Pardon my clumsiness. I'm new to this form of communication, and I'm hoping not to embarass myself or other liberals. But this is part of my new resolution, to find new avenues for my voice, and others, to be heard. I worked on the Kerry campaign as a volunteer in Texas on the local level, but now I feel the need to do more. If I fail, so be it. But the time for greater activity is here, and I can't castigate others as being spectators if I'm not being more active.
To the point, I find that as liberals, or democrats, or progressives or whatever term or label you choose, its time to stop hiding who we are. I bring this up after listening to Tavis Smiley today, and his guest, a columnist from Cleveland, remarked that he had to be who he is, and not worry about the consequences, because he has to stand for something.
We do to, but we are so busy hiding from pundits and conservative bullies to stand our ground. I NO LONGER CARE if conservatives disdain me. My focus is not to convert them or persuade them. My job is to offer an honest and unflinching option that is progressive and liberal, which benefits the greatest number of people, and does the least amount of damage. We need to take our lumps publicly, and stand against the hate and bile thrown at us by the conservative, because once we withstand their assaults, they have nothing left to say. Our convictions need to be as strong and on display as theirs, because we know, in the end, we will prevail.