We march.
We fight
Even die.
This is what we do. And we've done it because it's what justice and freedom have demanded.
With all due respect to those out there that believe the Democratic party has been at the forefront of all the major social justice reforms of the past 100 years - you're totally wrong. The people have been at the front, the democratic party has tentatively been behind them. The people have been getting their heads bashed in, having dogs unleashed upon them, having their homes burned. The people sat in, went to jail, risked life and limb. The people made phone calls, drew posters, fund raised. The people made noise, crowded the streets and built movements. The history is clear on that.
Social change never came from the ayes or nays of well tailored wingtipped geriatric white men - and it never will. It comes from US. It is born out of movement.
Let me be clear - I think the Democratic party is full of brave leaders willing to fight for the people's cause. I'm not trying to make the point, like Greenwald, that the Dem part as a whole is running game on the American people or their progressive base. God knows, I really wonder sometimes, but I don't think so deep down. What this whole debate really misses is the fact that progressives largely point fingers at all but themselves, and loyalist refuse to acknowledge the party's limitations and ineptitude.
Where are progressives in this fight? I can tell you - On the Blogs! Not in the streets. We might think this war can be won on the interwebz, but look at the attention barely literate unabashed racists get when they assemble and hold up signs. People call them a "force in American politics." We can laugh, or cry, or get pissed off, but as long as we do it in our pajamas, in front of a keyboard, the story'll be the same tomorrow, and a sadder one come Nov.
And to those that defend the party of "Maybe," know that when people voted for Barack Obama, they didn't just vote for a Democrat. Obama ran his campaign such that people voted for a movement - one that was inclusive and had unassailable goals and principles. We can wait for the Dems to give us justice, or we can demand it - loudly, in the streets, at all peaceful costs. We can look at the teabaggers and remaining republicans and call them names, whine about their obstruction, and focus all of our energy on them. We will have accomplished nothing, and missed the opportunity to focus on outreach to independents and ex-republicans. You want Health Care Reform? Climate legislation? Green jobs? Education policy that works? An end to the War on Drugs? - Show me a movement!
I myself am tired of waiting on these politicians, and also tired of my relative inaction. Tomorrow morning I'll be at a protest and I'll be updating this diary with pics.