It So Depresses Me to Fight with My Friends Here.

[Mike03]

I confess that this is an emotional rather than an analytical post.

DU has meant so much to me over the past five plus years. The people I have been fortunate enough to meet here are awesome. And I remember in the early days when I didn't even pay attention to the names of the posters, or expect anyone to remember mine or recall what I posted about anything.

But that has really changed over the years.

This is my clumsy way of saying: I love DU, and I love you guys and gals, even though we may disagree at times. And I'm sorry if I have attacked or offended anyone. And I am praying that this current election season conflict doesn't divide us permanently, because you have been there for me at times when no one else has been there. You have inspired me when I felt very lost. You are amazing people. I don't want to lose that.

Anyway: Thank you, for everything, and thank you for just being you. We will triumph over these current difficulties, I know we will.

Peace

[LakeSamish706]

1. Nice Touch! n/t

[papau]

2. Peace friend - deep breath and pause - nothing that important going on via DU - just enjoy the show

[Frances]

3. Good post

[Olney Blue]

4. We should all be so introspective. Thanks for your post.

[Juche]

5. I think it'll pass

A few months ago I was extremely anti-Hillary but over time I realized that the real threat is from the GOP. No matter who the dem is the supreme court, union movement, war in Iraq and tax policy is too important to be divided over something as minor as a candidate. And no matter who gets the nomination, the other candidate will still spend the next 10+ years trying to improve the country. I think the Clintons were instrumental in creating Media matters for example, while Obama is good at building grassroots movements. So no matter who gets it, the other candidate will still fight to improve the US in some way.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. I have to remind myself that there are a lot of people here with nothing invested.

They'll lose interest after the nominee is decided.

[emilyg]

7. Hi friend.

:pals:

[seabeyond]

8. i too have been surprised some of the people i am arguing with. people i normally

am right along side with.

with that..... gentle and respectful disagreement i hope will not leave lasting impressions

peace, too

[gateley]

9. Aw, Mike -

You represent the very best of DU. :hug:

Keep the faith. I've seen "warring" DUers come together for a common good, and I believe that goodness will prevail.

Just want to give you another :hug:

[madrchsod]

10. i agree sometimes it is depressing but

we are not perfect. sometimes civility and reason get lost in the heat of the moment. i try to remember that many will still be here after the dust settles and many that i have on ignore will be gone. i have noticed that half my ignore`s have been stoned so i take that as a good sign the mods are doing their jobs...i sure in the hell ain`t brave enough to do it!

[IowaGirl]

11. Actually, some of the people I start out arguing with turn into friends. I think dems are pretty

cool whoever they are voting for. :kick:

[Gormy Cuss]

12. I don't think that we've ever fought but

remember that if I do fight with you, it's not from a position of contempt but rather from one of wanting to understand an issue and how it is that you view it so differently than I do.

[calimary]

13. Wonderful post. Thank you!

I think - or at least I HOPE - that we'll all get over it once the nominee is agreed upon, and we turn our attention - and ALL of our bile and wrath - on john w. mcbush. Or maybe we should simply refer to him as george w. again (or simply, george again).

I love DU, too. I get too much out of it to dwell for too long on the vapors people get here these days. I shrug most of it off as being just the flotsam and jetsam of the effect this last seven-and-some year stretch of misery and repeated heartbreak that we've all slogged through. We're tired. We're frustrated. We're discouraged. We're sick of being ignored. We're sick of being correct and STILL being ignored. We're sick of pushing, working, writing, emailing, blogging, faxing, phoning, petitioning, protesting, marching, demonstrating, meeting, canvassing, strategizing, and coming out in full force - and having it all go for naught. We're sick of all those years of work that have netted us very little of real substance. We're sick to DEATH of it. And there's no relief, no recourse, no nothing. And I think that's gotten to a number of us, emotionally, spiritually, even physically for some of us. And when you're that stressed over that prolonged time with no relief - whaddya do? Well, in some cases, you turn on one another (using the general "you" - NOT the personal "you" directed at anyone specifically.

Take care, and keep your eyes on the prize. We'll get over this!

[applegrove]

14. A great heartfelt rant. I agree.