Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Rowland Smith <rowland AT nc.rr.com>]

On Wednesday 09 October 2002 01:29 pm, you wrote:
> heh. and this is exactly the problem that has been so disturbing to me.
> 
> all these tech-savvy, broadly-educated, supposedly egalitarian folks 
> worldwide and no one can make a definitive statement on anything. so, 
> where is this discussion going to take place? do you host a weekly 
> conversational salon in your home for these issues? are there a lot of 
> attendees?
> 
> what is everyone so afraid of?
> 
> are you afraid of being wrong?
> are you afraid Ashcroft (John, this time) is monitoring this list and 
> will detain all those with "Anti-American sentiment"?
>

John Ashcroft is the most dangerous man on the planet as far as I'm concerned.

> *or* are you more afraid that what you think does not matter?
> perhaps your feelings of ambivalence towards the governing of this 
> country have grown so swollen that you choose to not think or say 
> anything?

I have a deep feeling of frustration with the current state of politics in 
America.  The federal government has become such a huge, lumbering behemoth ( 
"slouching toward Bethlehem"? ) that personally I don't see how it can be 
changed without coming damn close to armed insurrection.


> 'cause from where i am sitting, that is all i can see.
> 
> my vote does not count.

We used to have a system of "one man, one vote", now it's "one million 
dollers, one vote", and I'm a wee bit short on cash.

> my voice goes unheard.

Only because I haven't been saying anything  - "what we have here is a 
failure to communicate politically" :)

> my thoughts are irrelevant.

They are definitely irrelevant if I don't say anything - so I guess I better 
start talking ;)

> yes, if you are sulking in those shoes, then there is no purpose in 
> commenting. you have already been robbed of your motivation(s) to do 
> anything. you have no control over your environment and you have 
> forfeited your right to participate.
> 
> i, on the other hand, am quite interested in seeing if we can eek out 
> any remaining life and truth from our previously Democratic system. i 
> would like to see the American people have a voice again in how our 
> country interacts with the rest of the globe. i am interested in 
> finding ways to improve conditions for all world citizens. and i am 
> interested in talking about this and getting others to talk about it.

> if you want to silence me, then i wish you the best of luck.
> 
> thanks to a suggestion by the brilliant Sarah Welna, i propose a local 
> meeting devoted entirely to discussion of this topic (Dubya's war, that 
> is). it would be great to have as many opinions present as possible, as 
> it is never fun to wind up in a meeting where everyone just agrees.
> 
> so, yeah - if you want us to blow up Iraq, then come on out and explain 
> why. and if you don't want this (for whatever reason) then let that be 
> heard, too. anything is better than sitting on the sidelines wondering 
> why and feeling sorry for yourself.
> 
> i am open to suggestions for a meeting place, time, date and all that.
> 
> and Rachel - thanks for your input!
> 
> On Wednesday, October 9, 2002, at 12:49  PM, Rachel Cox wrote:
> 
> > At 12:11 PM 10/9/2002 -0400, David R. Matusiak wrote:
> > [snip]
> > >it pleases me greatly to now see that there are actually 4 (four)
> > >people who are thinking about this.
> >
> > There may be more people thinking about it than feel inclined to share 
> > their thoughts on a mailing list.
> >
> > Cheers!
> > -Rachel
> 
> ---
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