We sit here behind our pseudonyms and computer screens, and yet we have managed to become a community. And that is hard to do in this day and age of the Internets. We have all seen various messageboards and other blogs that devolve into vicious namecalling and exchanges of ad hominem attacks. Hell, it even happens here from time to time.
But I have found that if you truly get to know the person behind the pseudonym, whether in person or not, it not only fosters community, but it lessens the toxic atmosphere that normally infects other messageboards and blogs. For it is hard to attack and insult someone if you know them.
This is why I post those "Roll Call" diaries every three months, so that we can all get to know each other better, even if we can't yet meet in person.
That is why Drinking Liberally got started. That is why we have the many Kossack Meetups throughout the land. It fosters community. And in this dark political world we have been living in the past eight years, it gives us hope for the future, and it lets us know that we are not alone.
I missed the first Yearly Kos in 2006, not because I could not afford to travel to Las Vegas, but because I had other commitments. Yet I was very disappointed that I could not meet my fellow friends. And I did not miss out on the opportunity in 2007 in Chicago, nor will I miss the Austin gathering this July.
But what about people who have the desire but not the means?
Do they not get to meet our champion Howard Dean?
Do they not get to enjoy snark live and in person?
Do they miss out on meeting real live trolls?
Do they escape the chance to get lulled into a semi-hypnotic trance by the carpet while traveling between panel discussions?
Do they lose the opportunity to get their picture taken with those who will take on such neocons as Joe Lieberman?
See Matt Stoller laugh at Joe Trippi's jokes?
Meet and discuss the issues of the day with our illustrious front pager Hunter?
Partake in fascinating panel discussions with the likes of Christine Hardin Smith, Taylor Marsh, Digby, and Jonathan Singer?
Do they miss out on meeting Jesse, Ezra and Amanda?
For where else do they get the opportunity to ride the same escalator as a presidential candidate....
...or meet Hillary Clinton (yes, that's me staring her down)...
...or listen to the next President of the United States?
Well, in the past, they did miss these opportunities. But thanks to a true netroots hero, our own Kid Oakland, they no longer have to. Last year, he devised a scholarship plan that allowed 19 fellow bloggers and Kossacks to attend the Chicago convention, thanks to the donations of people like you and me.
This year, Democracy for America has followed Kid Oakland's lead and is offering to help our friends out with the cost of attending Netroots Nation in Austin. Scholarships cover the entire cost of Netroots Nation registration and hotel charges (minus in-room charges, like the minibar and movies). But the recepients will have to pay for a few things themselves, including getting to Austin.
Since there have been over 100 applicants for the scholarships so far, the more we donate, the more applicants can attend. If you want to apply for the scholarship yourself, the deadline has been extended to this Friday.
If you wish to donate, please follow the link above and help as much as you can. Over on that page, there's a button on the right side that says: "Contribute to Fund More Scholarships." Your donations will be used entirely for scholarships, and no donation is too small. Every bit counts toward helping another friend make it to Austin.
How are the scholarship awards decided?
We will based our decisions on application content, active experience, individual need, geographic, gender, age, and ethnic diversity as well as community member support. Our goal is to not just reward the best or those who need it most, but also to expand the progressive movement and bring activists together. The winners will be announced by June 18. Please search through the candidates and voice your support today.
That "community member support" part means that you can have a say by meeting the applicants and providing your support--weighing in on your choice for who you would like to see in Austin.
And there are other ways to contribute. Kossack Land of Enchantment is coordinating a supplemental program for donating frequent-flyer miles. Contact her at her gmail account, which you can find on her user profile page here if you've got miles just hanging around with nowhere else to go. If you've already bought a registration, but for some reason can't use it, you can donate it to the program, and Land of Enchantment can help you out with that one, too.
Again, applications for scholarships will be accepted through the remainder of this week, and donations to help fund these scholarships through next week. Help share the excitement and the experience.
So lets give our fellow friends an opportunity to meet us in Austin!