Miracles Do Happen

[Me.]

We saw it this week with our very eyes. And should there ever come a time again when we are as despairing as we have been for the last 6 years, take a moment and think back to Tuesday and Wednesday. Things can change in a magnificent way in a matter of hours. We know because we were witnesses to it. Miracles do happen.

*shadow government*

[WatchWhatISay]

1. The results may have become appearant in a matter of hours

But the effort behind it was hardly a miracle or quick and easy. It was the result of millions of Democrats contributions of time and money

[Me.]

2. There's No Denying

a humongous effort went into this election, just as it did in 2000 and 2004, and it wouldn't occur to me to try and take that away. However, the hardest in the world to do is get people to change their minds and the fact that they did, including a vast number of Evangelicals, was in my opinion, given the treacherous lies promulgated during this election, a miracle.

*shadow government*

[H2O Man]

3. "Miracles do happen ....

They just take a dog-gone lot of work!" -- Rubin Carter, 7-4-76 in Washington, DC.

[porphyrian]

4. Don't write this off as a miracle, dammit. We WORKED for this.

We don't get all the credit for it happening; there were a bunch of factors in deciding this outcome. But don't deny us what we've earned by externalizing the responsibility for what happened.

[Me.]

5. As Someone Who Spent A Great Of Time On Gotv/Call For Change

amongst other things, I don't really think I need to be told how much effort went into this election. My point is that there are moments when everything comes together in the most beautiful of ways. And yes, I think that is a miracle.

*shadow election*

[porphyrian]

6. But you see what I'm saying, right?

Use of the word "miracle" implies that the event was both impossible and occurred by divine intervention, thus it also implies that the work we put into it wasn't what caused it to happen. As long as you understand that, you can call it whatever you like. However, your choice of words will likely cause further misunderstanding.

[H2O Man]

7. Interesting.

While the word miracle can indeed imply divine intervention, that is only one of two equally correct meanings. The other is simply that the situation was extremely difficult, and it implies that human intervention changed the course of events that was generally expected.

When people refer, for example, to a US Olympic Hockey team as the "miracle team," it is likely that only a minority of people would think it implies that God in heaven had a lot riding on that game. Instead, it means that the Soviet team they defeated was considered the favorite, and that it seemed extremely unlikely the US team could compete against them.

Likewise, a year ago, a good many people expected that the republicans would win most of the recent elections. Thus, the OP is pretty clearly comparing the Bush administration to the Soviet team, and the democrats to the US Hockey team. I think that most people would see it that way, rather than think the OP implied that God had attempted to double his bet from that Olympic game.

[porphyrian]

8. Sorry, I'm still suffering Bible Belt shock after moving away for a while.

Everything here is religious (they say "have a blessed day," for example). I don't want people to start expecting me to apologize for being an asshole, though. I've got a rep and all.

[H2O Man]

9. Bible Belt shock ....

That certainly explains why you would view it that way! (grin)

[Me.]

13. You Have A....

:) day. (You'll get tired of this too, soon enough)

*shadow government*

[robertpaulsen]

11. That's a fantastic analogy!

I'll be sure to share with friends and family:

Dems '06 = US Olympic Hockey Team '80

Bush = USSR

Some of my more conservative relatives may seeth at the comparison of a Republican to a commie country, but my more liberal relatives will join me in shouting:

"Do you believe in miracles? YES!"

[USA_1]

14. True - But More Work Needs To Be Done ...

... patriotic Dems, libs, progressives, independents, and others who truly love America need to keep on registering many, many more people to vote.

The work needed to liberate America from the unpatriotic ultra fascist elements has not stopped. Quite the contrary, it has only started.

A Keith Olbermann, a DU web site, an Air America network, are all good for the USA. But we need many more of each in order to offset any strategies or machinations from the reich wing America haters.

As one who loves this Great Land, I thank each and every one of you for your great work and sacrifices in order to make America the wonderful country that she is.

BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

[earth mom]

10. It does feel like a miracle doesn't it?

I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I'm starting to feel a glimmer of hope. I'm not all the way there yet, but I do think it's possible to turn this thing around if we don't give up too soon. Meaning we can't sit back and expect and assume that those in office will do what we expect them do. We can not let them go back to playing politics as usual! Let's KEEP ON making a difference!

I posted this thread a little while ago because this is how I feel that we can continue to make a difference:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2662784

It's up TO US just as it has been all these years when we educated friends, neighbors and acquaintances. As it has been when we held signs up and protested like Cindy Sheehan does just about every day. As it has been up to us when we type words on a forum or a blog hoping that we will open up one mind or one heart.

Miracles can happen, but more often than not, we have to help them along.

[Me.]

12. I Absolutely Agree

About the feeling of a weight being lifted and it has been lovely. I plan to savor it for at least a week. And I have to say that the way people came together was truly amazing. The Call for Change set-up Move-On had was fantastic. A "miracle" of organization. And yes, for the first time in six years, I feel hope.

*shadow government*