Today's Count - Wed Oct 20 (Day 2)

We added 30 voters today, for a total of 77.

Not as much as I'd hoped, frankly. I'm looking for network effect with geometric progression here. But then again, the first day's totals were the cream of the crop -- direct links from me, many of whom are activists. Of course, we've also had 270 hits on this weblog, which I created just before I sent out my first message. So we've got eyeballs. Maybe hearts and minds will follow.

This is How We Grow
Some respondents "exposed their contacts," putting names on the CC line instead of hiding them in BCC for privacy. These showed that most were sending on to about 9 or 10 others, on average, which means we hit about 770 with our message. Tomorrow, those folks will forward on to 7700, and so on. Sure, there's some duplication -- some of you got the message more than once. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so.

One of the beautiful aspects of my hare-brained scheme is that it gives the lie to the notion that we are all alone. There are a lot of others who have the insight to see that America does best when it does good. We honor our history and our succeeding generations when we are generous, tolerant, and embrace freedom as a rallying call rather than a war cry.

The Progressive Closet
Look -- when you sent your message out, did you keep some of your closest friends off the list? Have you ever been afraid to display your candidate's sign in your yard, or put their bumper sticker on your car? When people talk politics at work, do you hold back? Sure, things are polarized. But that's because it is in our adversaries' interest to squelch intelligent discussion.

We Change Our Minds, They Change the Facts
When the reasons they give for their positions are clearly not the real reasons -- when they push for tax cuts for the wealthy because the economy is good, then because the economy is faltering, then because the economy is bad; when they push for war in Iraq because Iraq supports terrorists, then because Iraq is hiding WMDs, then because Saddam is a "bad guy"; when they criticize the other candidate for being wrong-headed, then for changing his mind, then for being a liberal idealogue...it becomes clear that THE REASONS THEY GIVE US FOR WHAT THEY DO AREN'T REALLY THE REASONS THEY DO WHAT THEY DO!

Oh, and excuse me, but does anybody really think a person will strap explosives to their chest and blow themselves up because they "hate freedom?" Man, maybe we should be dropping prozac over there instead of cluster bombs.... And why, when our Fearless Leader said this repleatedly, did no reporter raise her hand and gently inquire, "Pardon me Mr. President, but WTF?"

So, sure, it's hard to raise your voice and speak your mind in a "conservative" state like Oklahoma. Nevermind that this was the home of the Wobblies and the Green Corn Rebellion and Woody Guthrie. And it still IS the home to a huge Democratic majority. If they can shut us up and keep us home from the polls and convince us that we need to cross over and vote on "issues of principle" -- issues that they don't have any intention of making a priority -- then they can win. They can win, in spite of the fact that their true cause is taking our money and our freedoms and our most precious treasure -- our voice.

Bush: Selectively Pro-Choice
So, for you "pro-life" voters out there who might be reading this? Do you really think that G W Bush wants his daughters not to have the choice that women of the upper class have had for centuries? Go back to the 2000 election and re-run the tapes. When asked what would happen if one of his daughters came home with an unwanted pregnancy and was considering abortion, he replied, "It would be a family decision." Now, when you think of what "decision" means, it means "choice." George Bush was acknowledging he is pro-choice.

But not necessarily pro-choice for everyone. Poor people don't deserve choice -- that's why Medicaid won't pay for abortions. And country bumpkins don't deserve choice -- that's why women have to travel to big cities to end an unwanted pregnancy safely. And Africans? No, we can't have our AIDS clinics teach about contraception, much less abortion.

But W's kids? Well, that will be a family decision. And rest assured, they'll get the best of care.

"Buy the Lie"
And yet, the so-called conservative majority eats this stuff up, year after year. They cast their vote, believing the stories they are told about "family values." Instead, their vote goes to promote corporate welfare, to pass tax cuts that benefit the only the wealthiest few and to bankroll outrageous "defense" expenditures that serve to undermine other nations' rights for self-determination. And they do this with our tax dollars. And those of our children. The only common denominator is that all these policies enrich that same 2% that funds this neverending stream of lies that divides us.

98.6% Common Ground
You know what? I've got a lot more in common with my fundamentalist neighbor than I do with Paul Wolfowitz. We send our kids to the same schools. We contribute a few bucks for flowers when a co-worker's parent passes away. We complain about the same bad Oklahoma roads and the same corrupt Oklahoma judges. We love our country, and we're proud of our parents sacrifices and our childrens' gifts. We're not looking to set up puppet states in countries floating on pools of oil. We know that if this war doesn't end, both our sons and daughters are at risk.

The only reason I'm afraid to talk to him, to talk to her, is that I am afraid we will lose sight of our commonality if we disagree on politics. Why is that? Why are we so afraid to express our First Amendment Rights?

Why indeed?

Comments

[Michael Christopher]

No fear here. I talk. And when I talk to the vast majority of Oklahomans about basic human rights for gay men and lesbians, they don't throw up a crucifix between us. They tend to agree, all but the few most radically conservative or tragically ignorant. My work puts me in a position of needing to talk to lots of people about gay rights (I'm the director of a gay rights organization), and -- perhaps surprisingly -- I've yet to be shouted down or even treated impolitely by an Oklahoma conservative. They look at me much as I see them, as a person, a neighbor.

It's not our neighbors we should fear. But I think every Oklahoman -- gay, straight, liberal and conservative -- must nurse a healthy fear of the tiny minority of radical bullies who take to the pulpit and use something as precious as spirituality to batter good people into submitting to thoughts, words and acts of hate.

That politicians, putative leaders, Democrat or Republican or otherwise, coopt this hatred just to win an election is the hideous reality of sensation-starved America. I think that Oklahomans are starved for something, anything, to happen, to stimulate, to broaden their minds, to turn daily existence into adventure if even for a few minutes during the Sunday pulpit rant.

We've been quiet for too long! The loud ones are moving the middle because the middle is starved for volume and voices.

I appreciate your blog, Marty, because it goads me, makes me want to shout! That's a very good thing.

[Michael Christopher]

For those who would like to turn up the volume a bit, there's a rally planned for October 26, 11am to 2pm, at City Plaza in downtown Tulsa in opposition to State Questiuon 711 -- the anti-gay marriage amendment. 711 will not only make same-gender marriage unconstitutional in Oklahoma, but also has strict provisions that make it illegal to give any of the benefits of marriage to gay or lesbian couples, including domestic partner insurance benefits, partnership contracts, wills, hospital visitation rights... The list goes on to about 1,049 marriage benefits. It's pure hate, not "marriage protection," and both Brad Carson and Tom Coburn support it. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people in Oklahoma have never felt so abandoned by the political process.

The rally needs all the help it can get, from the straight community, the religious -- everyone who says no to hate.