just a conversatiion with a friend (IMPORTANT)

[nadinbrzezinski]

ok this is important and pay attention. A friend of mine, she used to be very active

Now she agrees with me, things are really fucked up, but here is the critical point, she is afraid of even signing a letter to insert congress critter here, out of fear that she will end up in a list and this will cost her a livelihood.

As I told her (and I wonder how many more are like her), the bushies have won, they have frightened her to full compliance.

Of course she sees the parallels to Nazi Germany, but at least this time they won't come for us... (chortle reminded me of a famous piece of writing my Niermuller, has been quoted here often enough)

So here is partly what we face, people are afraid of taking a stand

Moreover, in case you wonder the Right Wing talking points are thick out there including the ... hold for it, wait.... making money and making a living apparently is a right wing value... the other, well we already knew this, Liberals are very loose with family values, I DID firmly correct her on this...

But this is what we are facing, on the plus side, many of her family who used to be staunch repubs are rethinking their stand folks...

[Lars39]

1. I have to confess I gulped a bit when I signed.

You only live once, though, so you better damn sure it counts for something.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. trust me I have signed so many

that I am sure my FBI file is quite thick by now... ok boys you were caught, one day I'lll request mine through a FOIA.. should be fun to see what they blacked out

[babylonsister]

2. OMG! Afraid to sign? I'm definitely not that cowed

that I feel I can't express an opinion or take a stand. But I know there are people who feel that way which to me is all the more reason to fight it. Safety in numbers perhaps?

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Yes afriaid to sign or to send a letter to congress

or do any of this, or go to a Meet Up... yep some folks are that scared, remember this is how it was done in Germany and if we did nto have the web I fear we would feel far more isolated

[Atman]

16. Do you have an FBI file?

I don't recall where I saw it, but just a few days ago I was on a site that had the criteria which indicated the likelihood of the FBI putting you on a list. There were five items.

Have you ever attended a political rally?

Are you a member of any political activist group? (Does DU count?)

Do you regularly, publicly speak out in opposition to the government? (Does DU count?)

I can't recall what the other two were.

I know I already have a fat file...my stepfather was head of the Delta missile program at NASA. He'd warn us to lay off the dope and fly right for a few weeks, every time his security clearance was up for review. Told us not to worry if we felt like we were being watched, because we probably were. Also, I received security clearance to witness the first two space shuttle launches from the vip area, the green field by the giant digital clock you see on the launch videos. So then I launch this little web site and start publishing anti-Bush cartoons. ABOUT.COM has me listed as a "GUIDE PICK", and calling me a subversive. And one of my dearest friends is an engineer-turned-sculptor. He turned sculptor because he couldn't find a job after he got his degree in Industrial Design...he later found out his CO status and his anti-war activities got him on McCarthy's black list. I don't know if guilt by association counts, but there you go...I fraternize with other known subversives, too!

FBI file? LOL! I think I have my own cabinet.

Oh, and my site is popular in the Netherlands for some reason. That can't be good!

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Guilty as charged on all the above

My hubby is a US Navy Retired Chief, Submaarine Service (yep a file right there, his clearance, you see I got one too... the lowest level)

Then I was naturalized... so yep one there too (they even have my prints)

Atended rallyes? Yep, you betcha

Written letters of disent, you betcha

That is why when she said I don't want no stinking file... after I finished laughing I said, lady you've got one, go ahead, FOIA it, you do have one, it almost feels like the Stassi, and she has one because she asociates wiht the wrong kinds and has for literally years...

But won't sing Conyer's Petition... go figure

[serryjw]

32. RFLOL! They don't care about us......

I was out there for 3 years and was not shy about telling anyone who would listen what I thought of * & Company. I passed the background check to volunteer at Boston 2004 Democratic Convention. I have signed literally hundreds of petitions on line. Get emails from Degette and many others.Now if we were on staff at ACLU or PFAW that would be another problem. What we do they don't care about.

Besides, if they arrest me....maybe I'll get healthcare!

[librechik]

4. we're all doomed. we might as well sign on to the impeachment.

does she really think Bush can save her job?

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Nah she believes taht she will be blacklisted

the thought occurred to me oh three years ago right before I sent an Amicus brief to the Court over Guantamo (now that one probably has me in a nice list somewhere... there boys, we are so afraid about it that we laught at you)...

She is basically thinking, with some vaiidity of the 1950s and the black lists

[brainshrub]

6. The time to leave the country is when a flag-burring amendment passes.

Until then, don't worry about it. Don't be cowed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. that is waht I told her, they won if you are cowed

her ponit, she needs to make a livimg and having a political opinion may cost her a job... or worst

[peacetalksforall]

25. If she's worried about keeping a corporate job...the last laugh is that

probably the CEO's, CFO's, and all the stockholders are blatantly partisan, outspoken, contribute $$$$, and sign loyalty oaths of various kinds.

[Pushed To The Left]

15. Unfortunately, it looks like it has a chance

of passing. I wrote my Senators(both Democrats) urging them to oppose it, and one wrote back saying that she supported it! Even some of the more liberal Democratic candidates support this thing! It's very upsetting!:mad:

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. should I share Feinstein's little missive on USPA II?

^&%*$%$%^&**(())(

[brainshrub]

18. No chance yet, but in 2006 the Cons will have 60 seats in the Senate.

Then the fun begins.

[Hissyspit]

9. A life lived too scared to sign a letter in support of a man like

John Conyers is not really much of a life.

By the way, ask her to DEFINE 'family values.'

[knowbody0]

10. i know people like this

their fear is real.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Oh I know

What is funny is... to a point, I have reason to be afraid.. I just don't let this fear paralize me... but then again, just like for real I went into a shoot out to grab the idiot out, I just choose to ignore the real risks to me or my husband from the real actions I have taken...

She has done nothing... perfect sheep in some ways... will rather hide her head in the sand... but she is afraid.

Go figure

[truth2power]

12. I signed.

Screw the bastards!

[cally]

13. I understand her fear

but by giving into it then the Bushbots win. I could lose my livelihood but I refuse to not protest or sign the petitions. By this time, I'm on enough lists that I'm not too concerned about what I do. I do try to protect my anonymity on DU, though.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I do understand it, but it led to the following question

how many people like her have been completely and fully cowed into inaction? I mean if it is only one of us, easy to break but the more and more of us who spaek out... the more difficult it becomes for the bushies

[cally]

20. I think many won't speak up because of fear

Isn't that what happened in Germany? It's happening here now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Bingo... we have some hope, thanks to the Internets

hence why they want to shut them down... but there are days I go, unfrigging unbelievable, especially since just as me, she is a daughter of holocaust survivors.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. self serving kick

but this is important folks

[DerekG]

22. Would anyone here actually want to "earn a living" in a fascist regime?

Maybe I'm just saying this because I don't have children to raise, but I'd rather share the fate of the Third Reich's political enemies than live as a vile "good German."

Better to die for God than to live for Mammon.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. You don't have kids

neither do I, hence taking stances and walknig into the line if fire is a little easier. (she does not either). My sister, on the other hand, and my brother in law, do have kids. My brother in law still has sent letters and done as much as he possibly can...

The point I am making is, I fear we are the exception... and it got me thinking... this is partly why we have not seen mucy revolting (no the stenography corp will not cover demonstrations etiher), but if a fair percentage of the people are just worried about making a living and not ending up in your neighborhood stazzi file... well you get what I mean..

[DerekG]

30. I certainly do understand; it is not my intention to romanticize rebellion

But these men are fascists, and we owe it to future generations--all the world over--to stop them. It is that serious.

[Generator]

24. I understand

But there comes a point where you just don't freaking care anymore. Where you just want that grim reaper of despair off your back-and by doing the right thing-even if it goes nowhere-it means you can breathe. I gulped too signing my real name. But I've had it! I'm a mom in my forties and I want to be on the streets protesting these lies. It makes me sick and sick for my children's future.

And am I the only one that thinks TODAY with Conyers, and the impeachment dream even being floated-that today is one of the happiest days in many many months on DU? I want to follow someone that just tells the truth and doesn't back down. Come what may.

[ChiciB1]

26. Hey... I'm To The Point Now...

That I HOPE they're making another "enemies list"!!

It's right up their alley and I've been around long enough to remember when!!

I signed GLADLY!!! But I do understand. But remember what Roosevelt said... "We Have Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself"!

Think LEFT -- Be RIGHT!

[Gloria]

27. I sign without my middle initial....because my freeper mother and I

share the same name AND address! So, they'll have to go after her, too!

IS THAT MEAN??? I don't care....

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Would be funny if she ended up in a no flight list

;-)

Hey then you can look at her innecently, bat your eyes... and state... "it seems you did have soemthing to hide... what is it exactly?"

[peacetalksforall]

28. Nikos Kazantzakis .... (paraphrased) - I want nothing, I fear nothing,

therefore I'm free.

Wouldn't it be nice.

Someday, they may place us in a situation where things are so bad that we can adopt his creed - in the meantime, keep on educating.

[tsuki]

29. I am a Southern Woman of an indeterminate age. Don't even think

you can eff with me.

[Lars39]

31. LOL

:thumbsup: :D

[NMDemDist2]

35. me too sistah, let the boys in the dark suits come. If Martha can do it

I know I can....

and like someone said above, maybe I can get some healthcare to boot!

[Gyre]

34. We hang together or we'll hang separately.

It's an essential mantra of every successful revolutionary movement. And there's a lot of truth to the catch-phrase that freedom doesn't come cheap. We're seeing that reality now. When you're scared, think about the world your children, nieces, nephews will be inhereting if we do nothing out of fear.

Gyre