This time next week I shall be with our people, gathered in Detroit for Netroots Nation. Before I head off, follow me below the dingledoodle squigglie dKosagnocchi dividerthingie fold after a word from our sponsor...
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Netroots Nation is my annual (yes, I've made it to every one) Get Energized Weekend, my time with a group of fun people who aren't batshit crazy. Who are knowledgeable about political things I sometimes barely understand, but somehow explain and clarify and leave me smarter than I was... and who bring out in me topics I didn't know I knew well enough to educate others. Cool feeling, that... mutual education :). NN attendees share a common set of values, not universal by any means but certainly more than I'd share with a similar gathering of conservatives, let's say, ohhhh, Right Online.
In addition to being a progressive Democrat I also am a Unitarian Universalist. It's a small denomination and outside of New England, where UU churches are in many towns, most towns don't have one. Each June Unitarian Universalists gather for General Assembly. I've been once, and it had the same feeling... an entire keynote speaker-sized room FULL of people who weren't going to look at you oddly when you said you were an atheist, but taught Sunday School and went to the Buddhist meditation group on Mondays. There is power in being in community, in a majority, if only we find and keep our voices.
I was talking with a friend yesterday about how minority radical elements in a culture- be it Muslims, Christians, Germans, Americans, etc. - render the peaceful majority irrelevant because that majority doesn't stand up and take action. It doesn't go "Those elements do NOT speak for me/us. Those ideologies have no place in this culture." Our conversation shifted gradually to how difficult it is to keep people focused on issues when the news cycle and people's attention spans continue to shorten. From our conversation, and with permission from my friend to quote:
People just don't care unless it's about them. The motivation after 9/11 is gone ... only small pockets care anymore ... most people don't give a shit about benghazi ... people were upset a couple days over Hobby Lobby... but that too is quieting down ... "We voiced our outrage... that's enough, back to buying shit"
Even my Facebook wall has dinner pictures and Sunday's view from my chair on the beach instead of political commentary. Me, someone so passionate about this stuff I missed my daughter's 13th birthday because it conflicted with Netroots Nation? (in our defense, she got a killer party the following week, AND cards signed by 200 NN11 speakers and Kossacks). How do we keep momentum going among our friends and neighbors, keep people engaged and thinking? Will those so outraged by SCOTUS' recent decisions even remember come election time?
I wish I had a list of ideas to share, but I don't. I'm tapped out this week, and am looking to you to give me hope and ideas. When I get to Detroit you can bet I'll be asking this very question and keeping track of the answers.
Now for tonight's comments! BeninSC is an absolute wonder of a collaborator, please shower him with mojo and hugs because he deserves them for being my formatter tonite!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From LOrion:
I wanted to recommend this comment by Silencio for Top Comments tonight! Well done!
From gchaucer2:
I really did guffaw over glb3's picture in Laura Clawson's "Labor Secretary wants to punch politicians" diary. Especially because it came right after someone wanting names (aka, I don't believe this for a minute).
From Yours Truly, brillig:
From Laura Clawson's diary Temp worker killed on the job 13 days after managers removed safety device comes Floyd Blue wondering if this was throwback Tuesday. (the thread it spawned is interesting too!)
And, a couple of comment flags!
Flagged by pdxteacher, this comment by 2laneIA goes into depth on some of the difficulties caused by the War on Education.
Flagged by hbk, this comment by JML9999 hits Rick Perry where it hurts.
Top Mojo for yesterday, July 7th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary
FAQing Top Mojo.
1) Never thought I'd live to see the day when by CaptainBlueSky — 138
2) We will be taking time off this morning by James Protzman — 133
3) Jay Nixon, the other good news today. by merrywidow — 117
4) I Hear Ya.... by snapples — 105
5) I suspect they sited the wind farm there by Dallasdoc — 102
6) And how many windmills would Scotland need by happymisanthropy — 99
7) I was planning... by StevenD56 — 93
8) If I could sell my parents' house by Auntie Neo Kawn — 93
9) OK by Reetz — 88
10) Alas, you have a typo. He's the MO gov. by peregrine kate — 88
11) I actually think that his objection is, by Its the Supreme Court Stupid — 87
12) A very well put together diary! by Mopshell — 87
13) Too many culprits to finger by pierre9045 — 87
14) The Badass Teachers Association is also going to by zenbassoon — 80
15) Sue a lot of Congressmen for failing to uphold by polecat — 79
16) They don't even have the shame by avsp — 78
17) I miss Dad. by Youffraita — 77
18) I can't go there: 4 other people by xxdr zombiexx — 77
19) Somebody's cassock is on too tight. by polecat — 75
20) So how do you rein in a rogue SCOTUS? by Dallasdoc — 74
21) Seen here in it's natural habitat by skohayes — 73
22) RE: Hearing problems by PinHole — 71
23) Duncan should be fired, of course, by corvo — 70
24) The Movie Will Air in Christianist Media and by Gooserock — 67
25) Oh, good luck to the kids! by Auntie Neo Kawn — 67
26) Wade King, Asshole of the Day. by Mother Mags — 63
27) The twitter fixed it. by mrsgoo — 61
28) I think you are right about the church by chaunceydevega — 61
29) All these good things by MadRuth — 60
30) Let me put it more pointedly: by corvo — 60
2014-06-09 Top Comments with Pictures, courtesy of
jotter!