We will not give up, NOT NOW, NOT EVER.
"North Carolina is ground zero" (updated w/ video of #MoralMarch
The national media has collectively decided that the next wave of a liberal movement for Democrats will come in the form of populism fueled by income inequality. Occupy Wall Streeters take the credit for igniting this movement while liberal bloggers promote politicians like Sen. Elizabeth Warren as its leaders.
snip
But right now Rev. Barber is focusing all his energy on changing things in the relatively small swing state of North Carolina. That reminds me of what Pete Seeger once said that he learned from Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
When you face an opponent over a broad front, you don't aim at the opponent's strong points. You aim for something a little off to the side. But you win it. And having won that bus boycott...13 months it took him to do it...then he moved on to other things.
Rev. Barber has been at this in North Carolina for 10 months now. And as we speak, Moral Monday movements are being planned in places like Georgia and Alabama. As the Reverend says, "We know we're in the South - the crucible of change - where hope has always had to be chiseled from the stone of despair. We understand that North Carolina is ground zero and the nation is looking at us."
The other lesson Rev. Barber learned well is that successful movements are built on hope, not cynicism.
So we're not confused, we're not schizophrenic, we are quite clear, we're clothed in our right minds, WE KNOW WHO WE ARE, we believe we've been born for this moment. Anybody that thought difficulties would depress us better look again. Resurrection always wins. Justice always wins. Love always wins. Courage always wins.
As we've learned, cynicism is the refuge of the privileged while hope is often the only thing available to the oppressed.
more
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/02/north-carolina-is-ground-zero.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
My sig~ I trust my instinct, I trust myself. Finally.
VanillaRhapsody
together, we do this together. it's our time and it damn well is our place! our strength? it's in our numbers!
Yet there is also love and courage that will see them through.
together~
for this wonderful piece on North Carolina and Ground Zero.
Couple of snips from your link..
".. Meanwhile, only a few are paying attention to the actual movement underway in North Carolina...the one being led by Rev. Dr. William Barber and the NC NAACP called "Moral Mondays." Yesterday that movement drew 80,000 to 100,000 for the Moral March in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ari Berman is one of those few journalists who is paying attention."
I am personally struck by how well Rev. Barber learned the lessons taught to us by movement leaders like Martin Luther King. He is building a coalition of citizens who are committed to clear principles that speak to the very real concerns of the people. Here are their five demands:
•Secure pro-labor, anti-poverty policies that insure economic sustainability;
•Provide well-funded, quality public education for all;
•Stand up for the health of every North Carolinian by promoting health care access and environmental justice across all the state's communities;
•Address the continuing inequalities in the criminal justice system and ensure equality under the law for every person, regardless of race, class, creed, documentation or sexual preference;
•Protect and expand voting rights for people of color, women, immigrants, the elderly and students to safeguard fair democratic representation."
Thanks sheshe.. very encouraging from NC. It was predicted by many here when the greedy liars(conservatives) were taking over the state that there would be backlash.. and here we are!
Oh my! On Nancy's story tomorrow which is today back East.
she
It is no surprise why Rev. Barber is held in such deservably high esteem.
Read this again, DUers:
As always, she.
R&
!
but I always look forward to your posts. Thank you for your progressive focus.
