Encomium to Democratic Underground

[Laelth]

For my 3000th post, I return to the Lounge.

I take periodic breaks from DU, but lately I have been posting a lot and spending a lot of time in GD-P. It matters enough to me to risk the cuts and bruises. It has been a while since I have posted in the Lounge, but I wanted to share this formal expression of praise here, with those who can most appreciate it.

I know many of you eschew the verbal violence of GD and GD-P. I don't blame you. But, I invite you to consider, for a moment, how amazing and wonderful the DU community is. In a recent non-Lounge thread, a particular poster said with remorse that she or he no longer recommends DU to others. This poster was embarrassed by the present state of the bickering here. In response, I said this:

Speaking for myself ...

I recommend DU to others as the home of the Democratic wing of the Democratic party. I am proud of this place. I am proud of its openness. I am proud that, more or less, the admins and mods have resisted repeated calls for greater censorship from those who would silence political speech they don't like (even nasty, mean, passionate speech). This is where true Democrats come to fight about the future of our party and our country. And, yes. We fight ... because our party and our country are important to us.

If you want a place where everyone walks in lock step formation, you will have to look elsewhere.

And thank goodness!

Even at its worst, I am proud to be a member of DU!

I thank you all for broadening my world and sharing my cares and concerns for our party and our country ... even if we don't agree all of the time.

:patriot:

:dem:

-Laelth