Do you ever feel like throwing in the towel?

[Buddyblazon]

I've kept my chin up since Nov. 2nd.

I've tried to get the word out about vote fraud. I've been called a nut by other Dems. My Repub father REFUSES to even listen to anything that isn't goosestepping with Heir Furrer. Amazingly...I've never brought up vote fraud with him...but he's brought it up with me. Frantically trying to come up with excuses, he started debunking all of the fraud stories coming out...and I pretended I didn't know what he was talking about. I asked him, "WTF are you talking about?". He couldn't drop it. I then asked him, "Why are you so defensive...you guys won it all legitimately...right?"

But after dealing with all the lunatic righties surrounding me...I'm starting to wonder. Maybe I'm the lunatic. All of these other people seem to be able to agree on the issues. I mean...is being "correct" just a relative term.

Say...if I were to believe that murder is wrong. But I'm surrounded by a majority that thinks murder is okay. Than...relatively speaking...am I the one that's incorrect? Obviously murder is an extreme example, but I think you can see what I'm saying in this example.

At this point, I look at "the cause"...and "the propaganda"....and I hate to say this...but complacency is looking more and more attractive to me everyday. Back to the days when I didn't care.

My friends brother was so pissed off by the system years ago...he refuses to take part in any way. Anybody who brings up politics around him gets a warning. "Do not discuss politics around me." If the persist...he'll literally threaten them, "Drop it...or I'll shut your mouth for you." He's actually a nice guy...he just vowed to be politics free years ago...and his life is a heck of a lot happier.

So here I am...do I continue the good fight...or do I pack it in and just say "fuck it!".

Sorry for this...i've just been milling this over for a month now.

[ET Awful]

1. I only throw in the towel when it's wrapped around a brick

and there's a worthwhile target.

[Flammable Materials]

8. I've never heard that phrase before.

I'm nicking it, boyo.

[ET Awful]

12. Neither have I, I just made it up on the spur of the moment,

so feel free :)

[bryant69]

2. I've thought about giving up

But I don't think I can. Not while I know what is going on.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[ernstbass]

3. I know where you are coming from

because I feel as weary as you do. Most folks just don't really care one way or the other - it's very discouraging. I'm not throwing in the towel but I'm not fighting like I was a month ago - just taking a little winter break for the sake of my sanity. BUt please know that there are many of us out here.

[Q3JR4]

4. I'm throwing in the towel,

on the democratic "leadership."

They no longer have the guts to do anything relevant to the continuation of our democracy.

[rurallib]

5. Focus on the future

I don't want to say that you shouldn't be pissed about what has happened. You should be but don't dwell on it. There are important congressional, senate and gubernatorial races coming up in a year and 10 months. Time to organize and step out ahead of the Pukes.
They will not let down with their bigotted attacks. But I still believe that the party of fair play and letting people be in their own lives is more in tune with most Americans and will triumph. We just need to get our message out.
That is hard to do when most radio and TV outlets are owned by the right. They can make their bigotry seem like conventional wisdom just by repetition. We need to work hard and long to win the next round.
And we need committed people like you. So don't cash in, refocus!

[Jo March]

6. If I give up, then I become them

I can't become them. For my sanity, I have to fight.

So what if they call you crazy? Big deal. They are ignorant.

The truth always wins. It takes time but it always wins in the end.

You are burned out. Take a break for your sanity. Assess your priorities and make your decision then.

Good luck.

[sam sarrha]

7. Look short post..I WILL NEVER FORGET, NEVER, AND WILL NEVER QUIT !!

stolen elections, lies that led to wasteful terrible needless war.. the destruction of the economy and the middle class, of SSI and as a disabled person who gets no aid.. and cant work, i depend on that in in a few years.. and it probably wont be there because of some dumb fuck rich wet brain alcholic drug addict privilaged cheerleader frat boy

The WORLD will NEVER Forget either... It will never be safe for an American to travel safely again. we are a PARIAH Nation, we will never be able to out live the shame, nor their anger.

[knight_of_the_star]

9. If I did that

I would have to grow a beard so that I would have an excuse not to look in the mirror at myself in the morning when I shave.

[dbsherri]

10. Try this on

I suggest you consider canceling your cable service on or around Inauguration day as a protest about the way we hear the news. I rarely watch the news, but the reporting of the Tsunami disaster sent me over the top. Only the US used it as a way to further a political point of view. The US is a world leader in giving, and on and on. It made me sick.

Try this on:

What if LESS THAN one quarter of the people who voted for Kerry cancel their cable television service to protest the news media? Let’s say 250,000 households.

On average, cable costs $2/day. That’s HALF A MILLION DOLLARS PER DAY.

Keep it off a month, that’s 15 MILLION DOLLARS

If you don’t think that will have an economic impact on cable television, you’re wrong.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. KILL YOUR TELEVISION SERVICE. GET TO KNOW YOUR KIDS, GET TO KNOW YOUR PARTNER, GET TO KNOW YOURSELF. READ MORE. GET MORE EXERCISE. LISTEN TO THE RADIO, PLAY MORE MUSIC, RENT A MOVIE IF YOU MUST WATCH TELEVISION.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, SEND THE MONEY YOU SAVE TO DISASTER RELIEF.

IF YOU WANT THIS COUNTRY BACK, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK.

[manic expression]

11. Relatively speaking....

If everyone in the WORLD thought that murder is correct, that does nothing to change the fact that it is wrong. If you look at it from a true relative perspective, you should see that you need to be correct to the TRUTH, which is omnipotent. Examples of an instance where the majority were wrong and others stayed in line with the majority are endless, and in every such event, the consequences are tragic.
Everything is part of the larger reality...do not lose sight of this. Justice, truth, right and wrong are constant throughout every form of existence.

To fight is the only real option. To consciously permit such abominations to continue is to be supportive of this. If you do not fight, you will find that the effects will follow you. Be mindful of the eternal duty to do what is right. Everything ultimately ends (and begins, again), but the actions in this life will have effects on an infinitely greater scale.

It is healthy to occasionally doubt one's beliefs, as it prevents us from becoming unnecessarily stubborn. However, it is senseless to doubt being obviously right.

Read the "Bhagavad Gita" and "Self Reliance" by Emerson. These works should help to answer your questions.

Hope that helps.

No need to be sorry.

[CrispyQ]

13. I completely relate to where you're at . . .

and have often felt the same way since Nov 3. But once you take the red pill, can you really go back?

I know that I cannot pretend that everything is ok, but I don't think I can choose a path where I no longer make any effort to change things, whether it's because I believe no single person can change things or that it will take too much effort.

But then I look at all the election fraud & wonder if we don't fix our electoral process by 2006, certainly by 2008, will the care & effort I make even matter?

Good luck to you in your struggle. I believe there are many others dealing with the same conflict!

[stellanoir]

14. can relate to what you're saying completely

It's terribly hard to keep the faith when we are all deluged with daily doses of obfuscations and untruths. Fundamentally though, I truly believe that the truth will come out over time.

And maybe, just maybe superpowers are no longer appropriate for this still new millennium. Just never thought that we'd fall so far so fast under such gross and blatantly under reported malfeasance. Never thought we could go fascist so quickly either.

Just maybe consider not "throwing in the towel" but rather making a daily effort to contribute to expose the truth and savoring the goodness in your life the rest of the time.

[Buddyblazon]

15. All your words help....thank you.

I began to write a long paragraph...but just wanted to tell you thanks for the advice.

I agree with the short sabatical.

And I also agree with getting ready for the elections coming up. We've got a lot of work to do.

[Speck Tater]

16. With a large chunk of Democrats...

.. who are trying so hard to be good Republicans, I don't think the Democratic party is viable any longer. I'm ready to step back and watch as the Republican wing of the Democratic party pulls out all the balance in "checks and balances". With everyone rushing for the right side of the boat it's going to capsize. And after the way the party has treated the grass roots, I don't much care any more.

I spent a lot of years being apolitical until a cnadidate came along who was different enough from busines as usual to really matter. That got me exicted and involved until my own party pulled the rug out from under him. Now I just don't give a damn anymore. It's going right back to business as usual. Since the people obviously can't win against the corporate-run political system the only rational behavior, sadly, is to maintain a low profile and insulate yourself from and protect yourself against the system. The system doesn't care. The system only wants power. It no longer matters whether you call yourself Democrat or Republican because they both stand for the same corporate system. In the long run the only really safe stance is to remain as invisible to the system as possible.

[donheld]

17. With me it's not a matter of throwing in the towel

I just realize there is only so much i can do. Too many minds are like cement, thoroughly mixed and permanently set. Until we can get some kind of balance in the media it's going to be a hard fought battle.

[ChairOne]

19. LOL - mixed cement - that's awesome! /eom

[pretzel4gore]

18. just remember, they really lose by winning!

the 'battle' they're fighting, (and w/out a contender) is with liberalism, in this case anything/anyone opposed to geebush....they also control the medium of the debate, and therefore they win, or seem to win. their problem remains the same problem the backers of hitler's nazis had - after the gays, the communists etc were taken care of they came for anyone who didn't support the increasingly insane gangsters, and this eventually included even the most fanatical freepers (nazipoos) who the more practical and cold blooded realists, fear..
this doesn't really console, but theoretically the bushevik 'patriots' should be the most enraged at what bushinc has done...they do the opposite cuz they're stupid, and believe stupid lies told them by stupid mediawhores

[txaslftist]

20. You think YOU got family issues???

This is like the civil war. Brother against brother and all that. I don't know a single strong dem who hasn't lost a friend or had an akward moment with family since or before 11/2.

You need to stay strong. Come here! Come to DU. I have no idea how many people are here, but there is always someone here, someone who shares your faith.

One of the posters above said the US has become a pariah nation forever. I don't believe it. We are a pariah nation today because of the monkey in the white house, but not forever. I believe we will redeem ourselves, if not in the next election cycle, then in the one after that.

Hold on to your beliefs and don't surrender your activism because it makes your family uncomfortable. Try to reason with them, but if it doesn't work, come here and talk to like minds.

Never drink the Koolaid.

[killbotfactory]

21. Yes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=216x907

[Pam-Moby]

22. i get a bit overwhelmed,

but I will never give up. As long as the chimp is in office. There is nothing more important than stopping him from destroying our world. When I get overwhelmed, I think of my daughter and what I need to do for her and her future to protect her from this nut. Then I am ready to go and fight again.

[lectrobyte]

23. I do, but then I drop by Wal Mart and deface the cover of a few

Ann Coulter books, and I feel much better. I'm joking about this, by the way, I haven't been in one of those in years.

[MadHound]

24. Yeah, you could go back to when you didn't care about politics

But the trouble is that sooner or later, especially under this creeping theocratic fascism we're facing, politics will start caring about you. Then you'll be in a spot, looking Gitmo or some other fate square in the eye, with no knowledge or support system to help out.

Besides, by dropping out and becoming complacent, you're doing exactly what these corporatistas want you to do, not care, not pay attention, not speak out until it is too late for you to speak out.

I understand where you're coming from, the big let down, the insanity piled on top of insanity. I've been there before, with Reagan, with Bush, with Nixon. My suggestion to you, take some time off. Decompress, destress, and come back in a bit a much healthier, more vibrant you. The continous day in, day out doom and gloom will kill you. Me, unless I've got something scheduled for the weekend, I don't pay too much attention to politics on the weekend. Sure, I'll check out the news, scream, laugh or roll my eyes at the latest Bushco fuckups. But for the most part, I spend my energy and attention on friends, family and other pleasant topics.

But if you pack it in and say fuck it, well, I doubt that your vow will last long. You're awake and aware, and it is hard to put that particular genie back into the bottle once it is let loose. I became a political creature at the age of nine, and often wonder how I would have turned out if I hadn't grown up in the crucibal of the Vietnam era. I take a look at my contemparies who didn't get involved in the politics of the time, and I find them to be a dull, dim-witted lot, easily fooled, and sadly the prime fodder for Bushco. You might be able to flee for awhile, but sooner or later your conscience will get to you, and you'll be back.

[quiet.american]

25. It is difficult to keep caring

It's hard to keep giving a damn when our own Senators refuse to
acknowledge the pattern of voter suppression and fraud that has been
clearly documented by a diversity of sources.

Either deliberately or as an aside, they have sent the message to us
they don't care that the RNC paid Voters Outreach of America to rip
up the registrations of those registering as Democrats, it doesn't
matter to them the GOP paid thugs to place intimidating phone calls
from a hotel lobby to prospective Democratic voters, who cares if
electronic voting machines in several counties were programmed to
default votes to Bush, who cares about Blackwell's questionable
ethics at best, and his defying the law at worst -- Bush won fair
and square with a record worse than any President's in American
history, all hail the King!

The message of Democratic senators to us seems to be -- we don't
care what you think, we're in charge and we say "roll over," so shut
up and let's all get behind the King and his men and
consider ourselves lucky to even receive a smirk from the
Smirker-in-Chief!

Woo-hoo.

[joanski01]

26. I totally agree with you.

You just expressed my feelings. The Dem Leadership seems to be telling me to shut up and sit down. There is no one speaking for us. I believe that Howard Dean is trying, as well as Dennis Kucinich. But the leadership keeps trying to shut them up, too. I'm only contacted when they want money.

[quiet.american]

27. You know, that may be our only area of power

Should we send our party leadership scrounging for money again?

Or would it be cutting off our own noses to spite our faces?

I'm inclined to hold off donating to the DNC, myself. With all this
talk of caving in to the Kool-Aid drinkers on a woman's right to
choose, and head-in-the-sand strategies seemingly the best they can do, they've really discouraged my support of them.

[eridani]

28. No money to the DNC unless they pick Dean as chair

Locally, Dems are quite active in my area, so I'm supporting the local organizations and groups like PDA, DFA and the Backbone Campaign. One day the chiefs might just find out that the Indians are all off doing their own thing.