THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE

[MidEastMan]

Supporters of Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko hold a mass rally in the main square of Kiev, Monday, Nov. 29, 2004.

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This is what Democracy looks like for those of you who have forgotten.
- It's not pretty but it's passionate, powerful and it strikes a chord in all of our hearts.
- It's people demanding the truth .
- It's people rightfully angry and taking their protest to the streets.
- It's what our Democracy was built on.

- It happened in Madrid earlier this year and the government fell ~ for their government was misleading them.
Now its happening in Kiev ~ for their government has been misleading them.

When will it happen here ? When will we take to the streets and demand the truth ~ for our government has been misleading us for four years.

Note the similarities as David Talbot , Salon, exclusively interviews Olena Prytula, editor in chief of Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth), the courageous Web site that has been responsible for some of the country's only aggressive, independent coverage of the Kuchma regime .

Excerpt: " The media was pro-government. In much of the country, the election machinery was controlled by the ruling party. Voter fraud was rampant. But the people of Ukraine will not surrender . "


---- What About Americans ,, hmm ,, they did nothing ----

[Timebound]

1. If only...

I'd march right out and scream too, if there were only a massive rally like that to GO to. How could we organize something like this?? Any ideas?

[Ladyhawk]

2. We are currently leaderless.

We were ready to go to Ohio. I was. But, well...you know. :( Doing something like this from the grassroots is really hard. Maybe we should urge MoveOn to organize something. :(

[Swamp Rat]

3. I'll go

[m berst]

4. our so-called opposition

The Democratic party and most of the progressive and liberal organizations are dominated by people who are pretty darn comfy and who are heavily invested one way or another in the status quo.

People naturally turn to the leaders of these organizations - after all, they are supposedly the opposition. Yet the people are told in response to calm down, to face reality, to work within the system, to be patient, and to wait.

This prevents any real opposition movement from starting - not because of our opponents, rather because of our false friends. It cripples and compromises any opposition that does start.

It startles me that progressive and liberal people will turn on each other and on the people in general, but will not throw off their weak and ineffective leadership. So people will rip each other apart to defend "their guy" in the party as though he were a saint or demigod.

[theHandpuppet]

7. Great post!

You are SO right, and it's time we all faced the truth.

[m berst]

9. I forgot one thing

I should give credit where credit is due. There is one other thing that the various organizations from the DNC to moveon.org to BBV do - they ask for donations.

This probably sounds pretty cynical, but I would ask - what is wrong with a little cynicism about all of our self-proclaimed saviors?

[masaka___]

5. Do what you can.

> ---- What About Americans ,, hmm ,, they did nothing ----

Here's something easy that anyone with access to a computer and printer can do (which is practically everyone in the United States).

1. find some flyers -- Here are some that I like.
   
   
   
   • http://www.unamerican.com/downloads/index.htm
   
   
   • http://somnamblst.tripod.com/
   
   
   • 
   
   
   
   


2. print the flyers that appeal to you


3. (important) TURN OFF THE FUCKING COMPUTER -- ...and get out into the physical world, because that's where this message needs to be heard the most.


4. (optional) go to kinkos and make a lot of copies of the flyers you picked out


5. (very important) post the flyers up -- Be the media. Get the word out. Know that every little bit you do counts towards a better world. The more people see this stuff, the more courage they'll have to take action.

I sincerely believe that every little bit helps, and we're going to have our big protests, too. Inauguration day is going to see a massive display of disapproval -- I can feel it already.

This is the calm before the storm. Don't be discouraged. Just keep on keeping on.

Bush WILL go down.

He has to.

[MidEastMan]

6. kick

[everclear]

8. at least they have a leader who didn't CONCEDE

:cry: