Are we just preaching to the choir ?

Or are other people reading our comments? Any influential Democrats reading this? Are we just wasting our breath? <sigh>

but I think this place shows its best influence when it's used for activism, as in action alerts and such. Otherwise, no, just sitting here and bitching probably has minimal impact.

right back where he started from.

I see little point in poltics anymore.

I wish we had a choir to preach to.

Preaching is common, sure, but preaching is only one of several activities going on here.

This site just being here probably persuades people to become more politically active. I know the discussions here have raised my level of knowledge on many issues -- and just got me thinking about things. If nothing else it's kept people like me (too disgusted with MSM to partake) informed.

And if any influential Democrats are smart they're reading it too. There's a lot of insight here.

and what they are doing is trying desperately to find the page in their hymnal that will reassure them that they will keep singing in the choir which is located in the upper, highest echelons of the church.

Whether or not those in the pews below can find the same page and sing along, is not important to their own concept of the right way to sing, that they the rehearsed choir, are better equipped to sing the hymn as it was meant to be sung.

But I have gotten some great ideas for my local activism efforts, learned about new issues that I would never have heard about from the MSM and even changed my mind about a few things as a result of opinions posted here. So breath is not completely wasted.

in order to better communicate our ideals in the outside world.

I've learned a great deal from my fellow DUers.

DU has helped me articulate the problems within specific issues.

The choir has to master the tunes before it can sing.

DU is most effective in that we bounce our ideas off of each other and learn a lot in the process. Then we can go out into the world as well-informed citizens, and that is how we make our greatest impact.

give a place for us to work out things and discuss and hold hands. The internet is amazing. Does not matter how we are doing.. what matters is that we are doing it. The reward is not in fame or money. The reward is in our hearts. We are not Kool-Aid drinkers. Corporations try and get us to reward fame and money. But we are humans first.

Repeat: The reward is in our own hearts.

thoughts so that we can go out and hopefully change some perspectives. I know I have had probably a dozen 'conversions' in the last year alone. Drip. Drip. Drip.

We finally have a left wing echo chamber. It's working. The great ideas bounce around our blogs. It's starting to get picked up by the MSM. It's working.

Most of our posts are preaching to the choir but a few resonate.

I wouldn't even know how to thank the people here other than say thankyou--everyone!! You are NOT wasting anyone's time. New people like me come here everyday--I've sent a few. And we read and learn.

Drunks have to realize that they have a problem -- and then seek out help for their problem.

Counselors/Psychologists and other mental health workers say that once a person realizes that they have a problem -- that the prognosis for recovery or stability is good.

It seems to me that people are drawn to DU and other progressive discussion groups because they just have a feeling that there has to be another side of the story that the corporate media isn't reporting.

The people who realize that they have been drinking koolaid -- or the cynics or skeptics will stumble on DU and perhaps stay around -- clicking on topics that interest them.

We have a lot of new low number posters who "get it" and realize that this is a place to learn and be educated -- the LBN is a good place to get the news and I often tell people who complain about the corporate media to check out LBN -- even if they don't have time for the other forums.

So yes -- we are preaching to the choir -- but also to the congregation some of whom may be waking up.

I no longer believe their listening to us anyway. I've stopped listening to them. I only stay tuned to know who it is that's screwing me so I can have a face to go along with what their doing to us. Ever since the election was stolen I've stopped believing in the political solution. I come here to be with like-minded people. To feel connected to a wider world that believes as I do. To share my ideas(no matter how tin foiled they may be)and to hear the ideas of others. I learn a great deal here and am repeatedly amazed at how intelligent DUers are compared with most of the people around me. I am often humbled by how informed and truly profound many are here. I also get a kick out of some of the humor and provocative wit used to shoot down some of the freepers. I chuckle a great deal and at times find myself in a belly laugh over some of the posts I read. I consider myself very blessed to have found this great tool for sharing and learning. Thanks DU and DUers for all you do!

I have learned more in those almost 4 years than I did in the previous 4+ on a variety of subjects including but not limited to politics. DU is one of the best spots on the web for information, organization and socialization. I think we at DU are influential Democrats, too.

between folks of different political stripes-- where is it? That's why I was a bit late to the DU party.

We had a hijacked election, compliant Congress, complicit national mass media, bamboozled public and the need for a nationwide "Proton Extreme!" to get up a reaction to the End of Democracy As We Know It.

Black and white thinking, cliched insults and bully (pulpit) tactics ruled the day. No one was listening to anyone.

Some of us tried to find discussion between those who didn't already essentially agree. I don't want to "Debate a Freeper." I want to stop warring with words and start creating solutions. Fuck Devil's Advocates. :evilgrin:

There is enough diversity here at DU to keep things interesting and in perspective. A good place to find balance between "The Sky Is Falling" and "I'm a superficial bonehead-- ask me anything."

:smoke:

That, together with the better threads, leaves me with hope.

Can you imagine seeing what you've seen, knowing what you know, and being alone with it? That's a sci-fi plot, a horror movie, a 1984 remake. Community is everything. All else follows from it.

Damn, it's snowing again.

Did you know that Himmler's Waffen-SS (Schutzstaffel) has been reborn under Rumsfeld's command? I'll bet you that they are behind the assassination attempt of Sgrena Giuliana. The name is similar the the Waffen-SS too:

I come here to see the Latest Breaking News ~ I no longer watch the Corporate Media News. I come to see what others are organizing. I come to be informed & educated. I also come for the humor and the outrageous. Along with all of that, these forums provide a place where I can just read & vent my frustrations,,,, I enjoy seeing the postings of like-minded people and find comfort in knowing that I am not the only one that sees through these arrogant greedy warmongering corporate-controled criminals,,,, It's kinda like group-therapy for me.

:)

This place helps me keep somewhat sane.

what was the question?

We are teaching it solfege and writing the hymnal.
So pay attention and do your best.

... Pope, and if we were I don't think he'd take the slightest notice... :-(.

keymaker