for this party- we have to keep moving it around. It is a potluck, so the food and drink is whatever people bring with them. It's usually awesome! Some people dance and sing, while others are locked in heated debate. The variety of food, and drink, and costume is incredible. It's difficult to focus and take it all in. There's lots of kids, and grandparents, and even terribly ill people come to our party since it's the only one that they are welcome to. We are usually noisy, and some from the other party get very angry, and even try to pass laws against our even having a party. In my community, it takes alot of work to throw this party because we are required to clean up the mess left by the other party while maintaining our own! But, we party on!
I understand some feeling of frustration with only having two parties. I felt really bummed for a long time before I became a member of the party committee. Now, I work hard for the aspects of the party that I want. Some of my friends tried to throw a third party. But all they ended up doing was getting funding from the other party to throw eggs at our party. I invite them in, ask them to be a part of this party and have a good time - but they just stand outside complaining and throwing eggs. I am part of the committee for the big party planned for this fall, and another, bigger party on 2008. They will be mixed events, with some people in mourning, some terribly hurt, some celebrating, some needing food and shelter. But, above all these parties will be a place of great love and hope as long as I am on the committee. Will you please come? - rsvp now - as there is so much to do.

[mzteris]

1. good analogy

But I think some of the attendees at the 2nd party are really afraid that the 2nd party people are becoming WAY too much like the 1st party people, ya know?

And while it would certainly make the 2nd party less threatening to the 1st party to become more "homogenized" - it would also certainly make the 2nd party less appealling to those who are not centrist-ly minded.

[magpie]

2. I attend both parties.

Just to be sure. It's like a sanity-check, or insanity check. I know that I don't fit in at the 1st party, and I have a lot to do with how the 2nd party turns out. I am always left stunned when some people come to both, or don't show up at either, complain about both, and say there is no difference. I take it personally because it is, in part, my party. I make or break the rules if any. I bring what I can and share with others. I fully understand wanting more and other parties. Having more and other anything to me just never involves hurting what is. Have and enjoy the party , have other parties, or don't ever party - but I don't understand attacking one while wishing for another. You throw a party with the supplies that you have not the ones you want.