Why I stay - a Revival -- ((((((((( Ripple Effect ))))))))))

((((((((( Ripple Effect ))))))))))

ripple effect: NOUN: A gradually spreading effect or influence:

image
of water, a brightness
not gold, not silver,
rippling
as if with laughter.
~ Denise Levertov ~



The pure serene of memory in one man,—
A ripple widening from a single stone
Winding around the waters of the world.
~Theodore Roethke ~

The ripple effect of DU is tremendous. Each one of us that stone that is tossed into the pond, each one of us tossing stones into the pond that is DU. We come here to learn, to share, to vent and to encourage and our actions, our posts, our arguments and our agreements ripple out and touch each other just as we are touched by the ripples of others.

We are a grassroots community made up of people that believe in some basic principles -- Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We see our world as precious and we see how frail it is. We recognize that we cannot change the world on our own; we know that there is strength in numbers and we each try our best to improve our corner of the world. We strive for acceptance, not just of our ideals and ourselves, but also for others and their values and their views.

We long for the nation we once knew, one that was the model of democracy for all others to follow and aspire to be like. In these last few years we have seen forces that seem beyond our control warp and distort everything we have held dear. We have been told that we are the minority and they have used our patriotism as a weapon against us and they have battered us like an abusive spouse, telling us with each blow to our liberties “if you love me, you will take it, I abuse you because I love you and I know what is best for you.” But we don’t believe them. We know it is about control and not love. It is about power and not justice. So we come here to remind each other and ourselves that we are not alone, that we are not the minority. We gather strength from each other and we share ideas. Because of the ripples we make in the pond, because of the ripples that touch us, we are willing to stand up and call them on their lies, we are armed with the truth. For we know what true love of country is and we know we are patriots.

We, the members of the grassroots community of DU, have made a difference and we will continue to do so. In January, we shut down congress’ telephones as we flooded the switchboards with calls and faxes and emails demanding someone stand with Conyers and Tubb-Jackson to oppose the certification of the Ohio votes. No, we didn’t change the outcome, but we made them hear us and we made them take notice. Our ripples were felt.

We must continue to do, to try, to share and to encourage. We must continue to reach out to each other and to reach for the stars. To not try is to be complicit in their crimes; to not try is to enable their evil, to encourage their corruption. We must continue to toss the stones into the ponds, we must continue to allow the ripples formed to carry us beyond their myths and beyond ourselves.

We have made a difference. In a week’s time we have raised almost $35,000 to help a member of our community afford surgery necessary to save his life. We have pinched our pennies, given what we can and extended our hands and our love, our prayers and our positive energies to one of our own.

As we reach out to help one man, as we unite to help Andy, our single efforts have had a ripple effect that we never expected, creating ripples that we can never count. The grassroots effort has been strengthened, the DU community united and our love has been multiplied a hundred times over. Our faith in humanity has been restored, our belief in each other and ourselves renewed, as we reach out to help someone we love. With laughter and determination, with humor and wit, we have reached out to help a friend and we will attain our goal. For we know that with faith and love (and laughter), all things are possible.

Our efforts continue and we continue to throw our stones into the ponds, hoping our ripples will join together to form the waves of relief so necessary. Not just for Andy but for our nation, for justice, for election reform, for health care, for civil rights for all, for all of the causes we each hold so dear, our environment, our freedoms, our children, our future and for peace.

I stand united with you all, I am proud to be a member of this community. Your ripples have touched me in ways that I will never adequately be able to express and your ripples have given me the courage to toss my own stones into the pond, to cause more ripples, to try to make a difference, to try to save my corner of the world.

Bless you all . . .

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