I'm Reminded of a Great DU Elizabeth Edwards Moment

[Truth2Tell]

In April of 2005 it was announced that Laura Ingraham had been diagnosed with breast cancer. A DUer made a post suggesting we keep her in our prayers. Unsurprisingly it was met with a rather, ahem, mixed response.

Then Elizabeth Edwards arrived in the thread and posted this:

ElizabethEdwards (29 posts)
Of course we wish the best for her in this fight.

I have been a Democrat for a long time, and part of the Democratic principles that attracted me as a young person and kept me a Democrat all these years is our compassion. Democrats are simply good and decent people. And good and decent people want everyone to do well -- those who agree with them and those who do not. We fight for the right of voices with which we disagree to speak out, for the right of people to say things we don't believe to be true, even for the right to be malicious and mean-spirited. If we fight for the right for LI to say what she says, how in the world can we use our disagreement with those words as an excuse not to be compassionate in her fight with cancer. Being willing to have her voice muted by illness is the same thing as not wanting her voice to be heard. It is not Democratic or democratic.

I hope others will join me in wishing her Godspeed in this fight, for the easiest road that she can have, and even for the development of compassion about others who have faced hardship and disease without the support network she -- and I -- have. As I go through treatment for this same disease, I think often about the women who fight breast cancer without health insurance, without a supportive husband, with a physically demanding job that doesn't know or doesn't care that she is exhausted and weak and aching, with children but no child care. I find it absolutely impossible that LI won't also have those thoughts run through her head or that she won't rethink her position on health care or the social safety net. Pray for her health AND her enlightenment, if you must. But pray, with me, for her good health.

The entire tone of the thread was altered from that point forward.

I think there is a lot we can all still learn from Elizabeth Edwards, and that we are amazingly fortunate that she participated here as she did.

Peace be with Elizabeth and her family.

Here's the old thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3545777

[Freetradesucks]

1. Snap.

Sometimes we get so caught up in partisan politics, we forget that we are supposed to be the good guys.

I remember that thread, even though I believe I was a lurker at the time. A lot of "good, let he bitch die" type of sentiment.

Not DU's proudest moment.

[Truth2Tell]

6. I was actually only a lurker then too

so I use the term "we" in my OP loosely. :hi:

[dionysus]

2. she was one class act, that's for sure. RIP elizabeth.

:(

[CTyankee]

3. Elizabeth made a very fine argument against LI's political stand re health care.

And she was gracious about it.

We should applaud what she did...which was show humanity but also show wisdom...

[Truth2Tell]

7. Yep, not just here, but everywhere. nt

[muchacho caliente]

4. Sadly, this may be the most apt manifestation of true irony in many years.

RIP, Elizabeth. :cry:

[chillspike]

5. I'm so glad to have seen this thread

Though I am sorry about the circumstances that brought it up. I've always admired Elizabeth Edwards and now even more so. What an inspiring person.

RIP, Elizabeth.