A shot and sweet thank you to all liberal/progressive sites.

[wcepler]

I am not going to be equal to this, my gratitude is so limitless, but these progressive/liberal sites are now (I think) the best thing going in America.

Here is the collective American consciousness and here we can chat and criticize and inspire each other. Here we have internet "town meetings" and its win/win for America.

Yes, sometimes you get whacked (sometimes "I" certainly get whacked), but, hey, isn't that just a symptom of being in an extended political family?

Most of all I want to thank the folks who came up with the bucks and brains to start and maintain these sites. When I'm not too busted (Bush's taxes are murder), I contribute from time to time, and to all the rest of you who contribute, you have the thanks of us all.

I also want to thank the Americans who passionately respond to a submission, because that too is win/win for us all. It's takes time to submit, just as it takes time to respond, and I've learned more from your responses (certainly not just to my ponderings) than I ever thought possible.

So I guess I'll just make a total fool of myself and say I love you people. I love you (and I really do) because for all our different takes on this or that, we all of deeply love this country to the max. God bless America, indeed, and God bless all Americans who love America.

And one last time, God bless those individuals who made and make the sacrifices to keep these sites functional. I can only guess at your sacrifices and commitments, but please, please go to sleep at night knowing your sites are America's lifelines.

Lastly, I still remember what it was like 4 or so years ago when all we had for "news" was Fox Snooze propaganda and similar bought and paid for fascist trash -- and how terribly painful those memories are!

But now, that's dead and buried and those journalist traitors have become increasingly comic and it's just a matter of time before their accountants start pointing out that propaganda no longer pays. Business will have the last laugh, and the programs (and anchors) will go to where most the audience (i.e., money) is, and THAT'S US.

Well, enough already.

So, solidarity, solidarity, solidarity my dear liberal, progressive friends! We have too much collective soul for these subhumans to beat us! There’s a good time coming, be it ever so far away . . .
**********************************************************************
Bill

<http://theliberationofrealism.blogspot.com/>

[pnwmom]

1. Great post. I'm glad to be here, too. It's a place of hope. n/t

[annabanana]

2. It's nice to see this place through the eyes of a relative "newbie".

People who have been here a long time sometimes forget how hopeless they felt before they found this community (and those like it). Watching the networks and the 24/7 cables, you might think that no one had the same worries as you. You might think that no one remembered the America of "before" the right wing started to run it into the ground.

It is a tremendous relief to find this place. It's where America is.

Your post, coming in the middle of primary punch-ups, is a welcome reminder of the fact that we are fighting for the same thing. The restoration of all that is good and unique in America.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear wcepler!

Yes, I agree!

This is a great place to be!

I've learned so much here...

And the fact that there are so many of us makes me really glad!

K&R

:patriot:

[MadMaddie]

4. First....Welcome Wcepler !!

:hi:

Second...I would like to K & R this because I do think that you are correct we are like a big extended sometimes dysfunctional family but we are still a family. And we forget sometimes how horrible it was to watch our collective government take a horrible turn for the worst.....and many of us found DU by accident or word of mouth at the right time.

For me it's been an oasis of commonality with many people across the country and around the world.

So thank you for joining us and contributing to this amazing place!!:grouphug:

[Gregorian]

5. And here I was just thinking the same thing.

You've made my post for me. Thanks!

I've been watching a documentary on Linktv about our national debt. They had a reporter walking around just asking people what the national debt number is. And if they knew the difference between the national debt and the deficit. Some knew, some didn't care, some didn't know. And at that moment, while watching, I thought about the forums. There was a time when even if I wanted to be informed, it was just too much work. I guess you could call that "before the internet". I've always been a liberal progressive. And I've always had good common sense. I knew Bush was a disaster. Well, it would be hard to not know. But that is when I made my way for the forums. And it's as though I have been hoisted up by the people who know more. Like an elevator of knowledge and support. But still, one has to want to know in order to first take the steps toward knowing. It was while watching that documentary, and it was while talking to people I've met recently who don't have the slightest clue, when I realized the value of this place.

Some Americans get their so-called information from the fifteen minutes while running out the door in the morning. Whatever comes across that cathode ray tube is their truth. But here, we are self-correcting. And with the added contributions of a wealth of ideas and references. It's a monument of information and truth. And that is far different than what the other side is doing. They're all lined up in a row. Here we're shoulder to shoulder. Nobody's following anyone else. But we have built upon the knowledge of each other. Something like that.

There is one thing that will make this country strong and good. A nation of informed people. As it stands, we're a large fraction of ill-informed and non-informed people. The value of this place is hard to estimate in it's greatness. But I fear for where we're headed. Too many people aren't seeking the truth. But what we have here is solid. It's a beacon of hope. The same one that has shone throughout the history of the human race. It's all we have got. Just everything.

I hope we can use what we have here to change this society for the good of all. This is why we love it.

[wcepler]

6. communication is power

Communication is power, especially when its grounded in truth. That's the thing about the Internet (I hope!). We have a chance for literally the first time in history to talk to truth to each other. If the peasants in the middle ages had he internet, I bet the aristocrats would have been dumped very quickly. The people just didn't know any better, and the pugs though they could keep a cork on truth with the Judas media -- BUT they failed abjectly because of the net. And the net belongs to US. That I think was the biggest single mistake the fascists made. They blew off the internet. Big, big, mistake! All this mutual communication is destroying their power game from the inside out. In order for fascism to work, its not enough to have black boots, you also MUST have a propaganda controlled populace. And that ain't us!

[windoe]

7. A Toast

to free internets... solidarity with all Americans, may we all awaken to what needs to be done to regain our country.