Senate Democrats Ready To Sabotage Democratic Party Presidential Candidates ... Over ENDA

by: Autumn Sandeen
Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 05:00:00 AM EST

Pam's House Blend

"All in all, pushing for a sexual orientation-only ENDA before the presidential election seems to me to be an unintentional plan to sabotage the chances of the Democratic nominee for president.  It'll refocus the LGBT base on the ENDA divide when most of us want the focus to be on the presidential election, and it provides the Evangelical and other social conservatives more election year fodder.  If Senators Kennedy and Reid have their way with a 2008 ENDA vote, in my opinion we might as well label the two as Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Saboteurs."

{Italics in original =K}

Karen

I sometimes feel like just a voice in the wilderness...

What is the f*'n use if we can't get any sort of attention on our issues?  Are we to be relegated to the dungeon of Jerry Springer forever?

"Next on Jerry!  Men who dress as women!"

Then there is *Ms* Stanton trying so hard to distance *her*self from the rest of the trans community.

"Oh no, I'm NOT a man in a dress!  Those OTHER ->-bleeped-<-s are!"

Is it any clearer why more and more of us simply go stealth and never return to help our sisters?

At times like this I feel so ineffective.  I put my butt on the line every day, I make myself available for questions to anyone and yet no one asks.  I have sent emails and called all my senators and representative and the ones who even bother to acknowledge my message state quite emphatically that they are all for gay and lesbian rights!  All there is is the pandering from the ratings hungry talk show hosts and the hate mongering christians (little c intensional).

This girl will NEVER sit at the back of the bus!

Welcome to the new HRC approved LGB&t community.

I'm going to have to replace my keyboard now.  This one is melted down...

-Sandy(very, very pissed)

Sandy,
    I have been there and I still think its the right idea, to not get involved. I will not give any money to the HRC but I am looking for another organization to back. I do like PFLAG, but that organization is not as political the other two. I still write, even though people pick and take my writings out of context. I think we just have to let ENDA go this time around. It will come back and I hope that we have some support on this. I will not do anything local anymore.
Sheila

Quote from: Sheila on January 05, 2008, 06:12:20 PM...I will not do anything local anymore.

"Ken Kesey, who wrote "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" always told people that when they face a choice about what to do next to "put your good where it will do the most"."

Years ago I read "The Electric Kool-aid Acid Test", by Tom Wolfe, about Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters.  That phrase, 'put your good where it will do the most',  has been with me since.

If local activism isn't giving you returns on your investment, find a better place to put your good.

If you would like to make a difference, please do so.  Write. Produce. Talk. Stand up. Motivate. Persuade. Be a good example. Protect. Nurture. Clear the way. Support. Organize. Donate. Make. Defend. Campaign... (this list is nowhere near complete.)

The Japanese have a phrase -- "Dekiru dake", 'only as much as one is able'.  By this, they mean do what you are able.  You yourself may not be able to climb the mountain, but perhaps you can help one traveler who can and is going to climb.

You don't have to march in the front lines, or write postings for blogs, or create and run your own podcast, or dress in pink and go to the capitol in D.C. to try to stand where the cameras can see you-- You can do something as small as befriend someone who could do with a little assistance...

Put your good where it will do the most;

Karen

We can only continue the pressure.  Unfortunately, we do not represent much of a voter base to convince a candidate or representative to put their career on the line for us. It would mean that you know.  Social change takes time.  We need to keep working.

Cindi