My thoughts at the end of the last election

I was trying so hard to not get sucked into this election and I did not till until the last month or so, could not help it. I did not eat well or do anything right for a couple of weeks the last election's results came in and I would have been shattered if there was another rightward turn this time round too.

Here's what I wrote at the end of the last election.

My two cents.

• Fuck electibility and voter acceptance. You could have run anyone and not managed to win the south. John Kerry undoubtedly was the best of the lot but do not let the media dictate your choices.
• Fight the small battles. Fight for unions, minorities, gays. Stand by your priniciples.
• Do not make a red state guy your leader in the house. Now that you realize the polarization, make somone who does not have a sword hanging over his head take the fight to the oppposition,
• Evangelise - Do not keep repeating the "South is unwinnable" or "They are all hicks" crap. Take the message to them.
  
  • Do not expect instant results from your evangelism. If an evangelical christian can go into places like China and India, why can't you go into the south and try spreading your message. They do it inspired by God. Surely your vision of social justice and progress ought to be inspiring. My vision of christianity involvessocial justice and progress and more people ought to hear that too.
• Do not let them continue winning the religion game. Keep harping on the "Love your neighbor aspect". I am not saying this will work wonders, but the world deserves to hear it.
• For every Campus Crusade for Christ start a progressive chapter create a campus organization real fast. Sojourners please pay note. You might not find people willing to join you, but do not let that discourage you. Again, do not expect instant results. Do not let them hijack religion with impunity. Resist and actively fight. It is not enough if a few preachers preach an inclusive and socially just theology. You need to take it to the streets.
• Do not let the media dictate your message or better try building your own media. The Internet is exciting but I know many Americans who do not know what a blog is.
  
  • If the country is evenly split, there should be a market for a counterpoint to Fox. Instead of playing the blame game, start working on that. Get back the air waves.
  • Fight media consolidation tooth and nail and do not make it just a battle in the Congress. Take it to the masses. You know what you did with Sinclair. Do not make it a one off thing. Make the people count.
• Talk religion but not on their terms, on your terms. Take it to them. Do not be defensive of your beliefs. Talk religion as a social tool of progress.

I feel good now that I have written this. Do not be discouraged. The failed Dean bid energised your base. Rise up from this failure and build up an organization that is truly national. Keep chipping away at the South. People are going to wake up one day and it is upto you to hasten it. It is not hopeless. Do not despair.

Keep the faith. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

There are no magic answers, no miraculous methods to overcome the problems we face, just the familiar ones: honest search for understanding, education, organization, action that raises the cost of state violence for its perpetrators or that lays the basis for institutional change -- and the kind of commitment that will persist despite the temptations of disillusionment, despite many failures and only limited successes, inspired by the hope of a brighter future."... Noam Chomsky

Comments

[Stephen]

Its a really brilliant piece of writing.Jesus must have been considered a greater threat than the foreign masters of the clergy of his times.The founding fathers of the U.S.A must have really had a vision that their nation will be a beacon of hope to people around the world irrespective of their nationality.color or creed. Lincoln's Gettysburg address conveys the message that freedom means freedom for all.I remember having read a speech by George Washington saying that the ideals of the revolution were not just for any single race or religious group bur for all mankind.Booker T. Washington in his Atlanta exposition address other than exhorting his people to drop the bucket where they were also advised them not to get carried by the superficial things of life like electoral posts. Perhaps times have changed a lot. Still there is a lot to be achieved in organizing and educating people to recognize their potential and believe that they are destined to achieve greater things.What St.Paul has said about faith holds good in all situations and for all times.I remember an essay 'On Arguing' by Robert Lynd or Stephen Leacock I am not sure where the author concludes by saying that no man has ever won an argument but because of arguments ideas get into air and it is these ideas that bring about great and sudden changes.
So there is always reason to hope tomorrow will be a better day in all respects.
Hope its enough for the day. Have a good day Bye