thanks everyone for your kind emails and responses

i'm not feeling as negative as i was - i used to think that progressives would get things right and keep a large tent. I never imagined that there could be such staunch word speech. I was feeling more frustrated than i have ever been with DU.

My loyalty has been swayed to this site - to which i have been financially and emotionally committed for 14+ years. I'm over the initial shock so i'm not going to leave. But i won't have that false sense of comfort that we are a large helpful family warts and all. When people can, in my view, be callously treated - today it was over the use of a word in a stupid way - who knows what it will be tomorrow. Many of us have strong emotional opinions. Who knows what will come out tomorrow and which of us may emotionally post something that gets us banned.

I'm a strong believer in the collective good, and i believe in the old parable that they came for x and i stayed quiet. then they came for y and i stayed quiet. then they came for me and no one was left to stand up for me.

I am a passionate Hilary Clinton supporter. I think she will make a very good President and Bill Clinton will be a great FLOTUS (!). I miss the camolet like world under the Clinton/Gore administration. Hillary as the first Women President will be such a good message after the first Black President. But i don't think we should ban people who have passionate views for others and when they stupidly use stupid words.

There are big issues for progressives to fight beyond this site - placement of progressives on SCOTUS, getting rid of Citizens United, Universal Healthcare, Climate change, 1 person 1 vote. This site has proved a very valuable service - and it was a lifeline after bush allegedly stole his way into office in 2000.