All You Need

[H2O Man]

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time - It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
– John Lennon


One of the group dynamics that is in sharp focus on “General Discussion” is the divide between those forum members who are supporting President Barack Obama in his re-election bid, and those who are either discouraged by his presidency, but probably going to vote for him next November; hoping for a primary challenger; or feeling detached from the election process.

There is no argument that is going to convince one group that another group has “the” correct answer in this regard. The simple truth is that this community has a fairly wide range of people participating in the discussions on current events. We all view the world from the context of our own lives …. our very different circumstances, experiences, and values.

When a large group views issues single-mindedly, it is often because they have come to identify a common threat or enemy. The Tea Party, for a rather repugnant example, is united in their hatred of Barack Obama. Their hatred of President Obama is distinct from the hard feelings that many forum members here have. When the pro-Obama forum members accuse others of being like Tea Partiers, this is an error that can only cause a greater divide.

Likewise, when people accuse the pro-Obama members of being cheerleaders, etc., it is an error that can only result in increasing the divide between factions within this community.

(Note:I recognize that there are a few people here simply to try to make trouble. I think the moderators zap most of them. I do wish that we could bind them like in the movie “A Clockwork Orange,” and make them view the best of this forum, until they are healed. But I think it is generally best to ignore their type in serious discussions here.)

Just discussing, debating, and arguing about issues on the internet is unlikely to bring about positive changes in the outside world. The first step in causing change is creating an atmosphere of unity. And that is best done through action. And there is a huge realm of activities that people here can be doing ….and indeed, should be doing ….. every day of every week in each month between now and November of 2012.

Working on elections is but one of these things. We should all be investing in efforts to organize like-minded people on the “local” level. This includes, but might not be limited to, organizing within the context of your local Democratic Party Headquarters. In my situation, it involves building coalitions with other groups and individuals on the Democratic Left.

This work might include working on President Obama's campaign. It might not. In both cases, it should definitely include joining the effort to get more candidates elected in the House and Senate, in state positions, and on the county/city/town level. Again, you might work exclusively for and with the Democratic Party; or you might work for and with a variety of interests. ( I respect the DU rule against campaigning for “third parties” here, although realistically, many of us do. As I've noted recently, my son is running for a local position, and will be listed as the candidate for three parties come Election Day. He's a registered Democrat, but is uniting with like-minded people from other parties.)

It should also include working on other important issues. Three good ones come to mind – the fight for equality in marriage; environmental protection, and anti-war. There are many others, from supporting public schools to advocating for unions. I try to identify what not only what is of interest to myself and my family and friends, but also what I am effective at doing. I try to stay focused on those areas of overlap between these two areas.

Were DU to be used most effectively, it would be as a resource for information – for knowledge is power, and the corporate media's awareness of this is the exact reason it is used to mislead you and I – and also a place where we compare notes on that work which we are all engaged in. This includes things such as asking folks to sign petitions, and/or to e-mail and call various politicians.

It is actually in action that we find unity. It is in action when we come to respect other points of view. It is in action that we learn to accept those differences that may be significant, but are not worthy of justifying serious divides between groups and individuals when it comes down to those things that are most important.

“Unity” does not imply “exactness.” For if human beings were exact, and shared the exact same strengths and the exact same weaknesses, then humanity would certainly degenerate. And were that to happen, the end result would be that we would all be members of that republican party: mindless cogs in a self-destructive machine.

Think about this. Please.

Your friend,
H2O Man

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. Actually, all you need is 2,000 calories a day and shelter from the elements.

But a little love can't hurt.

[H2O Man]

4. Humans do not

live on bread alone.

[NYC_SKP]

2. This is a Beautiful Post, and Much Needed...

Thank you, H2O Man.

:thumbsup:

[H2O Man]

5. Thank you!

Likely to be much ignored, too.

[NYC_SKP]

8. Ignored, yes.

Odd, that. And the community today seems to be particularly balkanized and hardening in their respective positions.

So I'm kicking your OP for balance.

Wishing you a terrific Sunday.

:thumbsup:

[H2O Man]

9. If the amount

of energy being invested in the unproductive arguments from the past 24 hours alone, were to be focused on doing something positive -- an area of "common ground" -- we'd all be feeling better about working towards progress.

As it is, I find myself shaking my head .... the balkenization is bringing out the worst in people. The DU community can continue down this damaging path, or we can choose to head in another direction. As an old and experienced grass roots activist/ community organizer, what should be taking place is so obvious .... but too many of our friends are far too invested in putting energy into a fight that need not take place. The outcome of this particular "fight" remaining the top priority is not good. It won't benefit either side. And it actually takes less energy7 to avoid, than to keep the shit going.

And yes, thank you, I am having a terrific Sunday. I'm preparing for a very important meeting tomorrow night, in a city that I'm not really familiar with. The meeting involves many of the top-level folks in the struggle to protect our water from hydro-fracking. I'm preparing to take a step that I'd rather not take, all in all, in order to communicate firmly and 100% nonviolently the strength of the opposition to fracking. So much of today will be spent at my pond & cabin, reading up on my Gandhi and King, and thinking about my personal responsibility in this struggle .... to myself, my family and friends, and everyone else -- even the opposition.

Wishing you & yours a great day, and week!

[midnight]

3. President Obama will need lots of love being sent to him to move him towards more

sustainable ways of governing... Letting Wall Street dictate domestic/foreign policies has made monied people the lone voice at all the tables in the White House...

[H2O Man]

6. Other voices from

other sources need to be heard. Action creates clear communication.

[H2O Man]

7. My position, however,

is not endorsed by the vast majority of DUers.

[H2O Man]

10. Yet I am

convinced, as a result of my lifetime's experience, that I am correct.