Reply #86: Am Over The Moon About Proposed Changes

[Me.]

Love the journal idea and so much of what you are proposing for it answers many things which have, to a greater or lesser extent, become issues. Great on being able to separate a small group who hijack a thread, and asking the mods to ease up on locking. The mission statement of DU being an incubator for progressive ideas is terrifically appealing. This is a much needed forum for it gives a voice to those who, in the last several years, have had no access and whose voices were being silenced. It is clear, at least for the Democratic party, that the grassroots and progressive ideas are taking hold. Several articles out today address that very fact.

It is out of a community such as this that a coalescing of thought takes place. And yes, where stories were elsewhere buried, they rise to the top here. Further, any derision aimed at this forum is by those who don't want people to think for themselves, would rather have them lockstep behind mainstream policies and goals. And let's not kids ourselves, for all that, we all know that people are flocking to read here even if they wouldn't dare admit it. The evidence of that is becoming clear in what people say and what they write.

I called my Senator's office today, Schumer, and said that 1) as a progressive dem I didn't appreciate being compared to right wing extremists, and 2) I wanted to remind him of a quote from MLKjr., "There Comes A Time When Silence Is Betrayal". The information regarding Schumer's statement and the quote came from reading them on DU.

I thank all of you, Skinner, EarlG & Elad for this place and your determination to make it even better.