While I have a lot of anger like that expressed by Will Pitt, my heart is also breaking.

[SeattleGirl]

After reading Will Pitt's piece about his reaction to The Mighty God Cheney's big "fuck you" to the National Archives (and the American people):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1157918&mesg_id=1157918

and after going through my own brutal, searing, visceral reaction, another feeling came reeling to the surface: profound pain and sadness at what has happened to us, to this country. I was literally sobbing tonight from the pain.

I love this country; I really do. Not in a blind, jingoistic way; not at all. America is not perfect by any means. I do not subscribe to the "America: Love It or Leave It" credo. Rather, I subscribe to this one: "My country; when right, to be kept right. When wrong, to be made right." Just as a parent must on occasion plant their boot in the hind end of their child, so must we as citizens of this country plant our collective boots in America's (or more specifically, her leader's) ass(es).

But we -- the large, collective we -- have not done that. Yes, I have. And you have. And many people on DU have. As have many others across this land, in ways large and small. But we continue to fall. We have fallen so far, so very very far, it hurts more than I can express. Again, I am not being jingoistic here; I am not saying we were ever perfect. We haven't been, we aren't, and we never will be. But in many ways, we were better than we are now, under Bush and His Imperial Darkness, Cheney. We were better than we were before Bush/Cheney/et.al. decided to play the fear/fear/fear, terra/terra/terra card. Before they decided that using one of the most horrendous things to happen in this country as a means to handcuff us. As an excuse to cow us into doing their bidding. (Again, this is the general "we" and not directed at anyone here.)

We were better before Abu Ghraib. We were better before the No Fly Lists. We were better before the near-complete corporatism of "health care" and other vital services started strangling us. We were better before unauthorized wiretaps, and before snooping into people's emails and snail mails, and whatever else this immoral bunch of crooks running this country into the ground decided (under undoubtly false pretenses) that it would keep us "safe". We were better before our foreign policy became pre-emptive war. We were better before easily rigged "elections." We were better before the Republican proliferation of caging lists. We were better before we had a main stream media that had its collective head so far up Bush and Cheney and Rove's arses (damn, but we need Murrow now more than ever) that the only news is Paris and KFed and Nicole and whoever the star of the moment is fucking. We were better when it was acceptable by the majority of us, on a public level, to give a damn about our fellow Americans. We were better when education was valued. We were better when being mediocre (except for legitimate reasons) was not acceptable. We were better before we started (or increased) extraordinary rendition. We were better before this whole fucking nightmare known as The Bush Administration was appointed to power by the Supremes. We were better before this same Administration stole the 2004 election.

We were better than we are now, under the most heinous, criminal, immoral, unethical, and just plain hateful Administration this country has ever known. And when I think of this, yes, I feel the kind of anger Will Pitt spoke of in his piece. But as I said, following closely on the heels of that anger is a pain and sorrow so profound that the only way I can really express it is through tears.

Yes, I love this country. I love her ideals. I love the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (a copy of which is beside me at all times). I love it that there are many people inhabiting this land who genuinely care about their neighbors, from the local to the global level. I love it that I can still find some good here.

But there is not nearly enough right now. If the Bush/Cheney objective was to take a giant crap on this country, if it was to smother her, diss her, and make meaningless the value of those who live within her borders, then they are succeeding so well.

I still have some hope. Some. On nights like this, that hope is hard to hold on to. In fact, it's hard to find. Instead, I find myself with tears running down my face, with a profound feeling of loss, of hopelessness, and of tiredness. The feeling that I just cannot fight any more. That I just can't do it any more.

But then I remember the love I have for this country. As I said, it is not a jingoistic false love, but a genuine, I'm-willing-to-face-the-truth-about-her love. And I realize that, as angry as I am, as much as I hurt, I cannot give up. I will continue to kick this country's ass until she gets turned around.

I will do it because I love her. Even in my anger and pain, I love her. And I will fight in whatever way I can to save her.

Now please excuse me, because I feel another crying jag coming on.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Schizophrenically enough, the worst thing about this country is its population...

... which is also the best thing about this country.

See you in the morning.

:)

[SeattleGirl]

2. That does make a lot of sense, Bloo.

And that is part of the problem, and also part of the beauty of us. God forbid we should all be like today's Repukes, and march in lockstep. Ugh!

[radfringe]

3. according to KO

we now have 4 branches of the government

the Executive Branch
the Legislative Branch
the Judicial Branch
and the...
DICK BRANCH

time to prune the DICK BRANCH...

NOW CAN WE F**KING IMPEACH HIS ASS?

unrelated: take a deep breath, and pause for this moment of beauty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA&mode=related&search=

this guy is a contestent on England's version of "Idol".. he works at a cell phone store. I had tears streaming down my face. all I can say is Pavoratti - move over

[BlooInBloo]

4. (crosses legs protectively) Um, would you mind using a different euphemism, please?

[canetoad]

5. When the hell is a country full of

fearful, oppressed, anxious, defensive people ever going to get the guts to do something about your ruling class? Chicken and egg mate.

[SeattleGirl]

7. I do know what you mean, and I confess to often feeling that way myself.

But what keeps me from completely going over the edge are the many people on DU who are strong when I am weak, the friends/family I have in my personal life, and, as I indicated in the OP, my deep and abiding (non-jingoistic) love of this country.

We ARE in a very, very difficult, painful, anger-inducing place right now. No doubt about it.

And you may think I am being a Pollyanna (though at heart, I'm usually a half-glass empty kind of girl), but I honestly DO believe there is some hope for us yet, despite the heinous destruction that has been wrought upon us by Bush/Cheney. I'd rather be able to hold onto a bit of hope, even in my darkest hour, than feel there is absolutly NO hope.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Please stop - the irony's *killing* me!

"And you may think I am being a Pollyanna (though at heart, I'm usually a half-glass empty kind of girl)"

:rofl:

C'mon! It's *funny* - The 1/2-empty girl in a 1/2-full moment, talking about being 1/2-empty !

That's not just irony. That's irony-marinated irony, grilled over ironic coals.

(grin)

[valerief]

58. "Half-glass empty" is a Bushism, to boot. nt

[canetoad]

9. I read your recent post and was going to chime in

but given my current anger index thought it prudent to leave the replies to Americans.

I honestly do not think a light bulb will illuminate in 300 mill heads and next day the world is a kinder, gentler place. I think you are too far gone, too totally fucking shellshocked to even comprehend what has happened.

I hate to say this; revolutions are thought up by the idealists, but they are carried out by thugs and I can't see anything other than left-wing thuggery bringing your regime to a close. You need to drag yourselves out of the pit of self pity, get fucking angry and act on it. How you discharge that anger is entirely up to your own conscience.

My project for this week, (or weekend, as I get distracted easily) is to make a lot of DU'ers angry, and since they can't do anything about me, direct this anger to it's appropriate target.

So, you up for it?

[SeattleGirl]

11. I never said I wasn't angry. In fact, I saw I WAS/AM angry.

But, as stated in my OP, there is also a lot of pain that goes along with the anger.

You do not need to spend any time making me angry; I have more anger than I can handle, believe me. And I use it in many ways. I am not a lazy American. I am not one to sit by and do armchair quarterbacking. Posting what I did was a way to get feelings out that I needed to get out. It was NOT, I repeat, NOT, a way to give myself cover so I could sit back, eat bon bons, and do an empty lament on the fate of this country.

I realize that from the perspective of people in other countries, it may appear that everyone in America is asleep at the switch, or sleepwalking through life, or has adopted an "I don't give a fuck" attitude, but know this: THAT. IS. NOT. TRUE. Not by a long shot.

There are many many people here, yours truly included, who are angry almost beyond reason, and we do whatever we can to, as I said, plant our collective boots in the backside of the country and those who are supposedly in charge.

But we are up against a formidable foe -- or rather, several foes. A rubber-stamp Congress that was just 6 months ago replaced by one that I do believe is better. By a media (the main stream variety) that can't lift a finger or raise a voice to question the immorality of what is going on in this country (with some notable exceptions such as Keith Olbermann), and a citizenry that, unfortunately, is still intellectually lazy and is all to willing to give a pass to those in government because, well, its the government.

Again, you do not need to incite MY anger. It's already there, in spades. I agree that more people need to get righteously pissed off, but I'm not one of them. The pain I feel does not displace the anger. It's just another aspect of how I feel about the nightmare that is the country that I once, and still do, love.

[ShortnFiery]

15. So true, everyone is seemingly ragging on Code Pink. Hell, Code Pink is "polite" IMO.

We have to not be afraid to figuratively "get in the faces" of our gutless democratic representatives and make it clear that we'll work with moveon.org to oust their butts from these ELECTED seats. Therefore, they best find their spine and BEGIN to represent their constituents' interests over that of Corporations as well as check our UNCONDITIONAL support of Israel - to include military aid! :thumbsdown: In other words, WE MUST BE A OBJECTIVE PARTY in order to broker a *fair peace* within the Middle Eastern Arena.

But most important, OUR Representatives need to know that THEY work for US, not Lockheed Martin et. al. And as such, we won't hesitate to vote out any incumbent, regardless of seniority, if they choose corporations' interests over that of their hard working average constituent. :grr:

Personally, I don't give a shit if Rep. Obey, et. al., calls us Left Wing Anti-war Idiots until the cows come home, it's BEYOND time to hold these lazy and cowardly Representatives accountable.

BTW my better half keeps telling me to "calm down" and "these things take time." Bullshit! The Democratic Party is blessed to have it's Liberal Activists. :applause:

"Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

Time to hit the the streets.

[SeattleGirl]

16. "Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

Absolutely!

Even though I must admit it pains me to have to kick ass on some of the Democrats, it would pain me even more to NOT kick them when necessary.

MrSG sometimes gets after me when I express my anger at what's going on (mostly because he is not comfortable with emotions of any kind). But while I respect him, I don't care. Being a "good girl" gets me nowhere in matters such as political accountability.

Hey, you don't like an in-your-face woman? Tough shit. I will continue to be that way as long as necessary. You don't want me in your face? Then straighten up and fly right, and do your fucking job, and REPRESENT WE THE PEOPLE.

We don't work for YOU. YOU work for US. Never forget that.

[Vilis Veritas]

43. You are right.

The PEACE movement will never take back this country.

As for making DU'ers angry, good luck. They may be angry but there are way to many cathartic devices...and way to many here that will tell you that "getting angry does nothing to further the cause of the Democratic party, we need to elect HRC and then the world will be better and the Sun will come out!" Riiiiigggghhhhtttt...sheesh.

What cake could I possibly be talking about? Pot, beer, tv, the internet, coffee, cake, yum yum eat cake...feel better, listen to a really good singer tonight on TV, that will make you feel better...(even I feel a little better after a good tune), but I am awake and I know what it means when the fish are given flakes...

Welcome to the NWO...

Wake up.

To quote another DU'er..."Nothing to see here...move along"

[mmonk]

68. If I were any angrier

my head would explode. I try everyday I can whether it be a phone call, note or email to representatives. You really have to fight yourself too from the anger fatigue. Takes quite a bit to keep picking yourself off the floor and give it a go again and again when all you want to do is take a break and rest for a minute like before all this started.

[SeattleGirl]

6. Oh yes, the Dick branch. or, as Will Pitt says, the Dic-k branch.

If the media had any balls (KO excused from this, of course) they would cry FOUL! You cannot claim Executive Privilege and at the same time, claim you are NOT part of the Executive Branch of the US Government. Sorry, DIC-K. You. Fucking. Lose.

And I saw the clip of the singer on KO. That also brought tears to my eyes, but they were tears of joy at the pure beauty of this man's voice. I hope he becomes a successful opera singer and never has to sell another phone! And I have the clip bookmarked, so I can take a beauty break now and then. :)

[opihimoimoi]

10. All I can say to you SeattleGirl...is that a lot of us here on the DU also love our country just as

much as that Paul guy loves OPERA....

We love our Nation and Her experiment with an evolving Democracy...a System For the people and BY the people.....

What we witnessed in these past 50 years is a slow but steady transformation from the Good side of things to that of something less pleasant....we have evolved backwards...not paying attention to Histories Lessons...

The Radical Right, the NeoCons/and all the rest....have kidnapped/stole/decieved themselves into seats of power...

Last Nov 7th we saw a glimmer of HOPE/PROMISE that the National Direction has changed...Reality has come Home...The Republican Philosophy of Diversion, BS, Distraction. etc has been revealed as what it really is...a very Bad One indeed. It is SelfCentered but Dressed Up to Fool....that ole thing comes to mind...If ya can FOOL...Ya can RULE.

Enough Peeps have come to see this Administration/GOP as Counterproductive....and their votes have spoken in the direction of our Blue Camp...Yes we have our faults and mistakes....but they pale when compared to what the PubParty has done to our Nation and our citizens...

Cheer up Girl...there is much Promise in the days ahead...there are many many people here who love this Great Nation ...and we are here to build strength through this wonderful Internet/DU to aid/help/boost our drive to better this Country.

Pay no attention to those trouble makers/trolls/freepers who come to distract and divide us....

Sending Fine Wine and some Smoked Salmon, Oysters on the half shell....enjoy...

Aloha,

Opi

[SeattleGirl]

13. I know there are many people who live in this country that love her.

Not unconditionally; they join me in planting their boots in her backside when necessary (and it's rarely been more necessary than it is now). And I am glad for the company. I am glad for the strength in numbers that everyone who feels the same way adds to the fight.

Believe me, in spite of the tone my OP may have set, I really have not given up. There are just days, like today, where it is more difficult than others. But that is one reason I love DU. Whenever some of us are feeling down, or feeling like we just can't go on to fight another day, there are other DUers who do feel strong, who CAN and DO fight, and who offer their shoulders to those who aren't feeling strong a place of respite until they, too, regain their strength. And then, in time, those people can offer their shoulders, their strength, to those who previously offered theirs.

No, I have not given up.

I just needed to stop for awhile, to shed my tears, to lean on those who were stronger in this moment than I, to rest for just awhile, before I once again take up the sword, and continue the fight to take back this country that I love.

[opihimoimoi]

24. Thank You for a very thoughtful response...You must be Beautiful

Come, we go Laugh, Smile, Stroll the Sandy Beaches, and Enjoy....Peace

[SeattleGirl]

27. Thanks. I would love a respite on a sandy beach, laughter and smiling included.

Peace to you, too.

[eridani]

20. With HR 333, of course. Get on it. n/t

[Highway61]

49. Paul Potts

He won the whole ball of wax! God bless him...he is an overnight star. He won the hearts of many. He brought tears to my eyes as well. I wonder how the kids who bullied him in school feel now? They're probably sweeping up the cigarette butts in the parking lot of they're local 7-11....

[ananda]

53. Sneer and Smirk..

.. go together.

I want to see something besides that Cheneyesque
supercilious sneer and Shrub's stupidass smirk.

I want Gore, my president.

Sue

[Stardust]

12. Beautifully crafted piece, SeattleGirl. How I would love to be able to

cry at this insane juncture but fear I might not be able to staunch the flow once the floodgates opened...Hope is precious. Without it is to be completely without. Otherwise, see ya on the train to the camp. What a frikin nightmare we're living in. :scared:

[SeattleGirl]

14. Go ahead and cry. I too, have felt that if I let go, I could never staunch the tears.

But instead, I found that by letting go, by crying myself ugly, that I can once again tap into the strength and power necessary to continue the fight.

It's a bad time we are living in, that is certain. But I also know that once I have allowed myself to shed the built-up tears, I DO feel a renewal of strength, and purpose, and am more than ready to carry on, even in the face of this "frikin nightmare".

[freeplessinseattle]

17. very moving piece, SG, thank you K&R eom

[SeattleGirl]

18. Thank you. n/t

[Guava Jelly]

19. ..

yep.

[SeattleGirl]

21. ....

Thank you.

[eridani]

22. Langston Hughes says it so well--

--America never was what our ideals said it was supposed to be, but there is a long string of us going back many generations who have pushed it in that direction. Like you, deep down I really do believe in all that stuff in my 6th grade Civics book. And we must not fail those dreamers now.

http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/Hughes-America-Again1938.htm

Let America be America Again

Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed-- Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.)

O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe.

(There's never been equality for me, Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark? And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek-- And finding only the same old stupid plan Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and hope, Tangled in that ancient endless chain Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land! Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need! Of work the men! Of take the pay! Of owning everything for one's own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil. I am the worker sold to the machine. I am the Negro, servant to you all. I am the people, humble, hungry, mean-- Hungry yet today despite the dream. Beaten yet today--O, Pioneers! I am the man who never got ahead, The poorest worker bartered through the years.

Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream In the Old World while still a serf of kings, Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true, That even yet its mighty daring sings In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned That's made America the land it has become. O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas In search of what I meant to be my home-- For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore, And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea, And torn from Black Africa's strand I came To build a "homeland of the free."

The free?

Who said the free? Not me? Surely not me? The millions on relief today? The millions shot down when we strike? The millions who have nothing for our pay? For all the dreams we've dreamed And all the songs we've sung And all the hopes we've held And all the flags we've hung, The millions who have nothing for our pay-- Except the dream that's almost dead today.

O, let America be America again-- The land that never has been yet-- And yet must be--the land where every man is free. The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME-- Who made America, Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain, Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain, Must bring back our mighty dream again.

Sure, call me any ugly name you choose-- The steel of freedom does not stain. From those who live like leeches on the people's lives, We must take back our land again, America!

O, yes, I say it plain, America never was America to me, And yet I swear this oath-- America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death, The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies, We, the people, must redeem The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers. The mountains and the endless plain-- All, all the stretch of these great green states-- And make America again!

http://www.ericblumrich.com/pax.html

Mindfully.org note: Please view the Flash animation created by Eric Blumrich centered on Hughes' powerful poem of America

[SeattleGirl]

25. Oh my! Thank you so much for this.

I remember reading this some time ago, and I was so moved by it, as I am right now.

I especially love this line: The land that never has been yet -- And yet must be -- the land where every man is free." And may I add, the land where every woman is also free.

That is why, despite my tears and pain and sorrow, I can carry on.

America is an ideal.

One that will probably not be reached within my lifetime.

But one that is worth working for, worth fighting for, worth getting up every day, and doing the best we can do to bring us closer to that idea.

I don't care that we won't meet the ideal American dream in my lifetime.

I really don't.

What I care about is that we continue working and fighting for it. And, just as importantly, that we hold those among us up when they are too tired, too weary, too sad to carry on at any given moment.

I am too tired right now, but I know I will regain my strength.

And I know that when the time comes, I will be strong enough for others, in their time of need, to lean on me, and I will fight for the both of us.

Again, thank you for posting this. America is an ideal that I am fully willing to work toward to the end of my life.

[H2O Man]

23. Nominated.

Thank you for writing this. It was a pleasure to read. Very well done.

I remember that Martin Luther King Jr told us that "the cross we bear precedes the crown we wear" (National Conference on Race & Religion; Chicago; 1963). He was speaking about groups of people, who continue to do what is right, even in times filled with "difficulties and agonizing and tension-packed content." Things are pretty dark right now, largely because of the actions of those in "high places" such as Washington, DC. But the actions of the people in small places will light the way.

We will reach that "promised land" that Martin saw from the mountain top.

[SeattleGirl]

26. Thank you, H2O Man. Your response is much appreciated, and oh so true.

This may seem strange to some folks here, but I have often wondered why I was born into the time I was. Why I am here now.

And the answer is obvious.

It is because I am among the "groups of people who continue to do what is right, even in times filled with difficulties and agonizing and tension-packed content."

It's not pleasant.

It's not easy.

It is certainly no cake-walk. No one in the current Administration is going to hand the likes of you and me bouquets of flowers.

Certainly, MLK Jr. knew that.

And many of us here know that.

It's scary.

It's disheartening at times.

It can make us want to just plain give up.

But thanks to people such as MLK Jr., Ghandi, Cindy Sheehan, RFK Jr., etc. we have something to reach out to. Something to hold on to.

Something to inspire us here for the fight we have today.

Something to help keep us going.

Again, thanks for your post. You reminded me that I DO have something to hold on to.

[I Have A Dream]

28. It was my pleasure to recommend this.

I feel exactly the same way. This country is a victim. We have to stop her abusers.

:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

30. Thank you, Dream.

You are one of those who are willing to fight for what this country is supposed to stand for, and I appreciate that so much.

:hug:

[Heidi]

29. Kicked

and recommended. :thumbsup:

[SeattleGirl]

31. Thanks, darlin.

I know that even though you no longer live in the States, you still care very much about what's going on here.

[Heidi]

32. I probably care more about it now

than I did before I moved abroad. :hug:

[SeattleGirl]

33. I know from some friends of mine who have lived abroad that they have

a different, and in many ways, more accurate view of America than those of us who live here all the time.

And for that, I am grateful.

There is nothing worse than tunnel vision.

Even when the truth hurts, it's better than all the pretty lies in the world.

[bdamomma]

52. I do too, you somehow feel it more when you are living abroad

I am sick to see what is happening out there. Thugs are what they are, just plain old rich greedy thugs.

[SeattleGirl]

72. I'm sure that part of the reason is that the media in othe countries

tells the truth about what is going on here, unlike most of the media here.

[babylonsister]

34. K&R! Awww, SeattleGirl, you have us, and most of us feel your pain.

I just keep waiting for that other shoe to drop, when the Congress will collectively wake up and smell the coffee, when they recognize just how much damage has been done and how much time is left to do more before this evil admin is history.
I don't know what's taking so long, don't know how many people have to die, don't know how they plan on cobbling our Constitution back together after it's been shredded so thoroughly, but I have to hope we're getting close. I wouldn't be here otherwise.
Here's a hug, and just remember, you are not alone.:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

35. Thank you, babylonsister. I know I am not alone.

There are many, many people in the country, and indeed throughout the world, who feel as we do.

And I think that we cannot depend solely on our elected or selected officials.

We have to do our part too.

And thank goodness, there are many people who ARE willing to do that.

Difficult as it may be.

Scary as it may be.

For those of us who genuinely and deeply love America,

we will do our part to help her get back on her feet.

I'm thankful that you are among those willing to do that. :hug:

[snappyturtle]

36. K&R ....... I think what you feel, having read between the lines

a bit, is frustration.....yes, love, at times, is frustrating....the hope of a better future will pull us through this time. Hope may be a dream at the present time but we CAN make the dream a reality. You give me more hope just knowing the way you feel. Thanks for sharing.

[Matariki]

37. Well, we have a history of bleak times. The Bush administration is definitely one of them.

Segregation, lynchings, McCarthyism, murdering labor activists, Kent State, mkultra, Vietnam, the Nixon admisistration, J. Edgar Hoover - the list goes on.

I'm not arguing with your post, but pointing out that we've ALWAYS had to be diligent against this sort of thing. It has always been a struggle against the few who want to control the many. Unfortunately it seems to take the many getting really uncomfortable until we collectively say 'enough'.

[SeattleGirl]

59. I couldn't agree more, Kineta.

It just feels that right now, what we are dealing with is as big as all those things you noted wrapped up into one giant nightmare.

I'm 51 years old, and remember many of these things going on in my lifetime, but the load never felt as heavy as it does right now.

I just hope that we are close to hitting a critical mass, and that the majority of us finally rise up, and say ENOUGH.

[Matariki]

61. In many ways I think it's the stark contrast to a great deal of progress we've already made.

Also, the internet plays a great part in how information is disseminated. During Vietnam, many of the outrages committed were very slow to become public knowledge, if at all.

Surely you can remember how bad the Nixon years were? Many laws that the Bush administration is trying to ignore were created back then in response to how bad that administration was. They were trying to bolster the power of the Executive Branch. Then there was all the terrible shit Hoover's FBI was doing - spying on Nixon's political foes, etc. The FISA law's were created in response to that.

It's not surprising that many of the very same players (read Dick Cheney) are involved in the current administration.

[shadowknows69]

38. Great piece Seattlegirl

K+r

[rhiannon55]

39. Your essay brought tears to my eyes, SG

I have been so angry at this country for succumbing to fear and thuggery and forgetting her democratic ideals that I forgot how much I love her. Thank you for reminding me.

K & R!

[SeattleGirl]

73. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering too, rhiannon.

It was Will Pitt's piece I referenced in my OP that helped remind me.

[IChing]

40. Well said my friend and nominated n/t

[Flying Dream Blues]

41. This is a great post, SeattleGirl! Thanks for sharing this, and

writing so eloquently about the fear of the loss of hope that is the partner to the sadness for all that's been lost. I know it's just days like this, and they pass, but it's a scary feeling to wonder, I know.

[WCGreen]

42. Well said...

Please journalize...

[SharonRB]

44. K&R

You've beautifully stated what so many of us are feeling these days. There are so many days I just want to break down and cry, but I don't let myself. Each day brings another reason, though. When will it all end? If they steal the '08 election, I think we'll be beyond help -- we must stick together, whoever winds up with nomination, and vote in lockstep for the Dem candidate. There is no other way, even if you have to hold your nose. We must take back the presidency if we want any chance of taking our country back.

[InternalDialogue]

45. SeattleGirl, that's a damn fine piece of writing.

Beautiful thoughts, righteous anger, and inspiration to boot.

I'm with you.

:hug:

[disndat]

46. It boils down to this -

How will Justice Anthony Kennedy vote? Would this ever get to the Supreme Court to decide?

[myrna minx]

47. Thank you so much for this. I, too, have been crying. Deep,

mourning sobs. I can't put to words how the personal tipping point has come to pass. The horrible realization that *it really is that bad.* I am forever grateful that I have my friends of DU to come to for comfort, but I must admit, that the dam has burst foe me. I just can't stop crying.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

48. Beautifully said!

K&R

:patriot:

[bdamomma]

50. Seattle girl we or some of us have not done enough to save

this country either. July 4th is around the corner, to me it will be a very bleak one, we are still a very young nation and we have to get her back again, and away from our homegrown terrorists who sit in our house.

[ourbluenation]

51. Hugs SeattleGirl - between you and Will, you've bother captured my views on this too.

that was a damn fine piece of writing.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

54. Thank you for expressing so eloquently the

feelings that continually bombard myself as well.

Very well done! K & R

[Crewleader]

55. SeattleGirl

All our hearts break with this Bush administration is in office.Your writing was right on expressing our emotions with yours my friend.
I would be very proud to stand and fight beside YOU! :hug:

[SeattleGirl]

74. We definitely need all the people we can get to fight FOR this country,

and AGAINST the abominations that have been wrought upon her, and those who love her.

[rumpel]

56. thanks, SG

You've said it all.

:kick: & r

[bleever]

57. Well said, my friend.

American is stronger than these crooks, and will emerge from the "reign of witches".

Not soon enough, but it is inevitable, because of people like you.

[RevCheesehead]

60. You have a heart of gold.

I am proud to call you my friend. :hug::hug::hug:

[SeattleGirl]

75. As do you, Rev.

:hug:

[Harry Monroe]

62. "My country; when right, to be kept right. When wrong, to be made right."

SeattleGirl, that is a PERFECT definition of patriotism and that statement defines a real patriot.

Thank you for your post. It was beautiful!!!

[Patsy Stone]

63. Excellent, SG!

And you can cry on my shoulder anytime. Soon, hopefully, we can all stop crying, and stop waiting, always waiting, for the other shoe to drop.

:hug:

[emilyg]

64. Thank you.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

65. When hope is hard to cling to,

it's time to create some more. :hug:

This country was born imperfect; and it's always been up to her citizens to mould America into what she should be. We will get through this, SeattleGirl, the same way we've tackled so many other stumbling blocks on the road to freedom.

Take a little break...go someplace beautiful, or do something like volunteer at the food bank, that will give you the sensation of offering immediate relief. Get your strength back, and join us again. We won't quit until we're back on the right track. And once we are, we'll be vigilant. The neocons will not rule much longer. :hug::hug::hug:

[Redstone]

66. SG, that was magnificent. I stand in awe of your writing ability, and salute you.

Redstone

[SeattleGirl]

71. Coming from you, Redstone, I am truly humbled.

Thank you.

[bbgrunt]

67. I suppose every 100 years or so we must relearn

the lessons of rampant crony capitalism and the logical consequences of succumbing to an philosophy that truly believes that greed is good. It breaks my heart too....especially because there are so many other tragic consequences facing us as we overrun the earth. I can only hope that enough of us are fast enough learners to survive and subsequently create a better philosophy to live by.

....and thanks for the well-written sentiments.

[Doc Martin]

69. We were better before...

I felt great sadness as I was reminded of what has happened.

[proud patriot]

70. Shoulder to shoulder my Sister

:patriot: :hug: :patriot: