This is my first diary here (or anywhere, for that matter). I've been visiting dKos since before the 2004 election and registered in May 2005, but have never felt moved to compose a diary until today. I have commented sparingly over the years but don't often feel that I have much to bring to the discussion.
Today I speak up.
I lurked at dKos for months before registering. I found many interesting viewpoints and learned about a variety of topics. What finally prompted me to register was not a political diary, but a personal one. Someone shared about their struggle with addiction and I saw a community surround and support that individual. I wanted to be a part of that community, so I signed on.
Some of you may feel that I haven't earned the right to a meta-diary because I don't play an active role in the discussion here, and maybe that's true. I only know that what I have seen lately is nothing like the community I saw when I registered. I believe that the loss of that community spirit diminishes this site. And that makes me sad.
Markos has created something truly unique here. Senators, US Representatives, candidates for office and even former Presidents post on this site on a regular basis. Do people here comprehend how utterly amazing that is? The leaders and future leaders of this country come here to communicate directly with the people they represent. How many places do you know of where that happens?
Unfortunately, while all this great stuff is happening, there is infighting, sniping and just plain bullying going on, too. I believe that we all want the same thing - to get our country back from the hooligans who have hijacked it. Fighting amongst ourselves isn't the way to do that.
The Twelfth Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous says,
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
By following this and eleven other guidelines, AA has been a vibrant organization for over 70 years. In AA, we have a common goal - to stay sober one day a time. We can't let the personality of someone in the group deflect us from that goal. If someone asks for our help, we must give it no matter how we feel about them. That is the basis of principles before personalities.
I humbly remind the members of the dKos community that we are all here for the same reason. We want our country and our Constitution back. If we adopt the guideline of Principles before Personalities we will be better equipped to confront those who would maintain the status quo. Despite our personal differences, we can work together to create the future. And just maybe, dKos will be around for another 70 years.