A word of appreciation for the DU Lounge, from a GDer.

[Inland]

I’m not a Lounge person. But let me say something nice about the Lounge and more generally, the society, and say, believe it or not, that the US needs more Lounge.

Once upon a time, there were social institutions in this country that were amenable to people with left to center attitudes. Union halls, bowling leagues, colleges, city and local government, charities, immigrant fraternal orders, Main Street businesses, even churches, were the places were people got together and became something that we recognized as the center of the country. They knew each other, and when it came time to choose sides, recognized each other as the salt of the earth through those contacts.

Today, what working institutions are there? Corporations. Military. Churches. Anything else? Governments are crap, unions are dying. What does the left have?

Think about it: what is the centrist or progressive analogue to a church? A church meets every week or more. A church has an authority figure announcing a message, which even if it isn’t adopted is at least a message from an authority figure. Heck, even the Democratic Party doesn’t have one of THOSE.

And I’m not even saying that the churches, to continue an example, tell people how to vote. They don’t have to. A church provides a ready made group of people who “ARE LIKE US”, if not ideologically, at least in that they too show up at the same place and say hello. Which is the better endorsement, one from someone who you never heard of or the people you spend time every week with?

And who do people vote for, most of all? Candidates who resemble them, or at least appreciate them. If you belong to a church, you vote for a church guy. If you are or were in the military, you vote for a guy who says he's for the military.

So back to the liberals and lefts. Where can people find them and spend time with them and find the people “who are like us”. People who appreciate that there is more than a franchise restaurant that has room for your SUV. People who have passports. People who have liberal educations. People who don’t have time to get all angry about other people’s bedroom habits. People who still believe that freedom and a government responsible to the people on days other than Election Day make for a good and happy society. People who don’t just lash out in hatred.

Where do people find out that the democrats, leftists and progressives *are okay folk just like them*? They sure aren’t going to hear it on Fox. Or in church, most of them. Or in the military, or at work.

There was a thread, a long time ago, making fun of a right winged themed bar. The more I think about it, the more I have come to appreciate it. We need a bar. We need a lounge, and more of it and NOT just in cyberspace. We need places where people see living and breathing and oh so normal liberals not fornicating while smoking dope and burning a flag. Not political places. Everyday places.

Because the political is more than talking or even agreeing on politics. It’s about belonging, and not just on an intellectual or voting level.

So, here’s a cute kitten for you, Loungerats.

[Robb]

1. Inland is a Dingbat.

Nicely said. :thumbsup:

[Inland]

4. "One of us, one of us...."

Thanks for the initiation.

[havocmom]

2. Wow! You hit a lot of nails with that one! Many thanks for giving words

to something many of us could sense but not frame.

Thanks for the cat! Can I run to the Lounge and tell the other lizards about this? ;) and :hug:

[Inland]

3. Tell the lounge. I posted in GD for GD, and

I didn't post it in the LOunge because I was thinking of this post, which was in the lounge.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3607432

And here's another kitten.

[havocmom]

5. prrrrrrrrr

nothing quite as calming as a peacful cat... It's good when you can stop tryin to herd 'em.

Thanks again.

[evlbstrd]

6. Very well said.

Thanks from another Lounge Lizard.

And isn't that why we have local meetups?

[merh]

7. Great post!

:thumbsup:


Thank you! :applause:

[I Have A Dream]

8. This is so true. The Lounge lets us kick back and slow down...

with like-minded people. I remember seeing a post from someone saying that the people in the Lounge just really don't know how to flame. I'm sure that they could flame quite mightily if they chose to do so, but being in the Lounge is about being one of the gang. Flaming's not something that you usually do to your friends.

[blondeatlast]

10. Wow--great minds and all that! See the post below. nt

[blondeatlast]

9. DU is like a neighborhood pub made up of more or less like minded

people.

In pubs, people go off to their favorite groups, as do DUers. Eventually, though, we all mingle.

I echo your feelings. When things have me down, I always know I'll find a laugh in the Lounge.

Thanks gang, and keep those kitty pics comin'.

[enigmatic]

11. Thanks for this post

I'm a Lounge Lizard (mostly a late night one) and rarely post in GD; this was a great post.

And come to The Lounge anyrime, I'd love to buy you a beer:)