A Nashville holiday gift: Notes on our 2nd Gathering To Save Our Democracy

Greetings, ya'll, from the frozen Southland. As I alternate stoking my two wood stoves on this single digit Christmas Eve, I thought I'd share with the rest of you a summary of our second Gathering To Save Our Democracy, held at the Tennessee State Capital last Sunday (12/19/04). This gathering was a followup to our previous Sunday's Gathering, held in conjunction with the "51 Capitals" national protest event.

Our first gathering broke the media silence on the election theft in middle Tennessee, with our local NPR station and CBS television affiliate covering the event. Here's a link to a description of that first event:

http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/3890/index.php

We were so pleased by that first event that we decided to follow it up immediately. Our second Gathering To Save Our Democracy was again held at the Tennessee State Capital, although this time it was on a bitterly cold day (for us thin-skinned Tennesseans.) However, we had a marvelous turnout, with well over 100 people wrapped in their warmest clothes and orange ribbons, with dozens and dozens of signs (e.g., "Vote Free or Diebold", "Tennessee: Not a Blue or a Red State, We're an Orange State") and the middle Tennessee media again present.

We finally got coverage for the election theft in the Nashville Tennessean (in the paper and on their web-site) and we got a second week of coverage on the CBS affiliate in Nashville to go with two 30 minute long (!!) programs on election theft broadcast Sunday morning on the two largest Nashville Clear Channel radio stations.

For the second Gathering, we had an impressive group of speakers: representatives for the Greens, Libertarians, Constitutionalists and Democrats (speaking in unison that the election was stolen and will not stand, and that reforms are necessary NOW); Vietnam and Korean War veterans; college students; a daughter of the civil rights movement; ministers; folks from Knoxville, Chattanooga, Crossville and many other points Tennessee; and out-of-state guests from as far away as New Orleans, Seattle and Los Angeles. Here's a link to the story in the Nashville Tennessean (which was paired with a Gannett News Service story, "Activists to use data to improve election process", which was the first news coverage of the election theft in that newspaper also.)

http://www.tennessean.com/nation-world/archives/04/12/63091649.shtml?Element_ID=63091649

The gathering was so successful that we drew at least four "spooks", nervous little men who refused to wear orange armbands with us, one of whom filmed the entire Gathering. (I hope the footage is irritating Rove's hemorrhoids tonight.) We even had an Oliver Stone/"JFK" moment when a tall "woman" in a fur coat came up to me at the end of the rally and whispered, "The FBI is well aware of the election theft...", speaking like someone who knew that for a fact.

We videotaped the entire Gathering (didn't want the "spooks" to have the only footage) and we'll be editing it to air on a local cable station. We're also getting copies of the 30 minute radio program for anyone who might be interested. Most importantly, we decided to meet again on January 2, 2005 to start our New Year off right with even more concerted action to take our country back. The next time, we'll meet in a church and hear from local veterans of the civil rights movement, implement workshops on what to do next, and give a rousing send-off to a bus load of Tennesseans who'll be in Columbus, OH to join in the protests there. We also plan to picket our two Senators' Nashville offices on January 6 in hopes that they will consider the import of their actions on that day when the fraudulent electors' votes are submitted to Congress. We'll also begin planning our own Tennessee-specific legislative agenda for getting rid of our new ES$S opti-scan machines, making hand recounts easy to do whenever questions are raised and returning to a more verifiable vote counting process.

All in all, we were pleased by the second Gathering, by what was said and done there, by the continually growing local media attention for the election theft issue and for its springboard effect on future action. But the most important outcome of the Gathering was its effect on the attendees and the ripple effect on everyone they know. I want to close this report by sharing excerpts of letters sent by four attendees to their families, friends, co-workers and fellow political activists. These letters speak highly of the power of mobilizing our communities to become educated, to become angry and to become active in taking our country back.

After those four excerpts, I'll close tonight with the lyrics of our favorite country song during the recent campaign, "Takin' My Country Back", by the Honky Tonkers for Truth. Now more than ever, that song is the anthem for our growing Second American Revolution. (Unfortunately, the web-site where it was available has been taken down. If I can find a web link to the song, I'll post it soon.)

So take heart and inspiration from the letters from four Southerners who stood together in the frozen wind last Sunday and demanded free and fair elections. There are millions of Americans who will go to the streets in the New Year to defend our democratic process, and we're only a week ahead of you here in Music City. Good luck mobilizing your own communities. We will take our country back. Peace, out.
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Comments from attendees at the second Gathering To Save Our Democracy, Nashville, TN (12/19/04)

Theeda, Nashville:

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to express myself on this subject which is near and dear to my heart.

I was very pleased with the turnout at the rally on Sunday, however, I was more than a little disappointed that I was the only African American there. As I explained in my remarks, I am a child of the civil rights movement. My mother was actively involved in marching and crusading for voting rights and civil rights and, by her example, showed me that it is my duty to speak up and fight for what is right.

I feel that it is important for me, and for those African Americans in my generation (who came of age in the Reagan '80s), to pick up and carry on where our elders left off. It is true that we were told that all we needed to do was get an education and a "good" job and the doors of opportunity would open wide for us. Yes, our parents truly believed that their struggles to get basic civil rights, including the right to vote, had completely turned the tide and we would never have to face those issues again.

Alas, they were wrong and in their honor we must take up the fight. Because their struggles were not in vain. They did not achieve all they thought they had achieved, however, many of us were able to get advanced educations and high-salaried, prestigious jobs which allow us to lead comfortable lives. Many of our lives are so comfortable that we can be in denial about what is truly going on.

But we have to wake up. Congressman Conyers and Rev. Jackson are doing what they have always done: keeping this country honest and true to its principles. But where are we? We have piddled and played long enough, it's time to grow up.
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Linda, Nashville:

Raising my hand....I was there.

I was there...on Sunday at the State Capitol and brrrrr it was cold!! Initially, there seemed to be double the number who came out to the previous event. But it was so cold that we had dwindled (to the hard core) by the end.

I only got into all of this a few months ago. Many apologies for that. I just didn't realize what was happening. During the course of my life, periodically, I have heard the following: "Our Democratic form of government is very fragile. People take it for granted. If we are not vigilant we will lose it." I feel like crying every time I think of that now....

Sometime last Fall, maybe September, I got really angry. Angry over the fact I had done nothing out of fear. I think one of those news items sent by my sister Helen, had Rodney Mullins email address. I exchanged a few emails with Rodney and gradually started coming out to help. On election day, I did visibility events and door to door canvassing. Since November 2, I have attended many meetings and events, met many new people.

When I look at my son and grandson, I know I should have acted sooner. I should have done more to preserve our precious Democracy. I should have listened and taken more seriously the admonitions to protect our form of government. I think about Ruth Ann Getz who used to canvass door to door by herself, Rodney Mullins who always (although he must receive hundreds of emails) sent a reply, Bernie Ellis who personally registered over 900 voters and Alma Sanford who has led every battle before and after the election. And many others, faces, some whose names I know and others not...

Yes, I went Sunday and it was COLD!!!!!
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Shannon, Nashville:

Awright, I went (along with my 10-year-old daughter) to the protest about the apparent presidential voter fraud today. COLD, but the hard cores showed, a lot more than last week. Media came by, also. Did we get coverage? I wanted to speak, but was too cold, and didn't want the kid to freeze any more, but I wanted to say this:

So maybe they didn't steal this election. Maybe all the thousands of reports of problems that favored Bush were accidents. Maybe the exit polls were wrong. Maybe Dubya won fair and square. But you know what, I HATE wondering if they stole it. I HATE not knowing if all this campaign was for nothing, and someone - Republican or anybody else - conspired to take over our government illegally. Somebody should pay for making all of us suffer that pain of not knowing if we can trust that thing we hold most dear, the power to vote for the candidate of our choice; the knowing that in America, our votes are counted fairly, and we all shake hands and go to work together when it's over, just like we learned in our civics class in high school, because the voters had spoken and we accept that.

If the Congress can continue to spend untold bazillions of dollars on Iraq, couldn't they spend a mere few bazillions on putting voting machines in all precincts that will spit out dual receipts - one for the voter and one for the ballot box - to be used in case of a hand recount... And use the paper for the final copy, the copy that gets counted officially. HOW HARD COULD THIS BE??? If they can do it at ATMs, they can do it for our "sacred" American right to vote!

On election day, when I watched the early evening TV reports, I saw the reporters trying to hold back from busting out and saying, "It's Kerry! It's Kerry! It's Kerry!" They had seen the exit polls, which were always right in the past. Next I saw the interview with Dubya, and he said, "I know I gave it my best shot," which sounded like he knew he was gonna lose, but followed that with, "I did what I had to do." What does that sound like he was saying there to ya'll? I know what it sounded like to me, and it gave me a sense of dread that my wife couldn't shake out of me as we went to the Nashville Dem "victory" party. I kept thinking , "they stole it, they're stealing it right now..." And they did. I fear for my country, ya'll. It's gonna get ugly, we may have to be more patriotic than we ever thought we might have to be. God help us all...

Also, I'd like to offer a hearty note of thanks to the Green Party for helping so much in this vote fraud fight. We Democrats have a lot of agreement with them, and should try to build bridges to these committed folks.
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Debbie, Clarksville:

I have never felt so devastated by an election's outcome. For weeks I'd go up and down in rage, hate, despair, shock, terror, apathy and blame and I figured that others were doing the same. People I talked to were never on the same level as I. I would be in rage and they would be in apathy. I would be in despair and they would be in fear. I couldn't even relate to the other people who felt devastated too. I thought, "This is dangerous." If we are stuck in these emotions, which we have worked all our lives not to be stuck in, then we are sitting ducks, powerless to take any action whatsoever. I had my Grandpa's ghost whispering in my ear, "This is what happened in Germany, before WWII. This is how so many people were persecuted. They went into shock and they did nothing."

We Americans are either not aware or overwhelmed by the truth. Meanwhile, environmental protection is being shot full of holes, constitutional rights are being avoided. The news media does not pursue the truth. This is the biggest crime! If you are not aware of the extent of this, log on to some web sites and see for yourself. In the last four years I felt so threatened about voicing my objections with the Patriot's Act hanging over my head. My Grandpa reminded me, "That's the way it's done. You say something against the government and you are a traitor. Traitors are eliminated." That's why he left Germany. I thought about leaving here. If we can't get the truth in our media then how much hope is there? I am still finding out how much the media is controlled. It is overwhelming and it brings up the despair and hopelessness feeling all over again.

I'm sending this out to you today because I went to the rally about voter fraud held in Nashville yesterday. It was totally freezing. I was so cold I didn't think I could walk away when it was time to go. I had three coat/sweaters on, a hat, gloves, scarf and warm socks but that wind just cut right through it. Is this what it's like in Canada? Hmm.

The rally was put together marvelously. There were short, excellent speeches from several people. The media showed up as promised and even our local paper had an article about it. As we were driving to the rally in Nashville, my husband said that making a big deal about voter fraud might not be a big issue and might make us look stupid, as Democrats. But when we heard the speakers there, we realized that once again, so much of the truth has been hidden. Even the Green Party and Libertarians are pushing this issue.

There were a few people who showed up from the New Orleans area. They came just for this rally. Made me feel a little embarrassed, being one of three that showed from Clarksville (30 miles away). And Nashville didn't do that great either as far as attendance considering how many people voted for change. I hope to see more support in the future.

I can't fix anyone who is broken. I can't convince them to do something when they don't feel like it. I hope they will take the time to give to themselves like they never have before. I hope they use this time to suffer, heal and come alive. I can't do it for them. And do it right away because this is the beginning of another four years. I hope they find and follow their passion. I hope that leads them to action in supporting democracy like never before. Being frozen (unlike what I did yesterday), being good victims, hurts our freedom more than the Republicans can. Right now, we are simply accepting their abuse. But not much longer, not much longer....
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TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

COUNTRY MUSIC'S GOT MAMAS AND DADDYS
WE GOT BAR ROOMS AND OLD HEARTBREAK SONGS
BUT I 'M HERE TODAY TO STAND UP AND SAY
HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY HOME SWEET HOME
WHAT'S LEFT, WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG... AND

I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN' HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN' YOU AND I DON'T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN' MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU TOOK OUR JOBS AND SENT ‘EM OVERSEAS
NOW WE OWE BILLIONS TO THE RED CHINESE
YOU BLEW THE BUDGET AND YOU BOTCHED IRAQ
SO I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

WE HAD A BUNDLE IN THE TREASURY DRAWER
MORE THAN THERE HAD EVER BEEN BEFORE
BUT EVERY DAY WE'RE DROWNIN' DEEPER IN DEBT
MAYBE FOUR YEARS SHOULD BE ALL YOU GET
THEN YOU GAVE TAX BREAKS TO THE MILLIONAIRES
AND TRIED TO MAKE THE WORKIN' MAN PAY
BUT YOU CAN'T TAX A MAN WHEN HIS JOBS NOT THERE
NOW LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY…HEY

I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN' HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN' YOU AND I DON'T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN' MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU GOT TOO MANY FANCY FRIENDS FOR ME
THE SAUDIS TREAT YOU LIKE YOU'RE ROYALTY
YOU BLEW THE BUDGET AND YOU BOTCHED IRAQ
NOW I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

NOW I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WERE HOT
'CAUSE BIN LADEN NEVER DID GET CAUGHT
SO YOU SAID WE HAD SADDAM TO BLAME
TRIED TO TELL US IT WAS ALL THE SAME
BUT NOW THE YEARS ROLL BY AND OUR KIDS KEEP DYIN'
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLAN TO BRING 'EM HOME
AND THOSE W.M.D. YOU PROMISED ON T.V.
HEY ADMIT IT, YOU FIGURED IT WRONG...
SO I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

NOW YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU KNOW WHO I AM
I'M YOUR EVERYDAY WORK HARD, PLAY HARD
RAISE KIDS AND PRAY HARD COMMON MAN....
AND LORD KNOWS I LOVE THIS LAND...THAT'S WHY

I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN' HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN' YOU AND I DON'T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN' MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU SAY "UNITE" BUT YOU DIVIDE US MORE
CUSSIN' EACH OTHER ON THE SENATE FLOOR
AIN'T WE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOVE ALL THAT ?
HEY I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK
I GOT MY FAMILY AND MY CHURCH AND FLAG...
NOW I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

Brought to you by Honky Tonkers for Truth
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Happy holidays ya'll. Stay warm, stay mad and get ready to kick butt. This time, unlike 2000, it ain't over 'til WE-ALL say it's over.

Naish-vulle (used to live there, ya'll)

...especially you, Fly-by. You're one stubborn SOB. I like stubborn SOB's. (It's only our cultural inheritance we're rumbling over, right?)

I am a child of the 70's, but grew up in the ghetto and was well aware of life's hardships at an early age. the haves and have nots.

What is happening now is disgusting absolutely horrible. i hear lots of people are moving from blue states to red. thats a good thing. we need to turn those states blue.

i hope together all of us fighting can turn this around. we must go backward (how sad is that). we had more rights as people in the 70's then we do now. something is wrong with that picture.

we fought so hard. so many people died for those rights, killed by the same type of hands that are ruling the country today.

lets keep fighting. i don't like the cold and NY is cold enough. Canada has got to be a Popsicle.

at the Tennessee State Capital a walk in the springtime park in Yale, British Columbia. Yeah, I checked out Canada myself, but this country (our country) is well worth fighting for. That doesn't mean we can't relearn a lot from our Canadian neighbors that we've forgotten (like the need for free and fair elections). I would put going back to paper ballots and hand-counting them at the top of the list of things we should re-import from Canada, above prescription drugs, universal health insurance and dozens of other things. As they say up there, "It's all good." Were that it were so in 2005.

Now to start making red raspberry jam for my friends and family. Merry Christmas, everyone. Except for the Republi-Nazis of course, and they're about to get Scrooged in ways that they've had comin' for a long, long time.

Thanks -- and congratulations!

And, thanks, too, for showing us how it's done!:kick:

and taking them lots of DU documentation of election theft. Hope the raspberry jam I mnade this morning makes the evidence go down easier and gives them the energy to stand and fight with the rest of us.

and can affirm how cold it was.
I was also approached by the tall cross-dresser in the fur coat who said, almost verbatim, the same thing to me. That FBI agent was quite passable until you spoke with him/her.
Good to know we are doing it inside a church on the 2nd.

Wiley

....this "Happy holidays ya'll. Stay warm, stay mad and get ready to kick butt. This time, unlike 2000, it ain't over 'til WE-ALL say it's over."

Exactly.

We the people are the one's who are going to 'sing' on 6 Jan 2005 --- millions of us.

Any Senator or Congressperson who wants to stay in DC on 7 Jan 2005 should have any doubt that their actions will determine whether we let'um stay or run'um out of town. Their choice; ticket to stay requires they must challenge this fraudulent, disenfranchising 2004 national election farce.

Peace.

We've got yer back here in the Home of the Blues...

Might as well send this thread through one more time to remind the naysayers on this web-site this morning that there are things we can ALL do to take our country back. including today. I'll be emailing 600+ people with senators' addresses, sending my email list the four best articles (out of hundreds) about the election theft for them to read and share with their unaware friends, announcing our 1/2/05 meeting and recruiting folks to go to Columbus and DC. I'll also be writing Tennessee's only potentially worthwhile Senator (Alexander) to appeal to his small town East Tennessee patriotism in voting to overthrow this election fraud. Frist is hopeless, so I won't bother with him. For a transplant surgeon, he is utterly clueless. And for the Senate majority leader, he is politically retarded and inept (and soon to be out of a job, I hope). What are YOU doing today to protect and defend the country?

I'll bet that you could generate considerable media attention, particularly if you could get Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. to speak. Let me know if you're interested and we can talk about how we can help. Mum-fis isn't that far from the "other" Music City after all, and the blues might just be the best background music for a fifth quarter, come-from-behind Kerry victory.