When You Feel Like Giving Up…

[riqster]

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William Allison kept this sign for 50 years. In 1963, he was 42 and participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Justice. Now he’s 92 and did it again. With the same sign.

On the one hand, it’s depressing that such marches are still necessary, and the sign is still 100% relevant, a half century later. On the other, it’s uplifting to see someone with that much courage and determination.

Either way, it is a lesson to us all: when we feel like giving up on a cause, a task or a dream, look at Mr. Allison and realize that it is possible to keep fighting for what you believe in. Even when the struggle started long before you were born, and will continue after you will pass away. If we truly believe in something, we have to give it that kind of consistent devotion and unwavering commitment – and it can be done. He is living proof.

Let’s all take a breath, nut up, and keep working for what we believe in, love, and cherish. The only way to win is to keep showing up. And the only guaranteed way to lose is to give up.

http://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/when-you-feel-like-giving-up/

[Scuba]

1. Thank you William Allison!

[LiberalElite]

2. k&R - thank you

[FSogol]

3. K&R "The only way to win is to keep showing up."

Thanks Mr. Allison, keep up the good work.

[sarge43]

4. Hand salute Mr Allison and thank you n/t

[Supersedeas]

5. thank you for sharing this

[marions ghost]

6. makes me angry to see this

...can hardly believe it's true that we have to re-fight these battles for basic rights all over again.

This time must be the last.

[riqster]

7. Damn straight. All social justice battles seem to be that way.

We cannot give up. Not ever.

[marions ghost]

8. I have the urge to

blow this picture up and make a sign out of it....

[tblue]

9. "will continue after you will pass away"

So true. This country won't be fixed in my lifetime. Maybe it never will. But it's not going down without a fight

[riqster]

10. I'm too stubborn to quit. nt

[niyad]

11. "illegitimati non carburundum" (VERY bad latin for "don't let the bastards grind you down"

as tired as I am of STILL having to protest this shit, I will not give up.

[riqster]

18. "Noliti id cogere: cape malleum majorum" (Even worse latin)

Last edited Mon Aug 26, 2013, 12:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Meaning "Don't force it: get a bigger hammer". We need to come together and swing a really big hammer of law and justice.

[niyad]

12. this picture makes me sad and angry. FIFTY YEARS and we are STILL having to march, to protest,

to demand full equality and justice for all? in the 21st century?? in my naive younger days, I truly thought, for a brief moment, that we would be long past the need for this, that we would actually be living in a civilized, caring, equal, peaceful world (and that was WITHOUT smoking anything!!)

[merrily]

13. "realize that it is possible to keep fighting for what you believe in."

I think we all realize that it is possible to keep fighting until our body gives out.

The real issue is, is it is possible to win?

The only way to win is to keep showing up.

Showing up is only showing up. It's not winning.

If anyone REALLY wants to win, they have to have a very specific strategy, a lot of people and some great fundraising.

Assuming it's even possible anymore to beat the lobbyists, Supreme Court, etc.

We may have a better chance on social issues than on anything that cuts into profits--unless we are willing to engage in economic action ourselves, like funding our own lobbyists, nationwide boycotts of products. But all that takes money to educate people and get them on board.

P.S. Posting is not winning either.

And the only guaranteed way to lose is to give up.

Well, that and being outspent, outnumbered, outgunned, ignored, etc.

[riqster]

16. Showing up is not all that is necessary to win. But unless you show up, you have no chance at all.

If one doesn't show up at all, just rolls over and shows their belly, well, then the opposition can more easily outspend and outgun them.

And as for ignoring , well you kind of make that moot by shutting up and going home to cower beneath the bed.

[merrily]

21. I've already responded to that sentiment, so I'll just stand by my prior post.

[riqster]

27. As is your right.

But I'm with Mr. Allison, who has seen the elephant and has NOT given up.

[pinboy3niner]

32. To Dream the Impossible Dream

From 'Man of La Mancha':

ALDONZA: Why do you do these things?

DON QUIXOTE
What things?

ALDONZA
These ridiculous... the things you do!

DON QUIXOTE
I hope to add some measure of grace to the world.

ALDONZA
The world's a dung heap and we are maggots that crawl on it!

DON QUIXOTE
My Lady knows better in her heart.

ALDONZA
What's in my heart will get me halfway to hell.
And you, Señor Don Quixote-you're going to take
such a beating!

DON QUIXOTE
Whether I win or lose does not matter.

ALDONZA
What does?

DON QUIXOTE
Only that I follow the quest.

ALDONZA
(spits)
That for your Quest!
(turns, marches away; stops, turns bock
and asks, awkwardly)
What does that mean... quest?

DON QUIXOTE
It is the mission of each true knight...
His duty... nay, his privilege!
To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go;
To right the unrightable wrong.

To love, pure and chaste, from afar,
To try, when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star!

This is my Quest to follow that star,
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far,
To fight for the right
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march into hell
For a heavenly cause!

And I know, if I'll only be true
To this glorious Quest,
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this,
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach the unreachable stars!

[JustAnotherGen]

14. Breaks my heart

I wrote that when Cha posted it - I'm writing it again.

My attitude hasn't changed since June. Call it arrogance or a chip on my shoulder.


If fucking sucks that we (black Americans) had something ripped from us that we are going to have fight another 100 years to get again.

I truly believe we got set back to not 1964 - for 1898 in June.

And you know what? I think this man knows it.

[heaven05]

19. and I'll write it again

with everyone free, all are free. With some not free, all are in chains and shackles.

[JustAnotherGen]

20. Amen heaven05

[merrily]

24. What is this "free" of which you speak?

[riqster]

31. Remember, "defeatist"is based on defeat.

If you KNOW it's all hopeless, we are doomed to die in chains and so on, you are likely to create your self-fulfilling prophecy.

Assuming we will never be free means you cannot be.

[heaven05]

34. why ask that question?

Last edited Wed Aug 28, 2013, 04:27 PM - Edit history (2)

free is relative, now, true. Yet I grew up in a time where skin color different from the then majority skin color meant having very little human and civil freedom in amerikkka, merrily. Could not vote with out jumping through 10 hoops vs none for the 'majority' skin color, eat in restaurants, use public toilets with 'white only' signs and having to observe a myriad of other restrictions on movement, where one could live, who one could love. THAT TYPE OF FREEDOM. Maybe you can't understand living without those types of freedoms, I suspect you can't. But, never mind, does NOT matter. If everyone is free, all are free. With some not free, all are in shackles and chains. If you can't understand that then nothing more need be said..

[riqster]

28. + 1 gazillion nt

[merrily]

23. It does suck, but Congress and the President can fix that, if they choose.

Also, the D of J can do a lot, assuming Holder is still interested in enforcing the 15th Amendment, now that Obama is re-elected. Obviously, the 15th amendment is federal law and the D of J has the power to enforce federal law. So, the statute is not the be all and end all.

BTW, it's not only African Americans that Republicans target. A lot of it is done simply by poor neighborhoods, which contain people of all hues.

College and grad students are targeted, too.

It's anyone whom Republicans consider likeliest to vote Democratic.

In the last election, where there was such a hubbub over "legitimate rape," I bet Republicans were scratching their heads to see if they could find a subtle way to keep women of all colors from voting. But that is only my assumption. The rest of this post is factual.

[JustAnotherGen]

30. Actually

It is -

Think about it - we needed a voting rights act because for 100 years - 100 years post freedom -


This country could not see fit to do the right thing. The 15th was a joke for 100 years.

I hae do not doubt OTHERS will be impacted -


But mark my words - this was punishment by the Roberts court for black people not stepping and fetching and 'staying home' for two major elections. They've been out to get us (easy pickings) since 1976. It's easy to pick us out in a crowd.


The only difference now is MORE groups are aware they are under attack.

[riqster]

33. Like Plato's Cave Allegory

Once people's eyes are opened, it is harder to close them again. And the more eyes that see clearly, the better for us all.

[jtuck004]

15. “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

At some point I wonder if the strategy meetings are more about coffee and doughnuts than they are about change...and that goes for political parties as well.

[riqster]

17. The insanity definition is not directly applicable in his case.

The civil rights battles were won. And then the opposition took some of those victories away on a different battlefield, while the activist community had their backs turned. Same as with women's rights.

It is not insanity to fight this fight again. What WOULD be insane would be to win again, and then relax again.

[JustAnotherGen]

22. I don't know that

We really turned our backs on our challenges. Even me - a 40 year old woman raised in the North East but who comes from people (my dad) who lived the actual oppresive existence of Jim Crow - we are very aware and keen to how racism has allowed our dehumanization as "others" at least since 1976.

We called for help (not by you riqster ) - we were told 'not now'.
We asked for an ear - we were told - we can't listen to this - other challenges must be fought.

I think if you came into an African American home circa January 2001 - you would overhear a conversation that said: We were aware. But we were the only ones aware. We discussed this. We tried to share - but were told that's 'all been resolved'.

*sigh* So now riqster - thank you for this, "I told you so". This is a very timely "I told you so."

[riqster]

26. Hugs to you too.

A lot comes down to what "we" means. The Reeps' strategy of divide and conquer has been wildly successful.

Without unity, we'll keep fighting these wars over and over again. With unity and persistence, we can consolidate our gains and maybe, just maybe, make further advances.

Keep the faith!

[jtuck004]

29. The opposition took it because the victory wasn't achieved. The "activist community" never assured

their victory, being, much as today, too concerned with patting themselves on the back for pathetically small accomplishments.

Actually, I understate the problem to suggest that it is insanity to do the same thing over again and expect a different result. It's more like borderline psychotic to think that one could do the same thing over again, after the enemy has seen and won against that same strategy, and expect to not have their ass handed to them, only this time in pieces and on fire.

Mostly ineffective busy work, while people's lives get harder on this plantation of the Divided States of America. On a more positive note, manufacturing is picking up - I know because I hear people manufacturing excuses for ineffective action nearly 24 x7 now.

(Just ask the Mi$$ RobMe camp what it's like to live in a delusional state with people all around you that can prove, decisively, that you are going to win the big one.)

Of course, the sneering question always comes (part of the defensive reaction which helps people evade responsibility for not getting something done) "Then what should we do?"

So far my answer is that it doesn't matter as long as people are willing to create and proffer excuses, puff up their chest and point out how wrong everyone is, instead of a long, hard look at their failures with a determination to find, goddammit, a way to create a new strategy that creates measurable change, and decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to get it. And if the answer isn't everything, even if someone else is the beneficiary and they lose everything, then they might as well go back and hold up signs and vote for their party and pretend they are doing something, because they are just going to get people hurt.

[treestar]

25. Genuinely cool

Nancy Pelosi was there, too, age 23 at the time.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

35. rock on, Mr. Allison!

a lesson to us all: when we feel like giving up on a cause, a task or a dream, look at Mr. Allison and realize that it is possible to keep fighting for what you believe in. Even when the struggle started long before you were born, and will continue after you will pass away. If we truly believe in something, we have to give it that kind of consistent devotion and unwavering commitment – and it can be done. He is living proof.

[corkhead]

36. {round of applause} "Uniquely American"

My take on this: For him have to still carry this sign around 50 years later and people celebrate it reminds me of Boosh's tin ear at a campaign stop in 2004 when a lady told him that she had 3 jobs.

[Matariki]

37. A big thanks of gratitude Mr. Allison

[Cha]

38. thanks for this from blunt and cranky on William Allison, riqster

B&C says it so well.. "Let’s all take a breath, nut up, and keep working for what we believe in, love, and cherish. The only way to win is to keep showing up. And the only guaranteed way to lose is to give up."

Never Never Never Give Up!

I did an OP on William Allison and his sign from the original MOW on Saturday.. and it's really nice to see this follow up.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023528271

[riqster]

39. Thanks for your OP!

That is truly moving.

[Cha]

41. Welcome, riqster!

[KansDem]

40. "Kappa Alpha Psi"

...the Greek letters on Mr. Allison's cap.

http://www.kappaalphapsi1911.com/

[Cha]

42. Cool! I wondered what the initials on William Allison's

hat stood for. mahalo KansDem

[KansDem]

43. You're welcome, Cha!

Bet you didn't realize I was born in Hawaii (Navy family).

In fact, I was born there before it became a state, so I guess that makes me less of a US citizen than the President!

[font size="1"](It's kind of neat, though: I ran across my birth certificate lately and it reads, "Territory of Hawaii" )
[font size="2"]

[Cha]

44. I had no freaking clue!

But, I was going to say "thanks" and I changed it to "mahalo"

I was born in Colorado. And, you are so not a citizen!

[riqster]

45. And add to this...

Look at all the people who turned out today, and how many of them were also there in 1963. See any of them giving up? Nope. Not a one.

Keep the faith and kick the asses!