A little personal DU history

[sfwriter]

When I first came to DU, back in March of 2001, I wouldn't use my name. There was a chill in the air and the whiff of the jackboot was everywhere. Protesters were shuttled off to free-speech zones.

A large JPG here:


The Wayback Archive here:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://democraticunderground.com

Jim Jeffords was one of the few bright spots in those days.

I had posted on several online forums as "Little Trimmy" with the sig line "Trim the Shrub in 2004." I frequented bartcop and Media Whores Online and was a rabble rouser on politics.com, using my own name since 1999.

Some right-wing poster there began sending me death threats. I wasn't worried until he started stalking someone else, thinking it was me. He would email me pictures of this poor woman taken at long range and photos of his gun collection. After I called the cops, he disappeared.

I had been fighting online since 1998 and DU felt like home, but after my politics.com experience, I wouldn't use my name.

I remember when a new post on DU would stay on the front page all day! I remember when DU put out the call for writers. I remember the "Supremos" and the first column by Auntie Pinko. I gave out hand-bound copies of the "Top Ten Conservative Idiots" to friends.

I remember meeting Proud Patriot and Jack Rabbit at the first DU gathering in San Francisco and how nervous everyone was and suspicious. It was the days of "if you are not with us you are against us."

I remember the site meltdowns on 9/11, election nights, and during the odd upgrade. I've seen the rise of Bev Harris and William Pitt.

Still, I never posted my name.

Until now.

I started a few days ago. I realized I am no longer afraid of them.

--
Sandy Clark - Writer - Geek - Dad
www.daddyzine.com - www.americanscary.com

[blm]

1. I happen to know Ghoulardi schtick very well. Grew up with him.

Very cool, Sandy. Turn blue. ;)

[sfwriter]

2. Stay Sick! eom

[blm]

6. Cool it with the Boom-Boom.

(antiwar)

[sfwriter]

7. Where you from? Parma? eom

[blm]

8. Next door.

Seven Hills. Ghoulardi lived in my tiny neighborhood.

[JNelson6563]

3. Rock on Sandy!

I'll stand with ya. :toast:

Julie

[stevedeshazer]

4. Congratulations

Welcome to the 'I am who I am' team.

I'm not afraid.

[proud patriot]

5. We were waving Hi to Ashcroft when Helicopters

flew overhead that day .... I remember that day .
sffreeways was there with her son and his friend
heading to Afganistan and Iraq . :cry:

I met some great friends that day :loveya:

:patriot:

[laugle]

9. Wow....thanks for the history! DU has certainly come

a long way......

I think what we have going here, even with all the crap, is special...of course I do have a bias.....

It seems that our membership is growing by a great number, and that is power, people power!!

I like to think that we played a part in getting out the truth to people of this country. That in some way, however small or large, we have made a difference.

Congrats to everyone, the 6 year nightmare is over.....now the real work begins....

Welcome Sandy Clark and I am not afraid either.......