General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe yearnings that burn in every human heart: dignity, justice and democracy
Today in Estonia, I believe President Obama was speaking to all of us.
In the face of violence that seems intractable and suffering that is so senseless, it is easy to grow cynical and I think tempting to give in to the notion that peace and security may be beyond our grasp. But I say to all of you here today, especially the young people, do not give in to that cynicism. Do not lose the idealism and optimism that is the root of all great change. Dont ever lose the faith that says if we want it, if we are willing to work for it, if we stand together, the future can be different. Tomorrow can be better...
snip
Dignity will win, because every human being is born equal, with free will and inalienable rights, and any regime or system of government that tries to deny these rights will ultimately fail and countries that uphold them will only grow stronger.
Justice will win, because might does not make right. And the only path to lasting peace is when people know that their dignity will be respected and that their rights will be upheld. And citizens, like nations, will never settle for a world where the big are allowed to bully the small. Sooner or later, they fight back.
snip
And freedom will win not because its inevitable, not because it is ordained, but because these basic human yearnings for dignity and justice and democracy do not go away. They can be suppressed, at times they can be silenced, but they burn in every human heart, in a place where no regime can ever reach, a light that no army can ever extinguish. And so long as free peoples summon the confidence and the courage and the will to defend the values that we cherish, then freedom will always be stronger and our ideas will always prevail, no matter what.
READ MORE: http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-yearnings-that-burn-in-every-human.html
So many lament the return of Howard Deans '50 State Strategy', yet seem clueless to what President Obama and his team did.
From one of the links:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zack-exley/the-new-organizers-part-1_b_132782.html
The New Organizers, What's really behind Obama's ground game
Inside the Obama campaign, almost without anyone noticing, an insurgent generation of organizers has built the Progressive movement a brand new and potentially durable people's organization, in a dozen states, rooted at the neighborhood level.
The "New Organizers" have succeeded in building what many netroots-oriented campaigners have been dreaming about for a decade. Other recent attempts have failed because they were either so "top-down" and/or poorly-managed that they choked volunteer leadership and enthusiasm; or because they were so dogmatically fixated on pure peer-to-peer or "bottom-up" organizing that they rejected basic management, accountability and planning. The architects and builders of the Obama field campaign, on the other hand, have undogmatically mixed timeless traditions and discipline of good organizing with new technologies of decentralization and self-organization.
Neighborhood team leaderWin or lose, "The New Organizers" have already transformed thousands of communitiesand revolutionized the way organizing itself will be understood and practiced for at least the next generation. Obama must continue to feed and lead the organization they have builteither as president or in opposition. If he doesn't, then the broader progressive movement needs to figure out how to pick this up, keep it going and spread it to all 50 states. For any of that to happen, the incredible organizing that has taken place this year inside Obama's campaignand also here and there in Clinton'sneeds to be thoroughly understood and celebrated. Toward that end, here are glimpses from several days of observations and interviews in Central and Southwest Ohio. This article focuses on the field program's innovative "neighborhood team" structure and the philosophy of volunteer management underlying it that is best summarized by the field campaign's ubiquitous motto: "Respect. Empower. Include."
snip
Lot's more~
**************************
I know, this last link is from 2008. Yet it continued for 2012.
Towards the end, when we were approaching the 2008 elections, I knew Obama was going to win. Yes, some will ridicule me for that. I have often been called an Obamabot here. Yet I had been paying attention. I read a lot and followed closely. You could feel it, you could here it, there was a ground swell that was happening.
Our soon to be President in 2008, The Community Organizer helped build a team of 'New Organizers.' As the article states, we must continue with this. "Respect. Empower. Include."
And this~
Some try to say we can never win Congress in 2014 and will lose the Senate. That is correct, if you do not vote, that will happen. Yet for those who have had their rights taken away it is past time to stand up and make your voice heard. It is time to fight back.
I am a woman and I sure as hell am going to vote for my rights. The GOP tried to take away our dignity and I am saying no.
One last thing and I will stop boring you. I have another feeling right now, something that will make a change in 2014. Ferguson. That was a tipping point, a catalyst and a shot that was heard around the world. They tried to take away their dignity, not happening. They are going to vote and it is not stopping with Ferguson."Respect. Empower. Include."
****************
http://newsone.com/3050009/can-voting-empower-ferguson-residents/
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Last edited Thu Sep 4, 2014, 12:09 AM - Edit history (1)
They are following an international trend of empowerment in the face of others' tragedies in the world. Each place can make their lives better, if they are united.
If not they will fall to the plutocrats. All varieties of people will fuse into one living bond. Or be picked off one by one.
Everything I have read recently from Ferguson shows the integrity and desire for peace of there and even forgiveness as they move forward. The USA must be cleansed of the hatred, it cannot be allowed to fester and harm more people. It's just not worth it.
In each conversation, people must speak their truth. Thanks for posting this!
They, the victims show far more humanity than the ones that sought untold violence to those that grieved over Michael's murder. It was the most disgusting show of shock and awe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_and_awe
They tried to take away their dignity and, in my opinion they lost. The people of Ferguson are strong.
I have posted the wiki link more than once, it is telling.
Ferguson.Yes. It was in Ferguson
freshwest
(53,661 posts)pampango
(24,692 posts)in 1948.
PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
******************
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
sheshe2
(83,954 posts)the Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human rights adopted unanimously by the UN.
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/