What good does it do to call/email Congress? Or sign petitions?

[Sapphire Blue]

Sometimes a lot of good... sometimes they listen...

An email from Faithful America (http://www.faithfulamerica.org/)...

Washington HEARD You on DARFUR!

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace..." Isaiah 52: 7

Thanks to YOU, The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment providing $50 million to immediately bolster the peacekeeping mission to stop genocide in Darfur, Sudan. That, dear friends, is FAITH IN ACTION, and you helped make it happen through the THOUSANDS of you who called your Representatives and signed the Million Voices for Darfur campaign.

The amendment passed by a narrow 213-208 vote (complete roll call available here - check to see how your Representative voted: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll046.xml) after a furious call-in campaign organized by the Save Darfur Coalition that included Faithful America (an interfaith program of the National Council of Churches) the American Jewish World Service, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Jewish Council of Public Affairs, and the Sudan Advocacy Action Forum, among others.

A key member of the House called to express his gratitude for people of faith, saying, "the tremendous grassroots advocacy (by people of faith) helped make possible this victory for the people of Darfur."

Soon a the supplemental spending bill will reach the Senate, and we will once again ask for your support. But today, with grateful hearts we join you in celebrating the victory on behalf of the people of Darfur and the advancement of peace to all people.

With blessings as ever,

Vince Isner and your FaithfulAmerica.org Team

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I read this this morning

I called my conman about this issue after seeing the Refugees International film about Darfur (go to www.refugeesinternational.org to watch; it will make you cry), and was very happy to get this report in the mail today.

[Sapphire Blue]

6. I saw that film.

How could anyone not take action after seeing it? Devastating.

[katinmn]

2. This is a wonderful start. Nice to see something good

coming out of Congress!

[Sapphire Blue]

8. We can't let it end here. KEEP calling/emailing/signing. Work for change!

[IsItJustMe]

3. It may help you feel better about a situation.

Many times we feel powerless to do anything. Just by the act of emailing can help make things seem less powerless. You have done something, rather than absolutely nothing.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. They count the messages they get, believe it. This is but one

example. The ports issue is another.

[IsItJustMe]

5. I believe they do. I was just giving one example of how it might help.

[Sapphire Blue]

7. Yes, IF we act, we have the power to effect change.

All too often, someone will post a defeatist "Why bother?" or "What good does it do?" or a "Petitions are worthless." comment. The example in the OP is just one answer to those defeatists.

[IsItJustMe]

9. Read my previous post.

I gave one excellent self help example of how it could help. I did not know I was suppose to write a book on the subject. What is defeatist about what I said? The person who posted this, seems to me, by the very nature of the question, feels somewhat hopeless. I was trying to address that feeling.

It is, and does, feel good to do something, and I do mean anything.

[Sapphire Blue]

10. I'm the person who posted this. I often post pleas to contact Congress.

It almost never fails that I will receive at least one defeatist response... I was addressing those responses in my reply to you. I was not suggesting that either you or your post are defeatist... I'm sorry if it sounded that way! I was actually agreeing w/what you said. It is important to take action, to feel that you are doing something!

[IsItJustMe]

11. Thank you. I have a need to be understood.

I have the same exact advice for procrastination. Psychologically speaking, just a simple action can be a big stress reliever. I have learned this lesson the hard way in my life.

[Sapphire Blue]

12. You're welcome! (And understood : )

Here's to taking action! :toast:

[Sapphire Blue]

13. I was also addressing defeatists in my OP, w/the Darfur example.

Again, here's to taking action. :toast:

[IsItJustMe]

14. Cool! I'll see you around the campus.

:hi::hi::hi::hi:

[calimary]

15. Kicking this!

What good does it do? (What good does it DU?)

Well, let's look at it another way, shall we?

How 'bout - what good does it do - to DO NOTHING? Because THAT is the only alternative. You either try to do something about it, or you sit there on your can and gather cobwebs, and gripe all you want about how bad it is, but you've done nothing to try to stop it or impact it in any way.

This is NOT a spectator sport. Unless you're looking at it through the eyes of our enemies. They are COUNTING on people like us to do just that - treat this as a spectator sport. That way they win. If we do nothing, they benefit. If we're not there to stop their juggernaut, they go farther with it and gain more ground. They HOPE we treat this as a spectator sport. Makes their success easier to achieve because they don't have to work for it. Christ on a Crutch, AT LEAST MAKE THESE BASTARDS HAVE TO WORK FOR IT!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

16. !!!!!

Thank you, calimary!!! :hi:

:toast: :headbang: :yourock:

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Sapphire Blue]

17. ...

:kick: