There have certainly been a lot of swan songs here lately. Personally I don't really think that is a bad thing. Since Nov. 3rd lots of new users have come and gone but from my vantage point we have just been separating the wheat from the chaff. More after the fold...
I lurked at kos, as well as atrios, for a very long time before I signed on. There was a hope of change in America when I first began reading. I was inspired and soon became hopeful too. I still remember the trepidation I felt when I made my first post. Much to my surprise several comments not only gave positive feedback to my observation but were welcoming and gracious to me as a newcomer.
I remember the excitement early in the day on Nov.3. I couldn't wait to be on kos discussing and revelling in our victory.
And I remember the stunned realization that we had lost once again. I can still to this day feel the sickening, kicked in the gut, pain and loss I felt when Ohio went to GWB. And I remember sharing it with like-minded people. Many of us did not sleep that night and still couldn't believe what had happened even after Kerry conceded.
For days, weeks, and for some even months, this has been a time of roller coaster emotions, bitter disagreements, hand holding, people leaving and people coming, but most of all it has been a place where hope is still alive. Where passion still trumps apathy.
There have been battles--yes knock down drag out fights-- about election fraud, framing, the DLC, Joementum, and many more. But what I find most comforting is to see two posters visciously disagreeing one moment and yet asking what they can do to help each other in another post on another day. Many call this a community but in some ways it is much more like a huge family. We don't always agree ( and sometimes some will never agree) but we still defend each other against anyone on the outside who dares to attack any one of us.
I always considered myself somewhat informed on political issues. History and government were always a passion with me. I grew up seeing the Kennedy's assainnated, the VietNam war fought and lost, and civil rights as well as women's rights begin to flourish in the mainstream. I didn't know how much I didn't know until I started reading kos. From lawyers to doctors to scientists, to economists to parents to children, to farmers, to factory workers, to students to educators, we have the some of the most informed, articulate and willing teachers that one would ever hope to assemble in one place. I have never seen a sincere questioned dismissed. I have asked for help and recieved it each and every time on subjects as mundane as how to post a picture and as complicated as an explanation of the falling dollar.
Okay, I have seen people get flamed for aparently no reason too. It is not all roses in kosland. But for each and every one of those instances there are thousands of examples of thoughtful, and caring discussions. So in my book the flames are just again part of family disputes and growing pains.
Think, just think of what has happened here in the past few months. We have blogged with senators, congressman, as well as set up ongoing conversations with new candidates that genuinely want our ideas and input. We have uncovered (not literally) Gukert/Gannon which has launched not one but two and soon to be three new websites. We have been asked for advice on website design by a sitting congreswoman who is both saavy and respected on both sides of the aisle. In other words we are making a difference.
While I have never met any of you in person I feel honored to count you among friends. In fact I know more about many of you than I do about some friends that I see every day. I have often felt hopeless and in despair since Nov.3rd, but I can almost always come here and find a snark to laugh out loud at, or an action alert to get me out of my own funk and do something about my mood. For those who left feeling unheard and unwanted I feel sorry for you. I'm not sure if you didn't give it enough time or if you didn't give enough of yourself. Or maybe, to be fair, this place just isn't a good fit for you. I hope you find what you are looking for.
As for me, thank you all for inviting me into this big family. Thank you for teaching me how to see the bigger (or sometimes smaller) picture in this world of politics. But thank you most of all for just being here.
dmac