To the DU'ers who have been around since the selection.

[puerco-bellies]

I got here from Buzzflash during the recount fiasco. I have watched my country go from humanitarian example, to torturer. From beacon of democracy, to banana republic elections. The U.S. used to be thought of has a source of stability in the world, and now we are considered dangerous and unpredictable. Once the other half thought of us as the loyal opposition, and now we are traders. Our very citizenship is questioned, during the run up to the Iraq war a officemate who never wore a uniform, and knowing I was a veteran, told me that I was a traitor, and to get out of the country. Many others here had the same experience.

I still can't let myself hope for better times. 2004, and what happened in Ohio almost destroyed my ability to be optimistic. Still I want to thank all of you, especially those who we lost, for being fellow travelers.
Good luck to us all.

puerco-bellies
(formerly Denbot)

[Haole Girl]

1. Yes, good luck to us all

I have to believe Obama will win this. :hug:

[ulysses]

2. same to you, p-b.

:)

[Shakespeare]

3. We few....we happy few

This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

:patriot:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear puerco-bellies...

I've not been here since the beginning either, not even in 2004...

I feel as though we are standing on the cusp of history right now!

We've done everything we could...

Now it's up to the people of our country to respond...

Thank you, too, my fellow traveler, for your eloquence!

:hug:

[Joe Fields]

5. Same to you, puerco-bellies...

I became a member in 2002(littlejoe was my former handle) and have been through and seen much. I am not optomistic about the future, either. The system has a way of either destroying people who are out to make a difference, or marginalizing them. I don't believe we'll see much, if any change. The people of this country haven't gotten collectively angry enough for real change to come about. But even so, I am still perversely drawn to this place. A lot of good people here, and a lot of characters, as well.