A whole lot of people deserve a whole lot of thanks today.

Here in Boston, we've been boiling our water since Saturday after a massive aqueduct erupted and killed the water supply for 2,000,000 people. They were talking about it being weeks before it got fixed, but the (union) workers busted their asses around the clock and fixed the pipe break in 72 hours. During the crisis, Teamsters and National Guard soldiers handed out free water to all comers. This morning, the governor lifted the boil-water order, and as we speak, I am flushing out my pipes.

Thank you.

In New York, an alert t-shirt vendor sounded the alarm, and a whole lot of kick-ass police and federal investigation work led to the arrest of the little shit who tried to blow up Times Square.

Thank you.

In the Gulf, people are laboring mightily to contain the BP oil spill. They are engaged in a losing effort at this point, as the oil is overwhelming all efforts, but they're trying, and it is a disgusting job to have to do.

Thank you.

This is what I'm going to hold onto today. Things are all fucked up, but that doesn't mean there aren't excellent, heroic people busting their asses to try and make it better.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

working together-a lesson for the teabaggers.

It is virtually enshrined in the Constitution, We The People....

We can use the instrument of our government to come together in a common purpose to address common needs.

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There are times, even today, when the government "can be" an instrument for us to use to address common needs. Unfortunately, it is also one for us to use "against" each other

And the government *is* the people.

This reality is lost on Tea Baggers, neo-cons, and right-wing Republicans who are nothing more than shills for a failed economic system.

I constantly amazed at how these folks can continue to cling to the notion that a small group of power brokers can work in secret for a larger group of wealthy investors, and still claim to have the best interests of America at heart.

K and R :bounce:

Now they say that if they had some kind of booms in place they could have contained the oil and burned it off. Why does the congress let this bunch of crap get away with this stuff. They are saying it is ALL the administrations fault.

They are losing all seriousness and people should learn to ignore them.

exactly how?? gawd that fucking pisses me off.

i want a cable news network all my own to propagandize day and night. only thing is on my cable news network, i'll tell the TRUTH. bastards, the bastards.

We do what we can.

pretty unbelievable what's going on there. i'd really like to to understand why it happened, from a geological and meteorological perspective.

I'm sure you're rightly thinking about the people trying to keep the oil off the beaches and out of the wetlands using booms..

I was thinking about the BP engineers here in Houston 'working 12-hour shifts around the clock' the paper mentioned, trying to figure out how to make it stop. It's not physical labor; but I can't imagine the pressure that they are under. I know they are well-paid; I know they make their good livelihoods in a way that has directly contributed to this situation by making it possible for some capitalists in search of deeper piles of money under the ocean to push the limits of their technology at horrendous risk to the environment..but still, here they are, and we can just sit by and watch while they have to figure out a way to make it stop. We need them to be making wise decisions and finding creative, workable solutions right now.

"We need to be a country with fewer lawyers and more engineers"

the political and criminal elites have to be pushed out of the way--or after they walk away, washing their hands and bagging their loot....

Bemoaning all the bad just keeps you angry and sad


Silly country saying - Wringing your hands just keep you from rolling up your sleeves.

label this oil spill as Obama's Katrina.

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Life goes on because people care to make a difference in the direction it goes.

for pointing these things out and taking such a positive attitude towards some very serious situations. When I read about everything that has been going down over the last few days, including the flooding in Tennessee, I could not help but be upset. However, there are people who are good, solid, heroes in my mind who go the extra mile to DO SOMETHING to help.

Today President Obama called the t-shirt vendor who alerted the police to the odd vehicle in Times Square to thank him.

Isn't it great to have a president who acknowledges small acts of heroism?

I don't agree with President Obama on a lot of issues, but he is the most effective president I can remember.

It is part of the human condition.

Now there's something we don't see much anymore, since we got all pragmatic around here.

Nice to see it again.

that's disgusting ... :mad:

They are loud, but I choose to believe, few.

Teachers' unions? Nothin' but love.

UAW? The knives come out. :puke:

There will always be problems. It is how all these people rise to to fix them that is important.

I know I will think differently of the NYC street merchants on those very crowded streets.

Thanks Will.

There are times (most of the time) where we take all the good for granted.

:applause: and thank you to all of our union brothers and sisters.

:hi:

:applause:

:loveya:

....still freaked the fuck out by this massive clusterfuck in the Gulf. :yoiks:

Will, thanks.

We need to find the good, always. Because it's there, and because it gives us a reason to keep on trucking.

K&R

:patriot:

But yes, there are many people out there doing good. We should remember that many of these people are doing good heroic things even when there aren't national disasters going on.

And I'm glad Boston has its water back.

which should be applauded --

I know there are a lot of thankful citizens in Boston today -- my daughter lives there!



but . . .

NOT what we see from capitalism --

thanks for the reminder --

but we need to move onto a more humane economic system and more

clearly understand the evils of capitalism -- and unregulated

capitalism which is merely organized crime.

and thank those who already have.

but things sure are fucked up! damn.

Although she is no longer with me I have been thinking about her all day. I always sent her flowers and called her on her birthdays and all other occasions. But thanks Mom for all you did and for the wonderful person you were...

Your son...

:thumbsup:

never realizing that thee are hundreds of thousands, often millions upon millions that are doing things that save lives, make lives better in some small corner or perform a random act of kindness that makes someone's life just a little more bearable.

We forget these people, or more often, never hear of them. High profile situations like Times Square and the Gulf get a lot of attention, but as I traveled across the nation mny years ago, and since, I have seen hundreds of acts that have deserved a thank you. These days, the media is always looking for the "Big Story", and rarely find those that are doing what it takes to make this country, or the world a better place.

The people you collectively mentioned have earned out gratitude, often we have been in a grave situation, and can thank them for the life they have saved. We forget...right up until the next crisis, whether that be personal or public. The Times Square affair was excellent...let's hope that soon the Gulf will dealt with, capped and cleaned...with BP/associates picking up the tab.

Oh yeah, because the RNC doesn't bother to write them.

:applause: Will!

Too many times we hear "it goes without saying..." when it should be said loud and often. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who labor to make the world a better place. Remembering to be grateful is a good thing.

I've stayed for more than just him, but I still read everything he posts (except in the sports forums. Every one has to have limits).

Thanks Will for saying the things that often go unsaid.

Good post, Will. I am reminded of a saying my children get very tired of: "We are all in this boat together, and everyone must row." My heart goes out to Tennesseans, Bostonians, New Yorkers, and especially to all our neighbors here in the Gulf. What a week this has been! Does anyone besides me think this is damn coincidental? Just sayin'!

Things may not go the way you want them to, and yes, what happened in Times Square has confirmed that there are still a whole bunch of crazies out there who want to kill Americans, but I see it like this: for the authorities to move as quickly as they did is nothing short of a miracle. If Grampa McCain was POTUS, heaven only knows how long it would take before anyone was caught.

I thank them too!!

I'm glad things are better in Boston, so I commend the union workers too! Something like that can happen anywhere so count your blessings for I'm sure things could have been worse!

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

We need to see more of this!

Well said Mr. Pitt.

Thank you and Cheers to the folks out there working so hard.

It's a little hokey, but this post sort of reminds me of Alabama's song: 40 hour week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38b3RVg7Jpo&feature=PlayList&p=70C34833E2538667&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=50

Wish the good people had more political influence and money ....

:thumbsup: :hi:

Jesus.

Oh well, guess I'll Rec this anyway.

In order to have a positive outcome, it is said , one must practice massive gratitude. So if everyone is thankful everyday for what they have and what they don't have, good things naturally happen. At least it is a starting point for a positive flow.

your post was great, and looking back i am not sure why i made that comment. I am trying to keep it together but having a hard time
Thanks for the post.

How refreshing to accentuate the positive- thank you so much for reminding us of there are a lot of good guys out there- we just need to pull together and good things can happen. Act to become!

It is vitally important that we acknowledge the good while we continue to fight the bad; otherwise, what are we fighting for?

to all of yous

Makes me kind of pissed that I'm stuck in college right now

Guiness?

;) Love you Mr. Pitt - take good care.

to the Nashville Electric Service workers who worked tirelessly in storm conditions to restore power even though a substation that supplied 1/3 of the power to Davidson County was completely under water;

Thank you.

To the local Police and Fire Departments who performed heroic rescues, and sometimes had to be rescued themselves;

Thank you.

To all the private volunteers who aided and worked with the Police and Fire Departments;

Thank you.

To all the people who watched the rivers rise around them and did not panic;

Thank you.

To the local media who did an excellent job of keeping us informed throughout the crisis, especially as to which roads were open and which to avoid;

Thank you.

To TDOT, which is already working hard to repair road and bridge damage;

Thank you.

And, finally, to President Obama for recognizing the extent of the damage and declaring the area a disaster so that we can get much of the funds needed to rebuild;

Thank you.

And thank you to all the DUer's who keep us in your thoughts, prayers, and sent us good vibes. Thank you all.
:hi:

Just kidding, natch.

BTW, you forgot to mention Nashville- Middle Tennessee and the surrounding environs are an unholy mess that will take a post-Katrina-like effort to contain and fix. Thanks in advance to all who help fix my favorite city.

You just made me :cry:

:kick:

Enjoy one moment at a time;
Accept hardship as the
pathway to peace.

...such complex things, capable of such ignorance and greed but also of great compassion and love.