Quote of the week...


"This must be the scariest thing for Republicans, a bunch of progressives sitting in a D.C. basement talking about politics," Zack Exley.



And I'm sure it IS the scariest thing for Republicans and status quo Democrats. To be able to witness the rise, with my own eyes, of progressive youth storming out like gang busters to change the world as we know it, was a powerful sight to behold. The New Organizing Institute is for real and only now, as I am back out west on my parents' sheep farm, do many of the lessons truly start to take hold. My parents live in a very rural part of the pan handle of the state of Idaho, yet based on what I have learned via my training at the NOI, a person can change the world utilizing: an iron will, a sharp mind, and the power of the Internet. Nettocracy has been born!

Zack, Judith, and Roz took 60 people many of whom like myself had a background in technology and a background in politics and what seemed effortless, (but no doubt wasn't) changed each one of us into a lean mean cog for the political machine. The best aspects of the program was that it fit the individual, and didn't try to hammer a cookie cutter shape out those who there to be trained. But rather, those who had jobs lined up could get the information they needed to further their campaign. Those who weren't looking found pieces to a puzzle, so that when they do go for work they are ready to lead the way in this new online politic. Those like myself, who were willing to go anywhere found that their new skills were needed everywhere, so much so that the glut of opportunities seemed almost endless. OH DECISIONS, DECISIONS!

That all being said, I found just one thing troublesome. When the staffer for Nancy Pelosi, implied that it is a simplistic view for us to demand equal opportunity for the have nots to be able to share in this new Nettocracy. But I say the simplicity is its beauty, and the growing digital divide must be bridged if we are to be truly free and equal. As Cerron stated so many times this last week "As Martin Luther King once said it, "An injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere."" Thank you for reminding us all so many times Cerron, that we must include all of us, or we really are only out for our own self interests.

I spoke to Judith about what seemed to be the level hegemony at this conference, I asked since we had spoken about environmental justice with the Stand Up speaker, and we had spoken about economic justice with the AFL-CIO speaker, would we touch on racial justice at the conference? Her reply, "I don't know, we'll have to wait and see." The next night was roots camp, a powerful event which came from the voice of those who gathered to learn not teach, and so at times it came out raw and untouched as if it was a cracked tooth showing an exposed nerve. Yet at others it was simple stats is it better to risk the harm of a few (Nuclear power) or the harm of many (coal power)?, as much as I hate the answer Eric I guess Nuclear is better but I hope we find something even better than that soon. Thank you Eric for sharing your knowledge. Than the next day this portly Jew started speaking with the wisdom of experience and told a story that left this Chicano shocked. He spoke of a grand journey that encompassed the two great civil rights leaders of our time. Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez and to have personally been involved with both made me realize that my work with the Latino community is only half done and now I must work towards better personal understanding of Black America, with the hopes that someday we will all simply be Americans. After Marshall Ganz spoke I returned to Judith and simply said I'm satisfied, I can now go home happy. She laughed...

I still don't know for sure which opportunity looks the best, but I do know one thing, none of them would have been possible a week ago. So thank you all for your youth and exuberance, your will to learn, your wish to strain, keep your fight alive and as Cliff Schecter said, "never give them an inch!"

Thanks again and as always,

Si Se Puede

Sean Michael Patrick Gallegos  ¶ posted by Devil's Advocate @ 4:38 PM