Time to bust the lock on the box and let HOPE OUT!

[radfringe]

Fear or Despair or Hope?

The recent polls showing bush* ahead have alot of DUers in despair. This is good for bush* - it means we have been demoralized and our resolve has been weakened.

Most of America lives in fear. Fear of terrorists, fear of losing jobs, fear of losing health insurance and fearful of what the future will bring. This is good for bush* - it means people are desperate and anxious.

From time to time on the DU - there has been posts asking if people are afraid to drive around with an anti-bush or a Kerry bumper sticker on their vehicles, or if they are afraid to speak out. This is good for bush* - fear keeps our mouth shuts.

Whistleblowers and others who have come forward to speak out against bush* have been fired, or had their reputations smeared. They serve as an example to what will happen if others come forward and speak out. This is good for bush* - fear will keep their mouths shut.

The speeches given at the Democratic Convention focused on issues and solutions. There were a few jibes and slams directed at bush* - but for the most part the focus was on what we need to do in the coming years. This gave me hope.

Conversely, the Republican convention speeches comprised of invoking September 11, terror, fear and slaming Kerry. Very little time was spent on the issues. The Republican message was "Be afraid, be very afraid and only bush* can save us". This left me angry - angry at the scare tactics, and angry that the issues are being shunted aside.

I had posted this little story -- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=738818 -- read it

What America needs now is HOPE -- not fear, not despair. If we sit cowering behind bushes, slinking about and looking over our shoulders - then not only has bush* won - but also the terrorists. There is little difference between the terrorists attacking to create more fear and that of a 'leader' who uses "threats of terror" to create an atmosphere of fear.

In the days leading up to the Iraq invasion - bush* said to the world "american would go it alone". Most of us here scoffed and railled against that - we knew that as strong as we were that we still needed the rest of the world.

Well, with our hand wringing and saying that Kerry needs to do this or that -- we are letting Kerry "go it alone". So what can we do? We can stop whining and wringing our hands. We can stop "reacting" to the bush* attacks -- instead of waiting for bush* to "bring it on" - we need to bring it to bush*.

If you are unable to volunteer at a Kerry-Edwards office - you can still do something. Letters, e-mails, when you hear a neighbor or co-worker slam Kerry - confront them - ask them if they enjoy living in fear. You may not change their minds, but if there are other people standing around it may give them something to consider. We have to have HOPE and we have to spread it around. Time to bust the lock on the box and let HOPE OUT!

[dbt]

1. Well said, dear radfringe!

There is also the matter of self-fulfilling prophecy. If we all go around saying we're afraid bu$h will win, we have done two things:

1. We have spread more fear.
2. We have "put it out there" that bu$h will win. When things are voiced by enough people enough times, the Universe tends to grant the "wish."

Better we all start talking about how Kerry is going to beat bu$h like a bodhran in the hands of a stoned Clare musician on Saturday night! If nothing else, the simile will confuse the HELL out of the Pugs!

:hi:
dbt

[radfringe]

2. just a suggestion for Kerry and us too

don't know how "viable' this will be - but I'm tossing out this suggestion anyways

Specifically for Kerry - at the end of speeches - give bush* a homework assignment such as "explain your plan for job creation" or "explain your plan for health care" or "explain your 'exit strategy' for Iraq etc.(different issue in each speech)

We know that bush* will do a tap-dance, spin it and then avoid the subject all together. So in Kerry's next speech repeat the previous assignments with the comment that bush* has failed to do his homework.

What we can do is to ask bush* supporters what specifically is bush* doing about 'x'-issue? They will try to flip it around and get you on the defensive - so just arm yourself with the specifics of Kerry's plan and repeat "what is bush* going to do about 'x' "?