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I took the day off from work today.  I went to a baseball game with a co-worker and another colleague. Had a great time: took the train, watched the game, talked to each other, talked to strangers. It was nice, you know? A break from routine. Anyhoo, upon rolling home (and showering my three year old with souvenirs), I popped open the Moose to give Jsfox’s front-paged post a thorough read. I’d spied it earlier today, trying to peek occasionally via the smart phone, but you know how it is – I was at a ballgame for gad’s sake. So I finally read it once I was settled at home tonight.

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Now that I’ve digested it, I’m going to share some of my disjointed thoughts. Freestyle. Actually, I’m likely to rant a bit. If you’re not down with that, don’t click though.

I haven’t really seen any of the comments (so far) in Foxy’s great post, but having read it now (without distraction), I’m bursting and I’ve got to get this out:: JSFox, You are the fucking man. SRSLY, you are the man. You’re out there doing it. The real work. You’re the active in activism.

Don’t get me wrong, folks, I love the goddamned internet. Really, I do. I absolutely love it (the porn alone, wow) but seriously — we need to take our medicine. What we do as ‘bloggers’ isn’t activism. Well, okay, I guess I could be convinced it’s activism of a sort, but let’s all face this straight on: what we do writing ‘diaries’, commenting on blog posts, and getting our panties (either individually or collectively) wadded doesn’t typically amount to a hill of beans.

extra credit: But this is our hill, and these are our beans.

We live in (or don’t, but care for) a big damned country. Very few people do what we do – you know, the whole ‘blogging’ thing. Even fewer agree. We can’t even figure out how to agree to disagree. About anything. It’s kind of joke, right? Listen, I’m not dismissing blogs, but what Foxy’s written about today is the real deal. Going door to door and talking to people. Calling people on the phone. Talking to your neighbors. Talking to your family. Talking to your friends. Face to face.

SRSLY, give me an honest show of hands: how many people reading this are willing to bang a fucking pot in the middle of your nearest grocery store to proclaim that Kos is an a-hole for banning and/or punishing the wrong people on his website? Now don’t get me wrong, what went down with that was dead wrong, and it’s dead serious. There are very real, very meaningful lessons to be learned. Actually, I bet some of you would be more than willing to bang that pot. Hell, slide me a beer and I’ll join in with several skillets and a string band — I’ll soundtrack the thing. Bet hey, let’s talk about how useful that exercise would be.  

Picture your grocery store at it’s absolute busiest time. See it? Now bang your pot. Go on, bang the hell out of it. How many people will have the slightest idea what you’re talking about?  How many people will care?

Think about this. Imagine it.

Lookit. I fucking love the Moose.  I love the fucking people here.  I love that new people looking for an open and honest space to speak their minds love us.  All of us — all of you, are here because you love something, right? Pick your issue, pick every issue. Whatever it is, you love it enough to come here and talk about it. Now, I say, make it MOAR real. Take that shit meatspace, right? Take it to the next level. Already been next level? Well, do it again. Do it better.

You want change?  You want real change? Then do what Foxy does. Use the tubes to learn. Use the tubes to educate. Use the tubes to organize. Then, do something real. Call your congress person. Call your old friend from college or high school. Volunteer. Work for a campaign. Write letters to the editor of your local paper(s). Reach out to people. That’s where it’s at, and where it’s always been. Face to face.  

Look at Denise Velez. She’s a mean blog badass who commands instant respect practically everywhere she decides the drop a pixel, AMIRITE? Deo is the fucking bomb! You know it, I know it…but she knows (and I think sometimes we all forget) that this whole blogging thing is nothing but a tool. A tool to do good with, if we so choose.  

Sometimes, reading the blogs, I see little but a bunch of good-hearted people running around screaming and fighting about which hammer to stuff up somebody’s ass. We can’t agree on which hammer, or which ass. Come on, you gotta take a step back and recognize: Boy, oh boy are we ever doing this shit wrong. Deo came to blogging why? Because it’s a tool. It’s not the be all, end all.  Deo has spent a goddamned lifetime in the trenches. Fighting. Pushing. Risking her life, and now…educating. Why? Because it’s a tool.

I’ve done a fair amount of shit in my life. Active shit to support the kinds of things I believe in. I’ve scrapped together a career of protecting our history and environment. I’ve marched. I’ve protested, canvassed, phone-banked, signed petitions, registered voters, donated money I couln’t afford to donate, given people a lift to the polls. Also: I blog. None of that, alone or together, equals what our Deoliver47 has done. None of it. She’s done more, and for like…forever. I’ll probably never match that impressive record of activism, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be trying to. It’s about doing it, and doing it constantly. From little things to big things. See what I’m driving at? I’m saying, let’s all make sure to keep things in perspective, so we can tell the difference between the ‘big’ things and the ‘little’ things. They’re all good, but we’re losing focus if we neglect the big things in service of the little things.

Lately, people are all having shit fits about somebody editing a fucking wiki page? A wiki page about a fucking blog that a gazillion people in this country have never, ever in their entire lives, heard of? SRSLY?

This is a little thing.

Feel me Moose: I love you all, and I love seeing you here.  Honestly though, with this country in the state it’s in, what with our fucked up economy and our stultified politics, I’m not at all ashamed to say that I hope I see a lot less of you. I want us to be busy. We need to be busy. Love the little things, but don’t let that passion sap your energies and effort toward addressing the big things. Let’s get it together, let’s get out there, and let’s get it done. We have a house to win, a senate to protect, and a President to re-elect.

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Okay, I’m done. Also: I’m a little drunk. Sorry.

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Categories: Uncategorized.

/ 77 Comments

77 comments

  1. HappyinVT

    And I did sign up to volunteer with OFA today.  And I thought you might be tipsy.

    And, what you said particularly about Mr. Fox and Denise.

  2. Peter Jukes

    And yes Foxy and Denise walk the talk. That’s what get things done.

    Meanwhile, I have to confess, I couldn’t help treasuring this:

    Sometimes, reading the blogs, I see little but a bunch of good-hearted people running around screaming and fighting about which hammer to stuff up somebody’s ass. We can’t agree on which hammer, or which ass.

    A chuckle on an English morning. What better way to start the day? Now time to get up and start doin’

  3. spacemanspiff

    … but this part grabbed me.

    Feel me Moose: I love you all, and I love seeing you here.  Honestly though, with this country in the state it’s in, what with our fucked up economy and our stultified politics, I’m not at all ashamed to say that I hope I see a lot less of you. I want us to be busy. We need to be busy

    Amen lil fog.

  5. Kysen

    Righteous rant, bro…

    I know others are quoting your insightful, thought provoking lines…and your rant is chock-a-block full of em…but I’m not gonna do that.

    My favorite line?

    Actually, I bet some of you would be more than willing to bang that pot. Hell, slide me a beer and I’ll join in with several skillets and a string band

    My favorite cuz I can, at 3:50am, TOTALLY see AND hear it…and it is a fucking riot.  /grin

    Seriously, fog…this is gold…pure gold.

    Co-signed…to a word.

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  6. jsfox

    First thank you for the praise. Now I am feeling guilty for not doing more 😉

    Now here’s the deal. You don’t have to volunteer for OFA. It’s a big leap that can truly be a time suck, but you can step up when some one from OFA calls you and volunteer for a phone bank, or calls to remind you to call Congress to pass The Jobs Act or some other important piece of legislation. Step away from the computer and go out canvass.  It is amazing what you learn when you step out of the blog bubble.

    A little story. One of the Field Organizers I work with was a intern on The Hill for Jean Shaheen during the Healthcare debate. She was answering the calls from constituents and recording how they were going. THE RIGHT out called Democrats and Progressives by better than 2 to 1. For all the blog rage the right does one thing Progressives don’t. They act. We were lucky to get any healthcare reform at all let alone one with a PO.

    So when I read that Obama didn’t fight for this or that. My first question is always going to be well did you? And to those that say well my rep is a Tea Party asshole and won’t listen. I say; so the hell what! If they don’t hear from you they think what they are doing is being accepted by everybody. Now in the end they may not listen or care, but at least you tried.

    Again, Fogiv thank you for the high praise.

  8. blue jersey mom

    I am an activist at heart. I want to get out there and make a difference in the world. Since December of 2008, Dad, Son 3, and I have been part of the Yes, We Can food drives. The organization grew out of Mercer4Obama volunteers who wanted to give back to the community. We are no longer affiliated with the Obama campaign, but we have collected tens of thousands of pounds of food for our local food bank, the Crisis Ministry, which serves clients in Trenton and Princeton. And, BTW, we are planning another Feeding America food drive over at the GOS in mid-October.

  9. trustno1

    As I wrote on another pragmatic progressive blog, I like to come to blogs for ideas, and, quite frankly, to get help from people more well versed in economics or law to interpret these topics for me, so that I can, in turn, express them clearly to others.  If someone can interpret a CBO report for me into a few important, succinct sentences, then I can spread the word.

  10. Jjc2008

    Or is that an oxymoron???

    Problem is, for me in my circle of friends and relatives, I am already the activist.  I have been knocking on doors, going to marches, protesting, letter writing, a good portion of my sixty years.   And frankly I have been mostly alone since way back when, in the dark ages (for most of you before you were even born).

    From holding hands with thousands of strangers to send the message of “Close Rocky Flats”, to teaching activism (and by that I mean, teaching the concept that democracy requires participation, to working for candidates, to working through my teachers’ union for issues, I feel like I have been an activist for four decades.    And sadly most of my peers, colleagues and relatives have not. I have gone more often than not to gatherings alone.  That is getting harder for me to do.  Not that I am sickly or anything like that.  I just know it gets harder and harder to be an activist…especially here in an extreme right wing city.

    But I do like that you are bringing this issue up.  It is important that young people be activists again.  We need young voices to explain to the old people who have been scared into being stupid with their votes, what they truth is.   Young people need to talk with their grandparents, aunts and uncles who are stuck watching FOX news and frankly are easily manipulated by the likes of Sean Hannity.

    I think the right is trying to make this a generational war…..in a very sick way, by trying to pit young people against their grandparents.  We need to get the facts out and we need them to be shared with older, consistent voters by the kids they love: their children and grandchildren.

    I know that people my age or slightly older had and/or are now voting right wing…..by 59% to 39% or 52% to 36% (the first in the 65+ group, the second in the following age group.  I turned 65 last year so I am on the cusp.  But either way I am in the voting liberal minority.  So are the majority of my friends, while my peers in my family are split.   Interestingly on the block where I live, five of seven houses are occupied by women my age or older and every one of us voted Obama.  The other two houses are a young, liberal couple, and a fifty plus something gay male.  The other side of our street is a mixed bag, two older couples (who are Ron Paul types) and then three younger couples who seem not involved one side or the other.   And one divorced guy who is often drunk and I have no idea how he sees the world.  Anyway in this ultra conservative city, dominated by Focus on the Family and New Life Church neighborhoods, we are a liberal island.  

    But activism is so important.  It is more needed now than ever.

  12. Strummerson

    You’ve ended my marriage.  I get up on Tues. and Thurs. at 5:00 AM as I’m teaching an 8:00 class an hour from home and like to re-prep right beforehand.  I read the first paragraph and ran into the kitchen and grabbed a pot and a spoon and started banging.  The wife had just gotten the baby back to sleep…for the fifth time tonight.  All three kids were crying.  I tried to explain that I was doing it for the sake of the country and the world.  But try and reason with a sleep deprived mother and her children.  So I just kept banging.

    Then I realized the pot-banging was a metaphor.

    Will flowers fix this?  Dishes for a week?

    Thanks dude.

  13. Thoughtful in MA

    So thanks!  I know my limitations in terms of time (this dissertation isn’t going to write itself), and I’m not the knocking-on-doors kind of person, but I did more phone bank data entry in 2008 than I’ve done for prior elections.  And I am fired up to get Scott Brown out and Elizabeth Warren in.  My boyfriend met her before she got in the race and he and I are totally on board.  Am really excited to get things going.  So thanks again.

  14. GlenThePlumber

    You are probably waking with a hangover now, so I won’t yell.

    I am not a blogger and have never been a political activist, though I am politicly aware. I always felt if I stayed informed and voted things would turn out ok. I’ve done a little GOTV with my union, but as a business owner I’m sort of considered the ‘other side’ even though I’m more progressive than most of the working members.

    I’ve watched this country be taken over piece by piece for thirty years by the corporatist, ranting and raving to friends and family, while mostly sitting on the sidelines wondering what to do. When CA’s prop. 8 passed, I couldn’t take it anymore. I’m not gay, but to see one group of people to cruelly deny another group of people of rights they deserve, because of fear and hate, something in me changed. With my little one, we made are signs and joined the protest. I felt a little better, but not satisfied. We have since done a couple USuncuts and a We are one.

    I went to DK looking answers. I wanted to be a TU so that I may have a say in which diaries I felt we important, after 3 months of making a comment everyday I achieved my goal. With TU came the hiddens, which almost scared me away from commenting anymore. Luckily I found J Town and slowly joined in the banter, while better learning the workings of DK. I became very attached to the awesome people I meet there. I also learned the power of DK to do good things.

    Last Sunday I was able to help some people (and a cat), though not political, I saw the power and heart of DK, but also saw the ugliness come to a peak. That will be a day I will not forget. The next day while trying to find J Town, just to lurk, I stumbled upon two diaries. One was the daily HIP list, of which I was on twice, first was Max’s diary and second was my boycott diary. The other diary was something I had not noticed before, the weekly HIP list where I found I had been a high impact reader, which if I understand what that means, is exactly why I joined DK. Also on that list was trashy, which breaks my heart that someone who makes such an impact at DK, has been chased away. A real political activist who I trust and respect and had looked forward to using as a motivator in the upcoming election cycle.

    I will return to DK, looking for guidance, info and motivation to help make a change. My wife and I are having a gathering with some friends in a couple weeks to discuss politics and what actions we can take to take back this country from the corporatist. I intended to ask my J friends for advice and guidance this week. I joke around a lot, but now is the time to get real. I’m deeply hurt by the loss of trashablanca and sberel, two fierce and passionate people who’s voices will be sorely missed on DK.

    IMG_0029

    My little one telling my friend, “We need to be by the street, so more people see us.”

    Look for me in the streets, hopefully shoulder to shoulder with some of you.

  15. jsfox

    Tom Carper mouthing off from the comfortable environs of blue Delaware is a failure of Team Commie to be regarded as serious political force. People who talk of primarying Obama need to pick smaller targets–and thus elicit bigger results. But being taken seriously involves actual work. It means a poverty tour that doesn’t just bark (Obama the black mascot) but bites (voter registration in swing districts.) If you don’t like the current iteration of America, you need to remember that you are America. The failure to build a more progressive America isn’t merely a testimony to dastardly evil, it’s a testimony to the failure of progressives.

    http://www.theatlantic.com/nat…

  16. Chacounne

    and to let you know that I will be going to lobby in DC this fall on issues of torture and legal accountability for torture. I was supposed to be going the first two weeks of October, but Disability shocked me by approving me two weeks after my initial application, so I’m still figuring out the financial transition. However, the good part is that being on Disability will likely mean I can lobby in DC again in the Spring 🙂

    I completely agreed about Deo; she is a roll model for us all.

                Hugs,

                Standing for justice and accountability,

                               for Dan,

                               Heather

    Torture is ALWAYS wrong, no matter who is inflicting it on whom.

  17. sricki

    but this is indeed a righteous rant, Fog. I do live in a deep red cesspool right now, but there is still a lot more I could be doing, both online and on the ground. Thanks for lighting fires under our asses.

    You rock, Fog!

  18. AaronInSanDiego

    I didn’t mean other comments here on Motley Moose, necessarily. I guess I still have some sensitivity about these things left over from dkos. I got tired of seeing certain comments on dkos that seemed to belittle or minimize the seriousness of people with other points of view. The “pony” theme in particular annoyed me, because it seemed as if people who had serious disagreements with the policies of the president, on issues which had a real affect on, were minimized. The discussions of DOMA and DADT were where I saw this most often. I was also disturbed at seeing support of the president treated as a cult of personality, and supporters treated as if they were mindless “Obamabots”.

    Personally, I support the reelection of President Obama, and I think that constantly focusing on the negative, to the point of calling him a Republican, Bush lite, etc., is counterproductive. But I also think only focusing on the positive, and being a “cheerleader” is counterproductive. I’m not accusing anyone in particular of either behavior, but I do get that impression from various bloggers and writers.

    In any case, I understand the need for pragmatism and a focus on making change that affects the lives of people in the real world. I also appreciate that people have strong feelings and beliefs about these things and don’t always express things in measured, polite language.

  19. mahakali overdrive

    Thanks for reminding me to get back to my educating over here…

    A few pictures to catch the spirit of days gone by… or are they?

    Of course the BEST footage always comes from the opposition… thanks to the Nazi scum who took this video showing the power of spirit alive and kicking in the pro-immigration and pro-Latino rights movement in California:

  21. Benito Malito

    Dude This is quite a diary. I haven’t been on in awhile but I had told you last week I was going to log on soon. Never did I expect this.

    Supporting the president is paramount. What else would you do? Maybe next term he will save a dance for the people who brought him there in the first place. Regardless damage control is necessary for house races and it may even be possible to hold the Senate.

    Remember you will hear Mitch McConnell next year; “I hope the democrat party doesn’t use obscure procedural tactics to deny the American people an up and down vote!”

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