Fw: What Now? for the peace movement?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Cahill"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 4:41 PM
Subject: What Now?


>
> From: barton@sonic.net
> Subject: What Now?
> Date: November 16, 2004 6:31:21 AM PST
> To: peacerootsalliance@yahoogroups.com
>
> Disbelief and depression get boring after a while.
>
> I've attended two What Now? gatherings lately, small political/personal
> discussion groups for sharing reactions to the election defeat, and want
to
> share with you some of our discussion.
>
> The most immediate and fervent expression was something like: "I'm awake
> now and I'm not going back to sleep." There was grief and dismay, but also
> a determination to stay in the struggle, looking for an opening.
>
> Among the openings considered were:
>
> The electoral challenge. Immediate support for challenges in Ohio and
> Florida, long range support for ranked choice and proportional
> representation systems.
>
> The 9/11 truth efforts.
>
> Building community support organizations that would be for us what the
> churches are for the Repubs.
>
> Political party organizing, within and without the Democratic party.
>
> Rebuild the labor movement. So much of what Repubs are trying to
dismantle
> came to us through the labor movement of the 1930's, the time seems ripe
> for a big renewal.
>
> Reframe the political dialog. Many of us are reading George Lakoff's
> "Don't Think of an Elephant" and plan to work together to practice
> reframing.
>
> Build a "virtual government" from among some of the many wonderful
> talented and articulate people who came forward in the past year to
provide
> a voice to this grassroots movement that does not rely on the Democratic
> party organization. I heard this proposal on an Air America interview
from
> some blogger I missed the name of. Do you know of anyone working on this?
>
> I know these discussions are happening everywhere.
>
> Deep gratitude to you for your beautiful heart and courageous actions!
>
> Barton Stone
>
>
>
>
>
>