Does "Democratic Underground" do us a disservice?

[joeunderdog]

The name, that is. In the minds of many Americans, Underground can imply exactly what the RW media is trying to color us as, a (lunatic) fringe element that doesn't represent the mainstream views. You see it all the time: "bloggers," "activists," "radicals," and "conspiracists." MSM marginalizes the Progressive message by suggesting that it is rejected by the mainstream (the safe haven of many voters.) We probably all know a number of people who are intimidated by the idea of being part of an Underground Anything, not because they disagree with the Democratic views, but because they don't want to be seen as a renegade or a hippie singing Kumbaya. I've seen a few uncomfortable reactions of Democrats (family included) when I tell them to come to Democratic Underground to get real information and stay ahead of the game. There's a little bit of stigma attached to the word Underground, and I'd like to see Liberalism normalized rather than criminalized.

I suppose there is an argument to be made that the name "Democratic Underground" attracts truly progressive thinkers rather than people inclined for more ordinary, less controversial Democratic politics. But I personally think DU will always have a steady flow of ideas and unfiltered information. The overwhelming victories for the Dems this time around hammered home the point that the Progressive Platform is anything but Underground, despite MSM's crusade. And while some of our ideas here may be way ahead of the curve, the backbone ideology of DU is one embraced by most Americans when they aren't being threatened, coerced or fooled into another direction.


I'm not really crusading to change the name of the web community I'm proud to be a member of, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience. Getting the message out is always hard to do, and this is just one of those things that bugs me every time I hear a talking head talk about us activists.


***BTW--I mean no offense to the creators, maintainers and visitors of this fine website.
:yourock:

[Redstone]

1. It is what it is, be that as it may, despite what anyone may think.

Redstone

[liberaltrucker]

12. Well said, Mr R!

:toast:

[Redstone]

27. Thank you too much. I read where you got home for Christmas. How did that go?

Well, I hope.

And I do hope the New Year brings you positive changes as well.

Redstone

[Avalux]

2. This website was created during the dark days after the 2000 selection.

Although we have grown and are now considered mainstream, the name is a tribute to what we once were. :patriot:

[havocmom]

13. Tribute to what we once were and how far we have come

struggling,every inch of the way to overcome those who worked to hide truth

[Radio_Lady]

30. I like the name. It's memorable... Reminder of the Underground Railway, which took people to

freedom.

Also, in Britain, the Underground means the subway.

[Maat]

3. I've always joked about it with my conservative relatives,

who say, "Underground?!" I reply that if it was truly underground, why would it openly be on the internet? HeeHee.

[ClassWarrior]

4. I think the term "MSM" does us a worse disservice...

There isn't anything "mainstream" about the Corporate Media's self-serving agenda, and we shouldn't promote the myth that there is.

:rant:

NGU.

[King Coal]

5. Since I have the bumper stickers on my cars, I guess I'm not too

underground. And I've worked in the mines all my life. Hardrock, underground to the core mines. But not with the bumper stickers.

[wildbilln864]

6. It is not...

progressive underground, it's Democratic Underground.

[BattyDem]

7. After 9/11, anyone who held views that differed from Bush** and the GOP ...

were called unpatriotic, terrorist-aiding traitors. This lasted up until Katrina and it still goes on, though it's not nearly as prevalent as it was. So, we had to go "underground" in order to talk openly without being criticized.

That's how I explain the site's name to people who are uncomfortable with it. :-)

The site is on the Internet for everyone to see, so it's not exactly a "true" underground movement, LOL! I always looked at it being "underground" in a more figurative sense of the word.

edited for clarity

[cboy4]

8. I like the name! A lot.

:patriot:

[qnr]

9. I did have an elderly lady ask why it was underground, she was very progressive

and contemplating buying a scooter, so she was talking to me about mine.

But no, I think the name is appropriate.

[demosincebirth]

Of course we have some on the lunatic fringe...we have a big tent.

[joeunderdog]

10. I understand why we have the name.

I guess my point is that the name is a deterrent for what might be a significant number of people who might be more inclined to visit the site if it had the same content but a different name.

Maybe that's a more concise way of saying it.

[Mind_your_head]

11. Well that's one of the lessons that the "skittish" friends and relatives

really need to learn. Don't be fooled by a 'name' (and their preconceptions of what that name signifies to THEM).

The "skittish ones" need to be challenged to "take an honest, heart-felt look at something"
....then decide if it's something worthwhile or not.

Afterall, isn't that how things like "the clear skys act" and other environmentally unfriendly initiatives (with nice sounding names that were the EXACT OPPOSITE of what they purported to be) got through without so much as a mere whimper from the citizenry of the US. It had a "nice sounding name".

Or in this case, a 'not-so-nice' sounding name to THEM, can be something really, really good. :-)

Peace,
M_Y_H

[InvisibleTouch]

14. I love the name.

Isn't it always the underground, the underdogs, the sidelined and disenfranchised, who point out the flaws in the establishment and move to affect positive change? May we never forget our roots - may we never be the comfortable fat cats who have forgotten what it was like to be oppressed. Being an "underground" even after we resume the majority (Congress this year, the White House in '08) will keep us agile and alert. I think the name is perfect. :)

[Skip Intro]

15. I think the name is fine. It attracted me.

Not to be egotistical, but I think if it attracted me and all these other cool people, it works.

This isn't the Democratic Party forum, its the Underground. Man, that's got a real appeal to it. See it?

[madrchsod]

16. yes it`s kind`a funny

almost 90,000 people have registered since du opened it`s door so it hard to stay "underground"

[liberaltrucker]

17. Sung to the "Popeye" theme

"We are what we are
and that's all what we are
we're Democratic Underground!"

AND DAMN PROUD OF IT!!!!!!!!

:toast:

[man4allcats]

18. I like the "Underground" epithet.

To me, it speaks to courage. We spoke out when no one else had the guts to, and we still do. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who can't handle that kind of heat needs to get the hell out of the kitchen or not enter it in the first place. I'm quite sure there are plenty of places on the web where Lieberman DINOs and others of compromised stamina would feel more comfortable. I say let them go there. DU is for people that have the ovaries/balls to be here!

[niyad]

19. I just think of the underground railroad and the incredible risks those who ran it, and those who

used it, took. after 9/11, it was a risk to speak out, to dare to question the powers-that-be, no matter what lies and evil they were spewing and perpetrating. so no, the name doesn't bother me at all, I understand it very well indeed.

[JanusAscending]

24. Right!! and don't forget,

(I'm dating myself here) the famous "French Underground" of WWII fame. They helped win the war!! This is a WAR that we're in here folks!! Be proud of how far we've come, just by speaking "truth to power"!!! Hurrah for all of us!!!:bounce: :nuke: :applause:

[David Zephyr]

20. I'm proud of the name and its legacy now.

Great name.

[librechik]

21. yeah--so?

these delicate little flowers who would be offended by the underground epithet, excuse me, can suck my dick. If I had one. We are what we are. Dirty fucking hippies were right about civil rights, right about VietNam, right about Iraq. We aren't seeking approval from the mainstream. We like being OUT of that crap. We like being Dirty Fucking Hippies and anyone who wants to change us should just go start their own website.

[lectrobyte]

22. Screw the talking heads. You really think changing the name would

make them not label you a blogging conspiracy radical fringe element?

[omega minimo]

23. Tell em to pull their "stigma" out of their ass, wake up and smell the coffee and just like you said

"the backbone ideology of DU is one embraced by most Americans when they aren't being threatened, coerced or fooled into another direction."



The current MegaCorpMedia would find a way to lie and "stigmatize" no matter what it's called.

AND TURN THEM ONTO www.ThomHartmann.com "Uncommon Sense from the Radical Middle." (oooooohhhhhhh RADiCAL :scared: ) Maybe listening to him talk about the state of the American middle class will loosen 'em up a bit.

Good luck. :thumbsup:

[Hissyspit]

25. The early Christians (and others) were literally underground, hiding out in the catacombs

meeting, communicating in the catacombs, living their values in the face of a suppressive authoritarian government.

[133724]

26. NO!!! n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. "...a (lunatic) fringe... "

I never saw the implication you reference - for me, Underground always referenced the French Underground, the Resistance, those who held to the ideals of the Republic against the Vichy Nazi collaborators.

It seems rather apt, to my mind, as the Resistance spent nearly as much time fighting each other as fighting the Nazis...

[Garbo 2004]

29. I think of "Underground" as in the resistance movements to the German occupation in WWII .

The French Underground, the Polish Underground, for examples.

DU was founded in response to the illegitimate occupation of the White House by Bush.