Between Heaven and Hell: For Andy

[Generic Other]

We are a country divided. If ever we doubted it, we need only look at the recent interaction between two online communities surrounding the illness and death of Andy Stephenson.

The actions of individuals at DU, FR, CU and Scamdy serve to illustrate the sharp divide that separates the right and the left in this country.

When a friend and fellow DUer needed help, Democrats and liberals opened their hearts and wallets without hesitation. It was a heartwarming and amazing response. People from every walk of life reached into their pockets and gave. We raised funds in record time for a friend in need. We showed by example what Christian charity should be about even though we weren’t all Christians. We exhibited unconditional love, compassion for the suffering of another. We served to illustrate that there are still some Americans who know what it means to be a decent human being. We showed that we were a community with heart and soul capable of putting aside our differences to help someone we cared about. Some of us felt better than we had in years about our sense of shared community and our recognition of what good we were capable of accomplishing.
E Pluribus Unum.

Meanwhile, across the internet, at FR, CU and Scamdy, individuals from the right who claim to represent the majority of Americans and who proudly proclaim their moral values at every opportunity organized a mob to denigrate, demoralize, and disrupt the fundraising efforts—and for no other reason than to cause pain to individuals who had done nothing to them except hold different political opinions. When ridicule and scorn weren’t enough, they took action to delay and interfere with Andy’s treatment. Under the pretense of being concerned about accountability, they actively worked to stop the fundraising. At every step of the way, they showed their true colors. By contacting officials at the hospital, by making complaints at Pay Pal, by creating a website to showcase their activities, they showed us by example how meanspirited some Americans can be. They showed us their ghoulish faces, their real values. They tormented a dying man. And took pleasure in his suffering.

Contrast the two Americas. We are a country divided stuck somewhere between a Heaven and Hell of our own making.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Kick.... purgatory, a bad place for a nation to spend time....

[sojourner]

2. Those folks showed that there IS no inbetween.

There is good and there is evil. And they personify evil with both their thoughts, their words and as demonstrated, their deeds.

IF they really believed in Christ they'd feel ashamed, for Christ was a compassionate healer who admonished those (incited by the self-righteous, Anti-Christ Pharisees) who wanted to stone a woman for her prostitution: "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".

IF they really believed in Christ they'd feel afraid, because he also said: "Judge not, for with the judgement you judge, you yourself will be judged."

:rant:

[earth mom]

3. Great post! The division isn't going away

and is probably a good reason for the U.S. to divide into two, because quite frankly, it's getting really old really fast...not to mention really dangerous. :scared:

P.S. I'd LOVE to be part of the United States of Canada!
O8)

[Rick Myers]

4. Wonderful post!!!

Right on the mark... I spent some time last night 'talking' at some of those folks, and they spin and spin and spin again until even THEY have no idea what they are talking about. I feel it was a waste of time, but I was angry. And they are truly sick...

Now I mourn...

[housewolf]

5. "Me and mine" vs. "Us and ours"

It seems to me that the biggest difference between the left and the right boils down to which is a higher value - to the right it's "me and mine" and to the left it's "us and ours."

To the right, if someone doesn't fit into the circle of "me and mine" there is no sense of responsibility for or identity with "the other," anyone who is not included within the circle of "me and mine." When authorities take that basic concept and turn it into a survival issue, indoctrinat their followers with the idea that "the other" is dangerous and a threat, and teach to demonize "the other" as evil, it is easy to see how the right turns to demonization and hatred anyone they don't consider to be part of their "me and mine" group.

To the left, the circle is larger. Instead of "me and mine," the left embraces "Us and ours," an idea that extends to community, nation, and, for some, as large as the popoulation of the world. The left embraces the family of man, an idea that is so foreign as to be incomprehensible to the right.

It explains the whole issue of the right's policies of selfishness, greed, short-sightedness and rejection of ideas of "the common good" and responsibility for "the good of all." It is the basic social divide in the country right now.

[jarnocan]

6. I found this at Blackboxvoting.org

"Posted on Friday, July 08, 2005 - 06:33 am:
According to a post on Democratic Underground, Andy Stephenson died on Thursday, July 7.
Stephenson was Associate Director of Black Box Voting from June 27 to Dec. 14, 2004. According to the Seattle Weekly, Stephenson was suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Each of us at Black Box Voting is profoundly saddened by this turn of events. We offer our condolences to his family and friends.
Andy Stephenson had an irrepressible sense of humor, was fun to be around, and he was a passionate spokesman for this issue. He will be missed.
Bev Harris
Kathleen Wynne
and the Black Box Voting board of directors"

I hope they really do feel terrible. What I have been reading on here is so horrific. How these things happen is mind boggling!

[Generic Other]

7. They have something to be sad about

Guilt is a heavy burden.

[helderheid]

10. A reminder of what Bev Harris HAS been saying about Andy

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x382982#382988

To think she would even SUGGEST this was about Andy not being able to obtain a home equity loan is beyond sickening.

[jarnocan]

15. wow-thanks

I remeber that weird Keith Olberman thing , and at the time was just hoping it was some kind of over reaction due to frantic activity and stress. Then I heard some strange stuff on The Rhandi Rhodes show too. So bizarre! She sounds like MAYBE she is bi-polar or something even worse. I was one of here early supporters and sent money a couple times - a lot for me -not much of course.
How very sad. I just posted it so you would know.
all that money and effort I hope hasn't gone to waste. There must be still be some good people in her org-or have they all broke off? I hope they can get her under control or committed or something and still use their valid stuff.

I met Marybeth (in the pictures) in WDC at the Verified Voting Lobby Days http://vvlobbydays.blogspot.com/-she discussed his illness briefly, but I wasn't very aware of this whole issue. I guess I don't focus much-tend to just flit around trying to think of what to do next. Awesome person- I'm so sorry to you all who knew him. what a painful journey this ALL must have been for him although he obviously also had wonderful friends too! Let me know if I can do anything else to help. sorry I never got ot meet him. I wonder if he met Robert Koehler-Silent Scream of Numbers- author in Nashville- I bet Bob would do a story on him. He is also a great guy and actually wrote little even ol me back nicely once! http://www.commonwonders.com/archives/col290.htm

[helderheid]

20. .

[johnaries]

18. I truly hope Bev has had a change of heart, but

considering her past deceptions I'm very skeptical about her sincerity.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Kelvin Mace]

29. She hasn;t

she is in "damage control" mode.

[RetroLounge]

22. Fuck Bev and Whorse she rode in on...

Too late to feel badly, you fucked up little media hose-bag.

Rot in hell.

RL

[helderheid]

8. so well said!

[merh]

9. They hate us for our love.

:cry:

[MuseRider]

11. Yes they do

you said it well. For Andy, all our love.

[roseBudd]

12. The right has always impressed me as nosey, selfish, sanctimonious whiners

That do nothing but complain all the time, unless its republican, then there are no complaints no matter what they do. Not one right wing LTTE has been published in SW Ohio's right wing rag, The Cincinnati Enquirer to complain about the 300 million Coingate scandal.

[demobabe]

13. Intolerant killers

The Freepers, CU, Scamdy folks who came out after Andy are all of the same mindset of the folks who killed Jesus - read the bible. Anyone who behaves in the manner of those folks is NOT a Christian by any definition.

The Scamdy folks especially, are sick sick puppies. Talk about hell - they're already there. Look at all that effort they put into going after Andy instead of ANYTHING else they could have been doing. Those aren't people with any joy in their lives.

[nofurylike]

14. yes yes yes. thank you for this, Generic Other.

:kick:


peace

[mzmolly]

16. Summed up the contrast nicely.

It's nauseating to visit that train wreck of a site. The total lack of humanity is unbelievable. And the fact that a woman who once worked with Andy and knew him personally, played a role in slandering him is even more disturbing.

What does Bev Harris represent in the scheme of things? She represents the snake oil salesmen of old ... People that exist between those two worlds, the Norm Colemans who capitalize on the mood of the day to pacify ego and pocket book at the expense of a soul.

[tosca_veritas]

23. well said!!

[BeHereNow]

27. Welcome to DU tosca_veritas

Sorry you joined us at such a sad time.
Glad you are here none the less.
BHN

[dogindia]

17. kick for A. and all of us

[SmokingJacket]

19. Great post.

You said it.

:grouphug:

[Vinca]

21. Sometimes I get tired of fighting.

Sometimes I wish the country could be split in half and we could take our half and they could take theirs. (Of course, they'd try to get 3/4.) Wouldn't it be wonderful to get up in the morning and know your fellow citizens really cared about you? That a credit card company wasn't more important than you? That your medical emergency would be handled without question? You could find affordable housing if you needed it. Jobs would pay a living wage. We wouldn't invade sovereign nations for bogus reasons. Our country wouldn't be driven by the almighty dollar. Sanctity of life and family values would be more that words uttered for the sake of a vote. Wouldn't it be wonderful?

[tavalon]

24. Boy, it sure would

But secession (for far worse reasons, granted) didn't work out so well last time so this will have to remain, for now, a dream.

[BamaBecky]

25. If it helps....we live in the world of opposites.....read The Power of

Myth....by by Joseph Campbell,Bill Moyers.

Look at the triangle on the dollar...the more polarized we become the father away we are from the all seeing all knowing God....

the world of the opposites is where we live.......

and you can see it everywhere.............

day/night
good/bad
republican/democrat
sweet/sour

on and on and on

Bama
:hi:

[noiretextatique]

26. one of the things they didn't show: their names

given all the concern they professed, i wonder why they hid behind that anonymousarmy moniker.

[Generic Other]

28. kick

:kick:

[greatauntoftriplets]

30. Thanks for this eloquent tribute to a great friend.

Your words have blown me away....