This is an extensive comment I posted last eve to this reclist diary by buhdydharma:
Yes -- pick one issue -- that's the minimum of what each person in a generalized activist community like DKos needs to do, and act on it. For myself, for this moment, i have chosen warcrimes accountability (torture, and the illegal unprovoked invasion of Iraq, both linked at some level of course).
I never ever EVER in all my days want to see my govt justify torture again, NOR invade another nation. as i wrote on my FBook page yest. in response to a fairly vocal and conservative 'friend' i have there:
"C- as always, your comments are appreciated -- yes, not everyone is too excited about the Obama Admin operations in A-stan at the moment. i don't have all the answers. and yes, you're right that every US Pres does have various amounts of blood on their hand.
But i will tell you this -- GW Bush has by far the most of anyone recent. if any Admin can be charged with warcrimes under the Geneva Conventions that the US is a signatory to, it is Bush's. the illegal aggressive non-provoked invasion of Iraq based on LIES that they (and anyone watching clearly at the time, as many were) knew were utter fabrications and falsehoods, and the attempts at ex post facto 'evidence' tying Saddam to al Qaeda, in part by extracting confessions from torture (as we now have found out) -- again a warcrime -- goes far, far, FAR beyond anything Clinton, Bush 1, Reagan (none of whom are my heroes, btw) and anyone at least back to WW2 has done.
Look forward to your further comments,
thx & peace, X"
And yes, i have been acting -- calling up my reps, emailing friends exhorting the same, reading 'torture diaries', staying on top of it, planning to call the AG's office, support Jesselyn Radack's ideas for action and other things.
I do care about many other things -- electoral reform, the environment, pushing back against Salazar, greening the economy, drug reform, LGBT issues, etc. etc. etc. -- i.e. most things ever discussed here at the Big Orange (and everyone will prioritize differently, of course).
But my time is limited, as i do not choose to work in politics or as a fulltime activist now, as i essentially have at times in the past (instead, i am a scientist, and hope to contribute to the world most with my talents in this area). but as a citizen, i know i must continue to do my part, as that's what Democracy is about, as i believe our Founders envisioned it. working our arses off to get Barack elected last year (as i also did) was not enough, will never be enough, and we do need to put in continuous effort and time, every day we have the privilege to live in a (reasonably functional) Democracy, i do feel.
So i appreciate this exhortational diary, and the ensuing discussion as well.
So, using i hope a phrase has not been utterly sullied forever, but does mean much when we talk about getting organized and moving and active for Good -- let's roll, my friends.
Let us continue to roll.
As part of a juggernaut of Justice that will never be stopped until everyone is free, fed, not victimized, not suffering unnecessarily.
Onward, and forward.
And i'm reposting my comment because it made me curious about what others do, and think, here -- how much do you do, and do you feel it's about adequate, or would you like to do more?
And in the poll, you can interpret 'activism' however you would like: making calls/emails to Congress, writing letters to the Ed., engaging in street protests, attending and voicing opinions at city council meetings, doing treesits, shareholder activism, etc. etc. -- any of the myriad and divers ways to engage in our democracy (i think i wouldn't include posting here at DKos in that list though, as it's largely preaching to the choir, as many other diarists have pointed out over time, and i expand a bit on this in a more detailed comment below).
Any comments are also welcome.