On Saturday juliewolf wrote a well-received diary about how she had not really anticipated the vitriol in this time following Obama’s election. I participated in the conversation, which was more substantive than many we see here. It’s an issue which interests me a great deal, in part because of my feelings for Dr. King.
It’s very easy to get frustrated with relative progress, I am sure even Dr. King wasn’t immune. We’re human beings, and we like clear signs of progress. We like clear signs of everything, for that matter, but oftentimes life is not accommodating on our timetable. It would be easier if the statistics of global warming weren’t contradicted, in the minds of many, by a colder than usual winter, or a milder than usual summer. (I am not saying I have reservations about global warming. I don’t.)
First a word from our sponsor.
Here at Top Comments we strive to recognize and promote the talent of this community by highlighting outstanding comments found throughout the day by the diarist, and more importantly through nominations sent to Top Comments at gmail by your fellow Kossacks. When you send in your picks, please include your username and a word or two about why you nominated the comment, and send them in by 6:30 pm Pacific/9:30 pm Eastern to ensure they make the final diary.
Social progress is never linear (at least, I can’t think of a single example where it has been). It moves very slowly that it’s pretty much guaranteed to try one’s patience, no matter how calm and patient one is. On one level we like tension between what we seek and what we have. It helps keep us focused and motivated. Goals which are too easy aren’t really goals, they’re ceilings. But sometimes frustration gets the better of us. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that progress is indeed happening.
I can’t advise others on how to remain optimistic about progress in the face of our most serious challenges. I can only tell you a little about what helps me.
It helps me to feel within myself the seeds Dr. King planted in our society, in our hearts and minds. They’ve been there a long time now, but it makes me feel good and hopeful that their brightness has not dimmed. I share the seeds. I pass them on to others, I nurture their presence in those in whom I sense them. I believe with every fiber of my being in the power of the seeds Dr. King planted, in their righteousness, in their goodness. I believe in their durability, in their resilience. I believe in the Promised Land Dr. King spoke of, even if, like him, I will not live to fully enjoy it. His Dream lives on in me. I am not satisfied, but I am comforted by that truth, and I am more determined than that.
Peace.
Now on to tonight’s comments!
From Cedwyn:
About this comment from Kenlac, truer words were never spoken!
From Onomastic:
A lot of us have some trepidation about moving to our new home in dk4. Caj's wise comment connected dk4 concerns with a deeper unease about the Internet in general and the results of unexamined consequences.
I hope you include this comment in Top Comments. It could lead to some needed, far ranging, and fascinating conversations.
From Seneca Doane:
In Granny Doc's lament about DK4, Dumbo gives us some examples of screenshots that would be very useful in fostering discussions of aesthetic and -- more importantly -- usability issues in the subthread that starts here.
From joanneleon:
This comment by aigeanta asks important questions about the focus on users in DK4.
My picks:
This comment by Dallasdoc has gotten some attention, but I think it could use much more, and not just from Kossacks! Risk! For reward!
Sometimes a good graphic makes a wonderful comment, and it's hard to do better than JekyllnHyde for that!
Tonight's Top Mojo, courtesy of carolita!
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, Cheers and Jeers, and Mojo Friday:
1) Oddly Enough by bink — 187
2) I'm with you, at least part way, Granny Doc by Ernest T Bass — 140
3) I guess the free market by bluestatesam — 124
4) The Right Knows This Hence Their Escalation by Gooserock — 115
5) They can't run a website on $60k/mth? by Mosquito Pilot — 113
6) Yes, be VERY afraid of the Taliban! by One Pissed Off Liberal — 110
7) I was just watching by daveygodigaditch — 100
8) Umm by MadRuth — 98
9) Freedom's just another word for by Murphoney — 98
10) That probably barely covers the cost of ammo by Minerva — 94
11) If a young chick like GrannyDoc has problems by Otteray Scribe — 86
12) My Weekly Diary Tonight Will Deal by JekyllnHyde — 82
13) i think what is important is that public know by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse — 79
14) I watched Bill O'Reilly for the first time today. by American Zapatista — 78
15) This is the point of contention. by geomoo — 77
16) They were protecting the power elite. The by lakehillsliberal — 74
17) i'm a big fan of wikileaks by fiver — 74
18) Actually, you just reminded me of something by Geenius at Wrok — 73
19) you're relying on the military by fiver — 70
20) wrong laura by dougymi — 68
21) Um... by blueteam — 66
22) But with more numerous diaries due to no limit by Ernest T Bass — 63
23) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA by KVoimakas — 63
24) PDNC: See this Insurrecitionism Timeline. by ezdidit — 63
25) There have been no by twigg — 62
26) Democratic leaders don't use violent language by FishOutofWater — 61
27) I use Firefox, and subscribe. by Granny Doc — 61
28) Ads that spend their money to further by Loli — 61
29) It's a shame though by Brit — 56
30) say on, Granny Doc, say on: by BlackSheep1 — 56
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) ...and, get off my lawn! <g> by Granny Doc — 447
2) Tip Jar by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse — 432
3) It Is a Serious Question by bink — 287
4) Tip Jar by Tommy T — 286
5) Tip Jar by teacherken — 238
6) Tip Jar by Geenius at Wrok — 238
7) False Equivalence by JekyllnHyde — 215
8) See you later (tip jar) by Dbug — 196
9) Oddly Enough by bink — 187
10) These are always more involved than I expect by wader — 174
11) So, to quote Jubal Early... by juliewolf — 152
12) Tip Jar by TomP — 141
13) Tip Jar by GlowNZ — 141
14) I'm with you, at least part way, Granny Doc by Ernest T Bass — 140
15) Tip Jar by turneresq — 132
16) Tip Jar by jethrock — 130
17) I guess the free market by bluestatesam — 124
18) Its time for Progressives to step up to the plate by Lefty Coaster — 123
19) The Right Knows This Hence Their Escalation by Gooserock — 115
20) They can't run a website on $60k/mth? by Mosquito Pilot — 113
21) Yes, be VERY afraid of the Taliban! by One Pissed Off Liberal — 110
22) I was just watching by daveygodigaditch — 100
23) Freedom's just another word for by Murphoney — 98
24) Umm by MadRuth — 98
25) That probably barely covers the cost of ammo by Minerva — 94
26) If a young chick like GrannyDoc has problems by Otteray Scribe — 86
27) tipped and rec'cd by kareylou — 83
28) My Weekly Diary Tonight Will Deal by JekyllnHyde — 82
29) Scritchie Jar by triciawyse — 81
30) i think what is important is that public know by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse — 79