The Democratic Party Peace Initiative
Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 12:33:32 PM PDT
NOTE: I edited the title to clarify that this diary is not about peace in the Middle East, its about peace in our party.
UPDATE: Angry Mouse just reminded me that we both agree that as a symbol of healing we should do away with the anti-candidate siggys. I actually earned mention in her diary for coming up with the idea. It may not be much to some, but it is a start.
OK, I have been marveling at the diary of one Angry Mouse today. She writes a very insightful diary about her switch from Clinton supporter to Obama. I recommend everyone read her diary as well as the one from Deoliver47 that inspired us both. While you're at it, read my take on the racial rift in America and a few suggestions on how to heal it here. I believe if we read these diaries we will be able to see the rift in the Democratic Party from the perspective of each side. We will also see how destructive this entire primary discourse has become to us, our candidate of choice and our beloved party. For these reasons I am hereby asking for a truce.
Ladies and gentlemen, this has gone on long enough. It does us no good to continue this. I know that there have been hurtful things said from both sides of the aisle but I refuse to believe the viciousness we are seeing speaks for the majority sentiment in either camp. I truly believe there are more of us interested in the things that really matter in this election - ending the war in Iraq, providing healthcare to everyone, straightening out our economy, solving the housing market crisis - than there are people obsessed with non-issues like Rev. Wright, snipergate, whatever. We HAVE to get back to what's important to the American people and not allow ourselves to be divided by the race-baiters, the sexists, the homophobes and others who take pleasure in stirring up strife in order to further their own self interests. I am not writing this to condone or apologize for the tactics of either candidate. I know that there is a lot of bitterness about the tactics that have been used in this campaign, turning it into one of the most alarming battles I have seen in quite some time. I write this because in the end, the candidates work for us, not the other way around. If we want to change the discourse in Washington, we must first heal the divisions and bitter partisanship that exists between us within the blogosphere. For these reasons, I am asking for three things in order to help facilitate the healing that must begin within our own party if we are to have any hope of having a unified front against the neo-cons in November:
- We must agree to respectfully disagree about our concerns and differences within our own party.
- We MUST learn to calmly respond to the race-baiting with facts and information, not emotional outbursts and vendettas that only serve to further the anger and bitterness that racially motivated comments are designed to stir up.
- We must begin to turn our attention to the real opponent of everything we hope to achieve in this watershed election year: one John Sidney "One Hundred Years" McCain III.
This will not solve all of our problems, but by doing these things we can at least make a good start toward combining our forces and helping the people take back their government from the special interests and corporate greed that has left our country in shambles.
C'mon ya'll. I know you're tired of this. I've read your diaries. I am challenging you all to rise above the bullshit to do what's best for America. This is about more than just winning. This is about doing the right thing.
Peace.
P.S.
Mega shout outs and a belated Happy Birthday to media goddess Rachel Maddow, who first planted the seeds of this idea in my mind a few days ago when I read her comments in Joe Buck's diary. Thanks a bunch for posting, Joe.
Holla!
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