as a "peace worker" watching the convention,

[G_j]

I felt battered by the time Kerry hit the stage.

Hearing Lieberman declaring Iraq was "liberated" etc. drained me.
I was still reeling from Edwards' bellicose statements the night before. I was depressed by the time Kerry got up there. I had been tempted to just turn off the TV but partially out of curiosity I stayed to hear Kerry.

I was quite happy with Kerry's speech. It was far better than I could have dreamed. Admittedly my expectations were not high, but he addressed most of the issues I was concerned about in a way that I found at least 'acceptable' given that the peace plank was already dead in the water. There were a number of points when I gave a resounding "YES!" There were some things he said that were truly inspiring and right on the money! I can support Kerry with more enthusiasm than before.

But I can't get over the feeling of having been almost abused: battered and bruised from much of the tough guy, war-accepting talk that lead up to Kerry's final speech. Good cop/bad cop? Thank goodness for Sharpten's "bring the troops home" and Carter's obvious condemnation of the war. Kucinich should have been in Lieberman's spot and RFK jr in Biden's IMO. Clark was fine. I almost didn't make it but I'm glad I heard Kerry's speech. It changed the energy much for the better so to speak.

Frankly, I'm glad the convention is over. Its been a long torturous time since peace activists first let out the stops to try to prevent the invasion of Iraq. I'm exhausted.

[mike_c]

1. the real shame of it is that anti-war dems should be...

...defining the party message in this war if in any. Not since the Spanish-American war has U.S. imperialism been so blatently and unabashedly straightforward. There are absolutely NO coherent foreign policy justifications for this war. The occupation demeans every American throughout the world. It's hard to imagine any situation in which the anti-war dems could have a stronger hand or a truer message, yet the party effectively ignores us.

[G_j]

4. sometimes terrible times create great opportunities

Considering citizens of the world had never come out in solidarity to prevent a war before it happened before now, we have had a real window of opportunity to advance the world toward peace. People of the world are saying they want peace and an end to militarism.
It is a shame this global passion isn't being taken better advantage of.

[redqueen]

14. Global citizens won't decide this election, though

We have to get Americans' votes, and Americans are by and large badly misinformed about war.

[redqueen]

13. The party is ignoring us

because the public is ignoring us.

They have to win an election, and unfortunately, most Americans love war. They don't want to hear that we're not morally superior to the rest of the world. They don't want to hear about child rape at Abu Ghraib.

The burden is on us to change society, so that a man like Kucinich or Sharpton can be considered as a serious candidate by more people.

[G_j]

19. I need to believe we have laid some foundation

and will continue the slow process of preparing the way for a time when a candidates as evolved and enlightened as Kucinich are deemed acceptable by the the masses. I have to believe we are at least closer to that time. I've met so many fine people who are working for this. We will keep on keeping on.

[redqueen]

21. I think we have

I think Kucinich's campaign helped a lot by showing people like me (so disgusted we just tuned out) to believe that there is hope.

[G_j]

28. he got people involved in my community

that had basically dropped out. Its hard to measure the good he has accomplished on the grass roots level. We just can't drop the ball.

[GaInGrEEn]

55. Agree, but not Sharpton

I agree, but with Sharptons past? He just saying what gets cheers. I agree totally with both, but Sharpton will never be taken serious.
Dean and Kucinich would be the dream ticket.

[bpilgrim]

58. thats the idea

to get applause... pretty good at it too l->

http://news.globalfreepress.com/mp3/dem_convention_2004/al_sharpton.mp3

peace

[On the Road]

2. That Was Always My Problem with Edwards

not to mention Lieberman. The only thing that makes me feel better is that I know that Kerry/Edwards would never do the same thing under the same circumstances.

And none of what I heard defended the Iraq war (although I missed Lieberman). Securing the country to hand it over to a representative government is not the same as justifying the invasion.

[G_j]

3. I have a somewhat deeper 'history' with Edwards

than some. He is my Senator and I've called and written to him many many times.
I went to his local office twice to talk to his aids about preventing the war. I stood vigil for a day outside.
We never really got a response from him. So yea, I already had some baggage with him.

IMO, Kerry is far better and he has seen what war really is. Compare Kerry's pre-IWR 2002 floor statement to Edwards' and Kerry is FAR more measured and thoughtful. I'm sure gald the ticket is not reversed.

edit: only Lieberman really 'defended' the war that is why I defined some of the feeling from others as 'war-accepting'.
Rev Al rocked though, I'll never forget that speech!
He would have had the crowd chanting "bring the troops home" if they let him.

[KoKo]

23. yes, G_j, that was also my experience with Edwards, and I'm thankful

the ticket isn't reversed. You replied to my rant on Pitt's thread last night, so I won't repeat it. This morning I'm calmer, and my feelings are just where your's are.

We have much work yet to do. And, I take hope from the thoughts that if we hadn't worked so hard to stop the Iraq Invasion and keep protesting about it, the party might never have addressed it at all. We might have had a very different convention with "business as usual" without our efforts. They have to know we are out here and I hope that Kerry can look back and empathize with our frustration since he, himself, was a protestor against an "unjust" war. If he's forgotten who he was in those days, there's little hope of America changing from it's present course to Imperial Rome. His choice of Lieberman and Albright to speak last night was a bit of a slap in our faces. I have to hope he felt the calculation was worth the terrible risk and he will make amends by realigning foreign policy when he wins.


Gore, Dean, Kucinich, Obama and Sharpton were the highpoints for me. I know they will keep working for change. Hopefully, they are the beacons of light for the future. And, Kerry did incorporate both Dean and Sharpton's points into his acceptance speech. Taking back the flag and patriotism from sole Repuglican ownership was due to Dean/Kucinch/Sharpton's influence.


I'm very glad the whole thing is over, also. :hi:

[G_j]

40. I really do think

the "shock and awe" they had planned for Iraq would have been far worse without all our pressure and protesting. Perhaps we saved SOME lives.
Our work IS cut out for us. It is a good thing that now we some strong networks in place to continue the work.

[KoKo]

49. Yes...in the old days we all would have sat back and "watched" Shock &

Awe, and believed what they told us... These days they are on WATCH!

[htuttle]

5. You and me both

We are on a long road, and the official position of the Democratic Party on the Iraq war makes it seem like it will be quite a bit longer.

They say that politics is the 'art of the possible'. I'd like to think that more was possible this election cycle, but perhaps not. This may be the best we can do right now. In any case, it's the best we did do.

I know I'm not planning on going to sleep after Jan 20. I hope that most of the newly awakened citizens in this country (and around the world) don't go back to sleep either.

In my mind, electing John Kerry is only 'step one'.

[no name no slogan]

6. You are not alone

There's quite a few Democrats who are not happy about the current situation, especially how the party treated them.

I myself will not campaign for Kerry this year. He'll get my vote, and that's it. The crap being pulled at this convention (confiscating signs, the double-talk, meaningless platform, false promised, etc.) have effectively re-alienated me from the party heirarchy once again.

I'll continue to work locally for progressive Democrats, but the DNC will get NONE of my money, nor will John Kerry.

[bloom]

7. I didn't' like

the militaryness of the last night, either.

Clark, Lieberman, & the vets as a lead up to Kerry.

And really after listening to speeches for 3 nights - (most of the major ones, anyway) - I wasn't paying so much attention by last night.

But partly - the militaryness of it all had me more tuned out.

I'm sure it's a tricky thing - not alienating those who are sure that War IS the Answer and not alienating those of us who are sure that WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER.

[Cerridwen]

8. Thank heavens! I thought it was just me.

I understand the Democratic Party has to make every effort to get those citizens who support the war in Iraq to vote and to vote for "us", but it's sure hard to listen to the war drums; especially in a party I've always thought was "the" peace party. At least as far as mainstream politics go.

Hopefully, after a Kerry/Edwards win, we can start re-creating the peace portion of the Democratic Party and even turn it from a "dirty" word to one of hope and sanity.





:hippie:

[gratuitous]

9. Yup, absolutely

But if I had my druthers who to petition for change, I'd have to guess that Kerry will be more responsive than the Bush team has been so far.

When are we going to learn that making war is a pretty stupid and wasteful way of settling our differences?

[G_j]

15. I am trying really really hard

to believe what Kerry was conveying about genuinely caring about the ravages of this war and the damage to human beings it is doing.
I tried to listen to his heart and there was something that sounded sincere. I want so much to believe that. I may not believe in his approach, but if he really does care about people it is a major difference from Bush who we know is completely devoid of compassion or the ability to feel empathy for any human being.
I really want to believe that Kerry has a heart we can appeal to. Because then there is hope.

Bush is heartless.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. I was hoping for more..got less.

I was hoping for something tangible from Kerry's speech that would give me just enough to vote for him. Something that said that he regretted his vote for war. Something that said he would work to get us out of Iraq and give it to the Iraqis.

Instead, I heard platitudes, calls for a "stronger defense", flagwaving, and glorification of the military.

[Kanary]

44. Yes, an honest regret would have helped.

Y'know, it's really hard being on the "losing" side all the time.

A friend and I were talking yesterday about how much easier it is for those who have the bloodlust, and just want to cheer for war.

I doubt I'll live to see the day when those hungering for peace are cheered by being in the majority.

Have I cheered you up yet?

Kanary

[gasperc]

11. Lieberman, big dissappointment

I fear that if Gore and him would have won, he would also have pressed for war in Iraq

[realFedUp]

12. I felt the same way

Halfway through Cleland's speech, I thought
I'd had enough military emphasis.

So much for the women's vote...

[candy331]

17. Agree with all too much military fluff n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. I can empathize with you on that note

But if I may, the one thing MANY of these military people drove home is that war is never a cake walk, should not be used as an excuse to pump one's popularity ratings, and is serious business and has not been taken so...while I can see the fear in militarizing America by making these people out to be Gods, some of the best advocates for keeping the peace have been people like Stansfield Turner with the work he does at the Center For Defense Information.

After all, people who have served in active duty know the risks of war far more than those that sat drunk on a barstool...I believe these people framed war as the RISK that it is last night rather than as a cowboy opportunity to flex one's testosterone.

[G_j]

22. actually I had far less a problem

with the military voices there than some of the politicians.
For some reason they irked me far more.
Of course politicians have a nack for that.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. Well Lieberman had to be given a slot for his symbolic role last election

I would imagine it was grudgingly given to him and the response to him was rather tepid....I think they chose the worst speakers as cheap insurance that no one would outshine Kerry on the podium..and the MORE I think about Gore's decision NOT to run, the more I think he didn't want Lieberman around him as an albatross or the question of why he didn't choose him again.

[KoKo]

50. I think it's more to do about WHY Gore had Lieberman FORCED on him.

and then to have Liberman trash FLA Recount because he insisted that the Military Vote be "full and accurately accounted for" sort of sealed a nail in Gore's coffin.

Lieberman has gone on to live another life. HE WAS THE ONE who gave an address to the Dem Convention on KERRY NIGHT...when the media was on full alert

Al Gore was relegated to the "First Night" response when most Americansa couldn't even hear his speech.

DLC FORCED Lieberman on Gore...and then he did their bidding by trashing the Recount at the end..

Tell me where I'm wrong here....:shrug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

56. I don't believe Gore had Lieberman forced on him any more than

Kerry had Edwards forced on him..Gore wanted to distance himself from Clinton and used the guy who was so adamant about Clinton's proclivities to show that he was not a masher... anything more is speculation...GORE WAS THE DLC when he ran.

[redqueen]

18. It's so sad

So very sad...

Why did Wyclef change the lyrics to his song? He started out singing a line about stopping the war, and then didn't sing it again... did they ask him not to?

I have spent the past 20 years thinking that politics is completely corrupt... that nothing we can do will ever make any difference. Clinton nearly cemented that belief in my heart and mind. Then along came Kucinich, who made me think that perhaps there is a way to push for change.

The people I met with during his campaign for the nomination reinforced that idea. I think we can change things in this country, but we won't do it 'top down'. We can't elect a leader for peace while a great deal of Americans are in love with war. We have to change US first. I think that with more and more people ... artists, teachers, spouses, office workers, etc... with all these people speaking out for peace, we might have a chance.

However what I've found while doing canvassing has been even more depressing than the ever present militarism. I've talked to far too many people who say they don't care about politics. Not middle class people -- they're mostly engaged and willing to discuss issues. It's the working class people whom I have found I have the hardest time making any progress with. This is the group that will do the most marching in any war, yet they seem to care very little about the business of choosing the leaders who will decide the policies which dictate the course of our foreign policy.

I don't get depressed hearing militaristic talk from our leaders. I get depressed knowing how many of my peers just don't give a Cheney.

:(

[G_j]

20. words of wisdom:

"We can't elect a leader for peace while a great deal of Americans are in love with war."
That is the truth!

You have really said something we really need to remember here.
We must work at the most fundamental levels of relationships with our friends, neighbors and community to change our attitudes.
Here is to the everyday workings of peace in our lives.
:toast:

in solidarity...

[redqueen]

24. Thanks for sharing your optimism

I gotta tell ya... today I'm not feeling it.

From the blank stares and repeated "I just don't care"s I get... to the surprise I got this morning ... I was going to search for Kerry stuff... typed 'next president' in Yahoo's search engine - thinking I would check if the google bomb thing worked there too... what was the result? Kucinich... too much... too much...

[G_j]

27. my optimism

is a forced discipline right now. I just can't take the despair right now. :-) but its there crammed into the recesses.

Hey, MLK worked as though he never doubted his dream would manifest,
but I bet he had plenty of moments when he wondered if humanity was even capable of change.
But I'm not sure what we are we going to do in face of what seems like a very negative momentum right now. I wish I had some way of disabling everyone's TV! I can't believe the bad vibes people are being constantly zapped with. I have no idea how to counteract that.

[redqueen]

30. You're right

Like MLK, and SBA, and ECS... we may not live to see our dreams come true. It's still worth the slogging and fighting off depression if my children or grandchildren will.

[eridani]

53. Amen, sister.

I live in a relatively low income area, and had the same problem walking my precinct. I try very hard to think more about the 14 people I registered to vote that about the 6 who flat out refused.

[sandnsea]

25. *sigh* we'd lose that way

Sorry, but if we aren't a party people can trust to fight terrorism, we can't win. And Kerry did say he wanted to do the job in Iraq right so we could bring the troops home. He has no intention of setting up long term military installations there. I would hope that what he's experienced in war, his fight to end it, his long fight to stop nuclear weapon production, and his vote against almost every military action we've taken would be enough to convince "peace workers" that he is a peace candidate.

[shance]

32. how do you know? Weve never done it.

weve always capitulated to the white straight male patriarchal belief system that dictates and is not comfortable with delegating and sharing power.

Take a look at Medea Benjamin being thrown out twice at the DNC convention for daring to vear from the sanitized Democratic message that was competing for the *Repbublican lite* prize. John Edwards with the We will destroy you comment accompanied by his best John Wayne impression. Im a Democrat, and whats funny is I actually USED to be a Republican.

Perhaps that is why I am upset about this capitulation to a glorification/over-indulgence in machismo/flex my muscle war talk with a total disregard of the lives we are destroying, families we are carelessly dismissing and the civilization we are destroying in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its so breath-takingly heartless and narcissistic, it does numb one out.

If Im wrong, please show me otherwise.

[sandnsea]

41. How old are you?

If you think we've never tried running candidates on less military spending and peace, you either didn't pay attention or are too young to remember. Carter, Mondale, Dukakis. It doesn't work.

[shance]

47. They all came under seige by the Republican force and media that dictated

overall public opinion and support. When you look back, THAT is what hasnt changed.

Look back at the hostage situation in which Reagan had the hostages HELD until after the election. How many Americans really know the legitimate facts about our history?

Its not too pretty (and patriotic*) and if you read between the lines these leaders were forced to go right, however I also believe we are a more mainstream/liberal country than is remotely perceived on television and I think the key is being able to regain the Fairness Doctrine and take back the hijacked airwaves that promote false information and false images.

[rman]

33. "fight terrorism" - How?

By killing all the terrorists, or by doing something about the cause of terrorism?

I mean, you don't believe Bush is right with his "they hate us for our freedom", do you?

[G_j]

35. "we will seek to understand the root causes of terrorism

and address the issues which bread hatred and violence"

that is what I would like to hear for once.
this is what Kucinich tried to bring to the discussion.

[sandnsea]

45. Preventing Recruitment of New Terrorists.

John Kerry and John Edwards will work to win the war of ideas and the future of a young generation with a strategy to break down economic and cultural isolation in Arab and Muslim countries and support local efforts to promote democracy, trade, tolerance, and respect for human rights. The strategy includes a major initiative in public diplomacy and an international effort to improve education.

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_security/terrorism.html

[G_j]

51. I like the way this is worded

that exactly what I was talking about.

I wish Edwards had said that in his speech.

[sandnsea]

42. ALL the tools

Kerry says it time and again. He's talked about meetings of the nations clerics to create more understanding in the nation's religion. He's talked about the power of our ideals being the most important tool, to isolate the terrorists message of hate from the US message of hope. Did you listen to the speech last night at all???

[shance]

29. War is easy to wage and men have been fantastic at waging war

since the beginning of time.

Its (past) time to introduce true feminine energy into our domestic and international foreign policy and the world at large.

Until men learn to respect the feminine energy of women, of nature, of all creatures, and of THEMSELVES (because of course they have it as well), the world will continue to live in abusive power struggles, continue to oppress, demean and dismiss anything less than what they see as important, the very beautiful, rare and fragile parts of our world will continue to be extinguished.

There is a place and time for masculine, even macho energy. I believe masculine energy in all of us should be used to strengthen bonds and creativity in and around people, it should be used to protect the environment that we have ruthlessly, carelessly, and arrogantly destroyed, it should be used to compete in sports and to better our own physical abilities, it should be used, just like feminine energy to promote life and peace, and never EVER be used in such a juvenile, unconscious way as to destroy life and peace.

Its peace, creativity and the holding of nature and our environment sacred, that in my opinion shows the true character of a person.

[G_j]

34. 100%

we are WAY out of balance.

I virtually never share my 'religious' life here, but on this occasion let me share some words from White Eagle one of my 'spiritual' teachers.

.. "What do we see in the world today? Why is there such terrible suffering? Because humanity has starved itself of the mother principal for many centuries. There has been domination, first by the body and then by the intellect or brain. Both have tended to imprison, if not slay, the divine mother principal, which is wisdom and love. In the future there will come this illumination, this intuition, this expansion of spiritual consciousness. You will see this mother aspect-not merely woman-for we are speaking of divine principals-you will see this divine principal of the mother slowly but surly influencing the world. As a result there will be a much greater inflow of love and wisdom; a lessening of the power-complex
which, working through the human brain, cause individuals to create the most diabolical machinery for the destruction of life. When the spirit of the mother works hand in hand with the true father principal, you will get a return to sanity, to harmony, to happiness." "The woman aspect, the divine mother aspect, is the tenderness, the love and gentleness in life, without which spiritual death ensue."

from the "Light Bringer" White Eagle

www.whiteaglelodge.org

[shance]

48. Thank you G_j - its a wonderful quote.

I always appreciate your threads and what you bring to DU**

[genius]

31. Same here. Dennis and Jackson avoided the teleprompter

I don't think they wanted the pro-war crowd telling them what to say.

[FlaGranny]

36. What I heard from Kerry's speech

was a reaffirmation of what every president has always said. It goes something like this: "speak softly but carry a big stick." Some seem to believe it is a BAD thing to try to wipe out terrorism. Should we just sit back and let them go at it? I wish I had heard a little more at the convention about preventing terrorism in the first place, but terrorism SHOULD be wiped out where it already exists. And no, that doesn't mean invading Iraq made any sense, and no Dem other than Lieberman seems to think that's the case.

I HATE war, but that doesn't mean I think we should unilaterally disarm and refuse to defend ourselves. Sometimes defending ourselves might actually mean, if not pre-emption, then the threat of it.

There are those of us at DU who believe that Bush and Cheney should be tried for their crimes and put away for life. I believe the terrorists deserve no less than Bush and Cheney deserve. Terrorists vs. Bush/Cheney - who knows who's ahead in the body count?

And does anyone really believe that Kerry could get elected by saying he was going to cut the military, never go to war for any reason, and disarm? What I heard him say was that he would NEVER go to war unless all other options failed. That's just what he should have said and just what he should do when elected.

Unfortunately, we do not live in a world where it is safe to be weak or appear to be weak. It's the same as in nature - the weak are dinner!

Now, who is going to call me a warmonger first?

[G_j]

37. of course you are not a warmonger

but nobdy has advocated to "unilaterally disarm and refuse to defend ourselves." not Kucinich, not anyone to my knowledge.

[JohnKleeb]

38. on cutting from the DoD

Kerry's voting record shows that he's shown a willingness to, it may not look like a cut though, because raising their salaries and benefits means money to the department I think, and I am all for that

[G_j]

39. he hasn't

been a lock-step supporter of military spending. Of course the Bushies are trying to attack him on this.

The military budget is certainly worth scrutiny, a military budget far in excess of that of the next thirteen countries combined.
Expenditures are not directly linked to strength.

Cynthia McKinney and Dennis Kucinich have both attempted to draw attention to the trillion plus dollars just plain missing from the Pentagon. As Smedley Butler said "war is a racket"

I was disappointed to once again see that the defense contractor Raytheon was present sponsoring some of the activities around the Dem convention as they did in 2000.

[no name no slogan]

52. Yeah, the corporate sponsors really kill me

Jim Hightower talked about the difference between the 1988 (not-so-corporate) and the 1992 ("sponsored by AT&T") conventions in one of his books. It's sad to see that it has gotten even worse. It's like a freaking NASCAR race these days, with all the corporate bashes, sponsorships, and lobbyists crawling all over the place.

I remember hearing from an old hack here in town who said that "back in the day", you'd always hit the Teamsters hospitality suite at the state convention first because they had the best spread. Sadly, they don't even bother having a suite anymore-- and the concessions are all non-union as well.

How sad to see the party walk away from organized labor like that, and into the hands of their corporate masters. :'(

[JohnKleeb]

57. yes I remember Cythina and Dennis going after that

a trillion damn dollars. I didnt like the hawkishness of some of the speakers either, but Kerry didnt come out as a hawk to me, he came out willing to defend the nation if we have to, and if we have to, I'd be willing to enlist in it.

[Capn Sunshine]

43. I feel ya

I'm agreeing to pipe down until we remove the Beast of Satan walking the earth from office.

But I expect some pro quo for my quid.

Just remind JK : LBJ, LBJ......

[LWolf]

46. I felt much the same way.

I couldn't say it any better.

[Tight_rope]

54. I'm glad you felt the energy from Kerry's speech. It gave me hope!

And I honestly thought hope was dead!

[G_j]

59. the tone was certainly

better than I expected. I think Kucinich and others did have some influence on the speech. I thought I would hear more embarrassing pandering and defensive posturing in regards to the RW meme about Dems being weak girlie-boys. The band of brothers and all was clearly meant to counter this, but he fortunately didn't resort to chest pounding.
He was able to address the issue of strength without taking on the bellicose bully posture. I found Edwards' 'we will destroy you' camera glare quite ridiculous and embarrassing. They played that sound bite over and over again on BBC radio and without the context of the rest of the speech, it just sounded like more Bush.

The coming days will see more bully baiting nastiness. I hope the positive reaction to his speech will inspire Kerry to keep with the general tone and possibly find ways to enhance it.