I got some real problems with some dems and DU'ers....

[The Straight Story]

I have even worse problems at times with my dad and sister, almost feel like never talking to em again at times.

I'll bitch and moan about it sometimes, it helps me to get it out of my system.

But I'll be damned if I ever turn my back on them, or DU, or Dem party. Sure I felt like leaving here once over something real stupid, but I was seriously depressed at the time. And sure, I feel at times like why bother to vote for some dem who votes along with bush and crew.

But overall - I understand that we are all different. But at the core - we are family. We might bitch about uncle 'beam me up scottie' from time to time (hi bmus! I'll stop over to religion forum to talk later, I promise! Just wanted to throw you a bone and thank you for many fine discussions. We don't usually agree, but I keep you in my rolodex anyway...), hillary/obama/etc letting us down, or my dad treating me like I was a third class kid while he praises my fundie sister.

When we head to the polls, or see something here at DU that really pisses us off, just remember we are family - a huge family living in one big tent and bitching.

In the end we really want the same thing, we just don't always agree on how to get there.

Peace, love, inclusion, civil rights for all, healthcare, and the list really does go on.

Yeah, I got issues with things at times. But I won't ever forget the kindness you have shown my wife and I with her parkinsons, or how you talked to me about my mom dying and comforted me, I won't forget my real family is not just those I grew up with - but is made up of those who have taken me in when I needed some love the most. And I won't forget that democrats have at least tried to do the right thing for us all, even when they don't do it well or make idiotic mistakes in judgment.

We are together for a common reason, for the betterment of our lives and those who have little to no voice.

In the end we vote for democrats, because they are our family. And in the end, even when we piss each other off we come here to let off steam and have people help us to feel better.

In the end, we are family. And family puts up with each other through the good and bad times.

Rock on my friends, and let's win one for the people.

[fooj]

1. Your posting evokes emotion...

What you have said in the past few days has touched me more than you can know. Your writing has been eloquent and heartfelt...

You are a treasure, Straight Story. Thank you for being a part of DU...:hug:

[stepnw1f]

2. Nice Post... kick! (nt)

[Parche]

3. post

I feel your pain
I am getting Ferklempt!!!
You are the best

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. Well said! K&R and you have it right!

:kick:

[Ferret Annica]

5. I fully understand

I miss Time.com/politic which was a large national forum with a very tightly knit virtual community that got deep six-ed in April of 2001 after the merger of Time and AOL. They are nested in an ezboard called 'Timezone' but it isn't quite the same.

I am warming up to DU, but after using the Net Crossing interface on the Pathfinder,com site Time.com used, Free Republic software, and Neil McIver's software at Liberty Post and freedom4UM, I find I don't retain the account names of many people when I post here.

I always have detested the nested tree model such as is used here, and find I have not really gotten to know many people at all because I don't form connections between the account names and the posts. And of course this is because of personal quirks, not because of anything DU has done wrong.

I am glad to hear your reality check on your sense of community here and it gives me hope I will develop a similar sense of virtual community here.

My political opinions and efficacy ironically enough are closer to the community at DU then anywhere else, but I prefer open forums first and foremost, then conservative venues second because I have always not thought much of just posting with mostly like minded people. I really really relish the full on political debate with conservatives, as long as it has a minimum of ad hominem attacks involved. I don't like insults, personal attacks or name calling.

Rightly or wrongly I have always felt it would be boring as hell to preach to the choir, though I am finding out as I post here I was somewhat off on my take on this in thinking of DU as such. I am glad I joined up and I'll stick around awhile. I plan on working full time to see a Democratic president elected in 2008. I am too political minded, care too much about the United States and am too alarmed by the disease of corporate fascism that has grown up here like a cancer not to.

Pardon the rant, but I thought I would share some of my thoughts with you. Warm regards. Mike McCarthy

[mom cat]

6. You and your lovely wife are real treasures here. You really touched on the

core of why I am here too. The people here who really care about each other. I have just recently been the recipient of thet kind of love and caring from my fellow DUers and it is so very powerful! We have something precious here ... each other. :grouphug:

[The Straight Story]

8. Thanks a ton

It is nice to be able to reach out and talk to others outside my small world here at home/work. I know it has meant a lot to my wife as well.

The internet is a wonderful place for that. And DU is my favorite place for such talking.

It feels nice to know we are not alone in our experiences, hopes, fears, and so on. And it makes the powers that be mad as it is harder to control such a mass of people who can communicate so easily with one another.

[mom cat]

11. Right on! Love just has an irrepressible nature that the evil ones

just hate. They cannot quash caring no matter how hard they try. I love the spirit here ... together, we shall prevail!

[jedr]

7. "I don't belong to an organized political party, I'm a Democrat"

Said by Will Rodgers, one of my favorite quotes! Keep the faith ...the truth will always win in the end.:yourock:

[Mr_Spock]

9. Herding cats...

...it takes a special skill, but we are up to the task :D

[lonestarnot]

12. And it's fun because cats are such independent creatures.

:hi:

[pecwae]

10. What a nice post! K&R. nt