Our Democratic Central Committee here in Ogle County

[murielm99]

has sent out interest fliers to everyone in the county.

We are finding all sorts of Democrats that we did not know existed. Many of them are willing to work, too. Many of them have also sent checks.

Anyway, the questionnaires and checks all come to my house when they are completed. I deposit the checks, and contact some of the people who are in my community. I forward the rest of them to our membership chairman.

I got one back today that was hate mail. It was filled with graphic pictures of so-called partial birth abortions. It told me how great a president * was.

I write a lot of LTTEs, so it is not the first time I have ever received hate mail. But it bothered me.

If you receive any mail from repukes, please just throw it in the trash. Don't bother to answer them back in a smart mouthed way. Seriously, this campaign is nasty enough.

That is my two cents. I just wanted to tell you.

[w13rd0]

1. Hi neighbor...

...I'm here in Missouri. Just wanted to thank you for the work you do. Being out in front and drawing fire like that can be a bit off-putting, but without the cogs and bolts, the machine doesn't move forward. And yes, responding to fools doesn't do any good. They have the ignorance of their convictions going, and nothing external will change their minds, they have to have their personal life thrown under the train before they'll re-evaluate their willfull ignorance.

[barb162]

2. I often send back the GOP stuff

about a year ago the GOP sent this list of Democrats in jail over the last FIFTY years, etc. So I sent a list back of GOP in jail, those under indictment, etc. The GOP list I made up was a lot longer. It made me feel better and it was in their own postage paid envelope. Of course, probably no one read it as they were only looking for a fat check. But it did make me feel better. Just recently a lot has been coming in and I send it all back with little antiGOP notes.

We have all noticed, I suppose, that the people who are so anti-choice never seem to be anti war. Whenever one tries to discuss this with them, they usually start turning red, screaming at you, etc., within a few seconds.

I am sorry you got the hate mail and it is terribly disturbing to get it.

[davsand]

3. Hold them up for public ridicule.

I realize you are tired of the crap, but please refuse to sit down and shut up.

I put my ass on the line years ago as a clinic escort and working information booths for NARAL. Frankly, I got tired of being in the line of fire. I got tired of being the "loony" or that ultra liberal woman that the wingnuts love to hate. I sat down for a while and felt OK about it. I figured I'd done my part.

Then I had a daughter.

Look, I walk into her classroom and see all of those little girls, and I realize it is NOT about me any more--it is about keeping THEM safe. We are all working to protect them from the back alley butchers and the criminals who prey on women who are denied choice.

We are working to make sure they never know what it is to lose a friend to an illegal abortion or be left permanently sterile because of a decision made in panic at 17.

We are working now to make sure our daughters have a choice that doesn't involve a knitting needle or a coat hanger.

I refuse to accept that it could ever be moral to subject any female to choose between forced childbearing or an illegal abortion. I refuse to accept that it could EVER be seen as acceptable that our kids should not know the idea of true equality of the genders.

My daughter and every other little girl deserves the ability to live without the burden of her gender forcing her to carry an unwanted unchosen child.

ANY wingnut that sends you shit like you describe in the mail in response to a political mailing deserves to be held up and shown for the extremist that they are.

I can deal with people who tell me they feel life begins at conception. I can deal with people who tell me they are Republicans because they do not agree with abortion on demand. What I WILL NOT deal with is some SOB that wants to horrify me into silence. I will not allow my daughter (and every other daughter) to be put in danger simply because I am tired of the political tone of the latest election.

murielm99, I am not jumping your case--I respect you hugely for doing political work, however, I really think a lot of people don't understand the mindset of some of the "Tali-born-agains" we have hanging out here in Illinois. We have GOT to stand up for some things, and the right to choice happens to be my personal crusade, I guess.

I just freaking HATE those assholes that think horrible photos will make us shut up about all our ideals.

Peace to you--and keep up the good work. Please DO, think about what I've said--OK?

Laura

[murielm99]

4. I am seriously thinking about doing just that.

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can go about it?

Should I tell everyone on my committee, write to her, or what?

I am tired of these people too -- and I have two daughters.

[davsand]

5. I'd write her a public letter.

Again, I want to apologize if I came across as negative to you personally--that was not my intent. I just have a visceral response to anybody who tries to shame me or terrorize me for wanting to protect our children...

If it was my area, I'd write a letter to the editor that talks about the wonderful response to the Dem mailing, and how wonderful it is to see so many people who care about what direction our country takes.

THEN, I'd talk about the one response from someone (you can either use her name or state that you are NOT using her name simply because YOU don't practice the tactics of intimidation) that was so inappropriate you have to respond to it.

I'd then talk about the fact that abortion is not a choice ANY woman makes lightly. I'd also talk about the lack of affordable, effective birth control, and the lack of decent fertility education. I'd talk about the fact that NONE of our daughters should ever have to face the horror of a back alley butcher or the danger of an illegal abortion.

I'd talk about the fact that true gender equality will never happen as long as women face forced childbearing when pregnancy was not a choice they made.

I'd talk about the fact that I am a Dem, in part, because I hold certain things as ideals: Equality, Safety and personal autonomy.

I'd talk about the fact that the Dems want to reduce the number of abortions NOT by restricting access, but by making every pregnancy a wanted one--a chosen one.

I have found that I will not change some people's minds, but I AM able to articulate why choice is something fundamental to my political beliefs. It will resonate with people if you are sincere and you avoid the buzz phrases like Abortion on Demand...

I have no idea what the climate actually IS for your party there in Ogle. I suppose it is possible that it might create an issue within your Dem party depending on your local leadership, so it might be a good idea to talk to the other Dems in leadership and see if they are OK with this. (I know it wouldn't here in Champaign County--but we are pretty far left as far as Downstate Dems go. We Do have some anti-choice Dems--but even THEY understand that working to reduce the need for abortion is just common sense.)

Best of luck to you.

Laura

[barb162]

6. I agree with everything you are saying in your posts

I am old enough to remember what it was like before Row v. Wade. I think some of the women who were born after that law don't realize what a struggle it was for women and men to get that law in. They just sort of take it for granted and don't realize the many many ways the right has been and continues to try to get CHOICE overturned.

[davsand]

7. I accepted a long time ago that it is MY thing and not the Dem party's.

I fully realize that pro-choice is not a requirement for membership in the Dem party. It was difficult for me to accept the idea that something so fundamental to so many was not equally pressing to everyone--but it really isn't.

That is why I feel it is so pressing that I stand up. That is why I urge other Dems to consider it as well.

Maybe it comes from my Mother, maybe it just comes from who I am deep down--but the bottom line is, I will consider it one heck of a great tribute to my mundane existence if somebody says "She stood up." after I am dead and gone.

Peace to you all. This was not supposed to be a discussion on the issue of choice, nor did I intend this to be my bully pulpit. I do apologize.


Laura

[barb162]

8. I admire you a lot

I was never able to stand outside a clinic (too scared) but I was in demonstrations on it and joined NOW for choice and women's rights. It took tremendous courage. Yeah the good ol' days ... back when the job ads had the men's and women's sections and no one thought a damn thing about it. you are wonderful in my book.

[gatlingforme]

9. My friend gets GOP stuff in the mail, he opens it and tosses

it !! I take the postage paid envelopes and stuff them to the hilt and send it back out to GOP headquarters. Kind of infantile, but it makes me feel good in a sadistic way.

[barb162]

10. infantile is good sometimes

isn't it? Especially when it comes to Republicans looking for cash.

[gatlingforme]

11. yes and the best part is they paid for the postage (overstufffed) LOL