Post something nice

[illusionofjoy]

The latest "craze" spreading like herpes throughout LiveJournal is for members to implore other to stop talking about politics and post a picture of something nice. As a form of protest, I briefly considered posting a photo of my naked ass, cheeks spread, which was once sent as a prank. In the end, I decided that nauseating the general public was no way to get my point across.

I do have this to say: now is not the time for apathy. You may have gone out and voted - if so, great. That is an important first step. However, to think that you have done your democratic duty by voting and then taking a four year nap is not just foolish; it is dangerous! I've said it before, I'll say it again: democracy is advanced citizenship and one has to stay astute and informed for it to work its best. Yes, Bush legitimately won this election, but that doesn't mean that he has carte blanche to run over the 49% of America who voted against him. Ladies and gentlemen, if there was ever a time to send a message to your government telling them to fucking work for you for a change, now is that time! Post pretty pictures all you want, but, for the love of the deities, don't stop talking about politics.

This is going to be a rough four years for anybody with even a passing interest in progressive politics. The entire city of San Francisco is up in a tizzy about the election. American's are flocking to the Canadian immigration website in droves. A 25 year old man committed suicide at the site of the former World Trade Center. All of this happened over the weekend! Don't even get me started on Iraq (30 more dead, by the way).

So, people, stop posting pretty pictures, stop saying you're sorry and start doing something. I, for one, am quite astute at letter-writing. You, however, may find that you prefer hitting the streets and protesting. Whatever you decide to do to make a change in America to bring us back in synch with the rest of the world, just do it! Do not rest on your singular actions on November 2^nd and cry about the results on the 3^rd - go out and work for change in this nation! And on the slight chance that you think I am way off in my rant, then I suggest you read this:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Pretty nice set of principles, don't you think?

Comments

[joi-division.livejournal.com]

Can I post the picture of you in my live journal then? ;)

Seriously, I agree- it's not the time to stop thinking of politics- because it's what W. wants us to do.

start with one.

[dragonflydani.livejournal.com]

i think our nation is scared. i think that people worry about where they're going to go out on friday or get mad because they broke a nail because it easier than fretting about the state or future of our nation. It's easier than contemplateing the nastiness of war, or the ugly state of the ecomomy. I think this is happening because people feel helpless, whether they are or not. i don't think it's that people wouldn't act if they could, given the outlandish number of people that turned out to vote. That number is promiseing, because it shows that people actually give a fuck. But people on a whole are generally stupid. They need guided. They were told to make a diffrence you have to go out and vote, and now that they did, and that didn't accomplish the desired result they're confused about what to do now. They've given up. One person wont change the world, and they know that so they feel that there is nothing, that they personally, can do to change the situation. And while one person can't change the world, a thousand might, and how do you count to a thousand? You start with one. (thank you mother teresa.)

Re: ???QUESTION???

[illusion-of-joy.livejournal.com]

From http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa081400a.htm -

"Supreme Court Justices are nominated by the President of the United States. The nomination must be approved by two-thirds vote of the Senate. The Justices serve until they either retire, die or are impeached."

As for correspondence, you have your choice of writing the president himself or your senators. In fact, writing senators outside of your state is also a viable option and probably a sage decision, given that the nominating of Supreme Court justices is a national issue.