Do Not Go Gently Into This Good Night ...

[NanceGreggs]

I always thought of myself as white …
… until I heard someone spit the words black, brown, yellow, red. And my anger reminded me that I am just one of many colors deserving of respect.

I thought of myself as a Jew …
… until I heard someone hurl an epithet at a Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist, an atheist. And my outrage reminded me that my beliefs are meaningless if I do not endeavour to understand and defend the beliefs of others.

I thought of myself as “straight” …
… until I heard someone say that gays and lesbians are immoral outcasts. And my fury reminded me that if I deny the beauty of love’s diversity, I do not deserve to be loved.

I thought of myself as an American …
… until I heard someone say that I should stand behind my country, right or wrong. And my rage reminded me that if my country is wrong and I fail to try and make it right, I am remiss in my duty as a citizen of my nation, and of the world.

I thought of myself as enlightened …
… until I heard someone disparage the ignorant and uneducated. And my vitriol reminded me that if I don’t have the patience to understand the viewpoint of others, I have no right to voice my opinion and expect it to be heard, no less given weight.

I thought of myself as free …
… until I heard someone speak of the profits to be derived from enslavement. And my ire reminded me that as long as a single living soul lives in chains, my own freedom is tenuous at best.

I thought of myself as somehow above it all …
… until I heard someone speak of a fellow human being as beneath contempt – because of where they were born, how much money they had, who their people were, who they loved, what they cared about, what dreams they dreamt, what hopes they held dear. And my wrath reminded me that there is no one above me nor beneath me – there is only equality among us all.

Rage, anger, vitriol, ire, outrage, resentment, indignation – these are feelings that have their place, and can be used to change the course of human history for the better when applied wisely and well.

Listen for the sound of your prey. Choose your target, and loose your arrows – allow your eye to be focused and your aim will be true. Do not be distracted by self-serving words, spoken with feigned eloquence by those who would try to change what you believe, and distort what you know in your heart to be the truth.

The enemy is out there. Don’t waste your time and efforts – and your precious ammunition – bringing down those who are your allies and friends.

Aim your anger at the target – the warmonger, the torturer, the bigot, the hypocrite, the greedy corporatist, the corrupt politician. Let your rage set him in your sights, let your outrage give him no refuge, let your strength of purpose afford him no means of escape.

As a new year unfolds, the whole world is listening. Make this the year your voice is heard.

[saltpoint]

1. Amen.

[bjobotts]

58. Yeah, stop thinking of yourself so much.

[AntiFascist]

2. Thank you again NanceGreggs, K&RRRR !

I support your post 100%. This is exactly what we should be doing, while making more fond allies such as yourself.

[bjobotts]

59. Now shut up and get on the train...roust roust. Start calling for accountability and consequences

[zeemike]

3. It remindes me of a sontg

Revolution

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
Ah

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right

[TomInTib]

4. "Listen".... and do not be distracted by the rattles, to the left or to the right...

Nor the whistles or shiny bangles.

For they are mere distractions.

Keep your eyes on the road

And your hands upon the wheel

(J Morrison wrote that, not me)

Keep ''em 'tween the ditches, in the crosshairs.

Circular firing squads are definitely counter-productive.

The middle of the road gives nothing but road-kill.

Blinded by the light

Passing gear...

Passing the bottle...

For the better.

KnR, Nance

[dipsydoodle]

5. Ain't common sense just wonderful

Trust you.:fistbump:

[NanceGreggs]

7. Trust you, too.

And ain't that what it's all about?

:fistbump:

[bjobotts]

60. common sense or open mindedness?? Get too open minded and your brain falls out.

[bjobotts]

61. If we don't hold Bush/Cheney adminitstration accountable. then it's just like every other year.

[bjobotts]

62. Civil war story of Gray and Blue America...begins ...

During the civil war a brilliant politician stood up during battle and yelled ..."Wait a minute. This is not a Blue America...This is not a Gray America....This is the "United" States of America."

To which the man you shot him replied..."Not right now it ain't...right now it's a war...and we will never be "united" until one sides wins and then governs in such a way to get the other side too follow them or at least makes sure they aren't able to attack them again and start another civil war."

Including the same people whose ideas wrecked America in helping to fix America when their best ideas would only wreck it again is foolish. I for one will keep them from gaining power and call them out when they attempt to wreck America again...and that includes those who were complicit in helping them do it.

Republicans have one mission and that is to make sure government doesn't work, except to protect the holdings and the business of the wealthy and multinational corporations. They will use the corporate media to justify and the senate filibuster to block any change initiated by liberals or dems that are contrary to their mission of a plutocracy. It is class warfare with the stake of the planet in the balance. Stop pretending you have to go along and be nice or they might feel left out when you're dealing with sociopaths who torture the children of 'detainees' just to make sure the detainee is telling the truth. Cheney brags about it...these are monsters and their supporters are easily cultivated to be the same.

[roguevalley]

6. I do hope this is our year.

[yardwork]

8. Very nice. Thanks, Nance.

[The Wizard]

9. YES

:kick: Eternal vigilance.

[ZombieHorde]

10. Great post. Rec., but I refuse to kick.

[20score]

11. Very well written! K&R.

Oh yeah - and the theme rocked as well.

[Undercurrent]

12. Another recommendation for

one of my favorite DU posters whose well written common sense is often a handhold in the storm.

Thanks, NanceGreggs!

[Ohio Joe]

13. K&R

A wonderful Christmas message even this atheist supports :thumbsup:

[PBS Poll-435]

14. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to yours

Thank you for this.

[whoopingcrone]

15. well said, Nance

and good advice, though personally, I prefer...
Don't Get Mad. Get Even.
May the coming year bring us all many events worth singing about.

[Dennis Donovan]

16. Recommended. I was watching the Ridley Scott film "American Gangster" last night...

...(a new holiday tradition, you know ;)) and I was reminded how we're all enslaved by others for the sake of profit. In the movie, thousands were enslaved by Frank Lucas and his product: heroin. As his customers became more bound by addictions, he became richer.

Thinking about it, I realize Lucas isn't far removed from the tobacco producers (who strove to make their products even MORE addictive); from the alcohol manufacturers and distributors; from the big box stores and chains who bombard us with advertisements that INSIST we MUST buy that new thing lest the Joneses overtake us; even from the STATE pushing their scratch-off lottery tickets, all in such eye-catching, pretty colors, at the front counters of every convenience store and gas station.

[Window]

17. K/R. Excellent post, as usual Nance.

Peace:thumbsup:

[Enthusiast]

18. You kick butt, Nance! nt

[Divine Discontent]

19. Rec'd both of your current OP's - if everyone hasn't seen the other, go

to Nance's Journal! It's great!

Merry Christmas - you are a gift.

[bklyncowgirl]

20. Great post as usual, thanks. nt

[Yogi]

21. Excellent....

Thank you.

[Irishonly]

22. You are a gift

Thank you.

[countingbluecars]

23. K&R

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Do not go gently into that good night

Rage, rage against the dying of the light....

On this holiday when the light begins to return, I wish Peace for all.

[rhett o rick]

25. Well written. Happy Holidays or whatever. rec. nm

[cliffordu]

26. K&R. Beautiful.

[HillWilliam]

27. As was attributed to Coleridge

"The right words, the right order".

K and R with pleasure (and a certain amount of awe)

[Zuiderelle]

28. Good post, but I disagree that we shouldn't be angry at our "allies" too when they do harmful things

The enemy is out there. Don’t waste your time and efforts – and your precious ammunition – bringing down those who are your allies and friends.

Aim your anger at the target – the warmonger, the torturer, the bigot, the hypocrite, the greedy corporatist, the corrupt politician. Let your rage set him in your sights, let your outrage give him no refuge, let your strength of purpose afford him no means of escape.

As I responded to someone in GLBT who cross-posted this thread there, Obama is responsible for selecting Warren and we have the right and responsibility to be angry and voice our opposition to that choice.

My anger at Bush and his fellow warmongers far exceeds any anger I feel towards Obama, but just because Obama is not anywhere near as bad as Bush doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve our anger when he makes a hurtful and stupid choice.

[Ioo]

29. K&R

[Jack Rabbit]

30. K/R

Merry Christmas, Nance.

[wellstone dem]

31. You are amazing. Thank you for this post!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

32. K&R, my dear Nance...

The voice of passion and reason, all wrapped up into one incredibly amazing package!

Our voices have been heard...and they will continue to be!

Especially when we have one whose voice is as clear as yours to lead and inspire us...

[Honeycombe8]

33. OTOH, I think it's sometimes better to focus on our better sides, and seek out the positive.

If not at this time of year, then when?

The world becomes what you expect it to be.

[Mad_Dem_X]

34. Perfect.

Thank you, Nance, for all your thought-provoking posts over the past year. You have opened my eyes, warmed my heart, and stoked the passionate fires in my soul. Have a wonderful holiday, and let's hope that 2009 is good to all of us. If we work together, we can make it so.

Vicki
(Mad_Dem_X)

[emanymton]

35. One Never Really Has Time To Place Down One's Burden ...

.

I truly wish, I could allow myself the luxury of 'not caring.' Alas, no way.

Woman why oh why? Even when my conscience takes a break, I have you to remind me that I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, ...

AND I WILL HAVE IT _NO OTHER WAY!!_

Love ya.

Happy Winter Solstice.

.

[RiverStone]

36. Into the night with eyes wide open!

Heartfelt prose for an exciting time.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Nance.

peace~ :hi:

[Overseas]

37. K&R !

Thank you for the beautiful seasonal sentiments. Looking forward to the new year with courage and reason.

[Neil_in_Chicago]

38. An injury to one is an injury to all

Single-issue or single-constituency groups cannot produce the effective resistance we're going to need for the next four, eight, whatever, years. We have to all pull together, and sometimes take turns being in front, in the spotlight.
Our challenge is to see how well we can all work together.

Thank you for a beautiful example/inspiration.

[NanceGreggs]

Thank you, Neil ...

... and welcome aboard!

:hi:

[bridgit]

39. I'm listening; but what I'm hearing is a repetitive serialization...

That both loves & hates hate. Hates it when it is directed where some would less have it; and loves it where it is known to be more malleable & directed, more useful as if; where the phrase is more likely, better coined instead: "The difference between your friends and enemies is that your enemies will stab you in the back; while your friends will stab you in the front" It is not important that anyone here believe it...when the clique of a selective ignorance will fit the breach just fine.

Though for that matter it can be said as well; that the world may well be listening here & there, clearly so where some will not be seen being unheard and so they continue sometimes rather on & on. But much of the world is mightily consumed; already engaged in the righting of many wrongs many ills. I think the sound too often thought the world is listening to is the sound of our own occidental egos bouncing off the backside of our teeth.

edit: for the enemies of the world

[ThomCat]

40. I hope

people do aim their anger at the bigots, the warmonger, the torturers, and the hypocrites.

My fear is always that people will speak, and their words will be hollow. That their words won't lead to any actions, or any real support in the real world. :(

Thank you, NanceGreggs! :hug:

I hope everything that has happened this week moves people to take action, and I hope your post caps that week. :)

[Oldtimeralso]

41. Thank You For Your Words Of Wisdom.

Really, isn't mutual respect what it is all about.

[1776Forever]

42. Thank you Nance....You gave me a mission......

"As a new year unfolds, the whole world is listening. Make this the year your voice is heard....."

I haven't posted for 3 days now because I was so hurt about other people not listening but your message makes me think I should start again.

Thanks for the Christmas present - I needed it. I am really crying tears of joy.

Hugs.......

[chieftain]

43. One of your best. And for all of us who look forward to your

posts, that is high praise, indeed.

[BrklynLiberal]

44. I got chills reading that. It is a masterpiece.

I think it ranks right up there with Pastor Niemoller's words and those of Rudyard Kipling.
I think it would not be inappropriate to define 'man' as used here to mean
"A person of courage and principle..whether you actually are a man or a woman."

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

[bertman]

45. Thank you, Nance, for a beautiful creed for the new year.

[hisownpetard]

46. What a great OP. Loved reading it, thinking about it. Hope your holidays are filled

with love and peace.

Thanks, Nance! You're a gem.

[BlueJac]

47. Thank you, happy holidays.............

we must all stand up and be heard.

[bonito]

48. There she goes again folks

Way awesome, I could say more but I dare not as I have not the eloquence with words that would shine more light, humbled as always,but happy!

[lightningandsnow]

49. Wonderful.

Thank you for posting this. :hug:

[Kurovski]

50. K&R

Thank you, my holiday honeypot. :loveya:

[NanceGreggs]

51. Holiday Honeypot!

What a yummy thing to be called of a Christmas evening!

:9

[The Doctor.]

52. Oh... that just makes too much sense.

"Don’t waste your time and efforts – and your precious ammunition – bringing down those who are your allies and friends."

[NBachers]

53. Retaliate Immediately to Abuse by Republican Thugs.

Retaliate immediately to abuse by Republican thugs.

[kwenu]

54. Thank you. Beautiful post.

[dolphinsong285]

55. And , from a critically lapsed Catholic.....

To paraphrase the Prayer of St. Francis

Make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, or to be understood as much to understand, or to be loved as to love.
It is in giving that we receive
And in pardoning that we are pardoned.

Thank you, Nance, for inspiring me to dust off this old prayer.

[NanceGreggs]

56. It was well worth the dust job ...

... thanks for sharing it with us, and welcome to the DU family!

:hi:

[Umbram]

57. Bravo. (nt)

[debbierlus]

63. We better pull up our courage because we have to battle our own administration

Clean coal technology

Anti Gay Equal Rights

Off Shore Drilling

Continuing the war in Afghanistan & INCREASING the military budget.

No firm committment to seek justice & restore the Constitution by prosecuting the Bush administration.

Refusing to take on big insurance and provide a REAL health care plan, a single payer plan. I live in MA, the only state with mandated health insurance. If you think that is a solution, I have a summer camp down in Guantanamo that I would like to sell yeah. Our program will be financially insolvent in less then two years.

The battle we must fight is HARDER when it is one of your own. It is easier to battle the 'other'. Those are all just pretty words until we fight the battle against all those who perpetrate injustice. I watched Obama endorse a corporate bailout, a bailout that was INCREDIBLY politically unpopular and people defended this decision as if this mammouth heist was necessary for Obama to get elected.

Fight the good fight people but always remember, it isn't about the party, it is about the POLICY.

[LeftishBrit]

64. Wonderful post! Thank you!