Ron Paul's Message, and Unity Among Supporters
In the interest of disclosure, until very recently I have been working for the Progressive wing on the Democratic Party. However the Dems have done nothing but dissapoint me since retaking Congress.
I'm the first to admit that I'm new to Ron Paul. I'm also sold on him and his message. I will never support another candidate who is less principled than The Good Doctor.
Dr. Paul's message is right on target, and bringing in folks from across the political spectrum, with a wide variety of beliefs. It's very important that his SUPPORTERS be able to accept each other's beliefs.
We all agree on the importance of small government, protecting the constitution, etc... However, there are going to be wide differences on issues of religion, abortion, and possibly even gun rights among people being drawn to RP. We have to ensure civil discourse on the web, and in day to day interactions in the real world. We must be careful not to alienate newcomers. We cannot disparage a person's beliefs on certain issues. Right now all that matters is rallying around our COMMON views, and being able to look past those on which we differ.
I truly believe the only thing that can slow down RP's momentum is in fighting among his supporters. It's important that we welcome everyone with open arms, and get Dr. Paul elected. Then we can hash out the details.
Let me know what you all think!
Run Ron Run!!!!
My School Teachers Parents...
My parents, both 68, retired school teachers (history & english), both are life long liberal democrats, and are for the first time voting Republican, yes for Ron Paul. I was shocked, but this is what they said in an email to me:
" The democrats have sold out the Peace Movement and the Republicans have sold out the dream of a Small Government. We would love to see Ron Paul vs Hillary or Obama. It would make the democrats truly embrace the Peace Movement again inorder to win. And if Ron did win the Presidency we don't fear that either. For us, Rons civil right wishes, worries about abortion and plans for the IRS will all end on the 100 day as President. But the one thing that a President Paul could do, and will no doubt will do, is end as best he can our imperial ambitions and bring an end to the Iraq war. As President he could do that without going to Congress. As President, such an action would drop the barrel price of oil by $40 dollars per barrel. As President, he will no doubt veto spending bill after spending bill. This would be a good wake up call to this country. But more than all of this, we like Ron Paul. We have a democratic house and senate and we don't really fear that changing. Ron Paul as President would not get his small government wishes. But we would most certainly get our wish, out of Iraq. on Paul and we can see he is the genuine article, a real Statesman."
Amen... Bump
Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward (ALL) Men... and Women. =-)
....where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY. 2 Corinthians 3:17(b)
***wants are unlimited, means are scarce...***
100000000 percent agree!`
I too left the Democratic party about 2 months ago because I saw the writing on the wall.. The Current Democratic and Republican party have well sold out... I still blog at Daily kos but go there less and less.. I agree with Paul on about 95 percent of what his platform states.. But it is his inegrity and mission that makes me excited.. I was very active politically but now I really feel like I can help stear the boat in the right direction.. tommorrow I get some more supplys and Saturday I stand in front of the library and ask people "Have you heard about the Champion of hte Constittuion?"
Dr. Paul's mega-tent.
I agree that we will someday fight amongst ourselves but it sure is harmonious now. The Obama campaign is emphasizing unity but no one does unity like the good doctor.
Wish this topic could be a sticky.
bump
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The Dr's prescription: Take the red pill.
Agreed.
I would only add that folks should choose words carefully when they disagree with someone. Words like Troll, Statist, Neocon, Socialist, Democrat, Gunnut, Truther, etc. are frequently dropped like bombs. They are meant to end conversation, to dictate the terms of discussion, and silence anyone who doesn't agree. When you do this you are a tyrant and are curbing the freedom of others to speak.
h-daddy
word
but everytime I hear or read the word unity now I think of the Dave Chapelle episode where Rick James punches Charlie murphy in the forehead :)
oh, and bump...
Considerate, kind, professional
We were trained in Orlando by Anita, who worked for the campaign awhile. It was good training. She taught us to be kind, courteous, and professional. If you notice, that is how Ron Paul conducts himself, even under trying circumstances, we should show each other, and people with opposing viewpoints, professional courtesy, and consideration. Being calm and polite will impress people. Being loud, rude, and overbearing is a huge turn off. I've seen both from my fellow supporters, and I'm sticking with professional, kind and courteous.
Ron Paul 2012
I Agree With You...
We need to have unity. We also need to welcome all of the newcomers to Ron Paul. From the looks of the last "money bomb", there are quite a few newcomers at that! I hope that trend will continue. Dr. Paul has just got to get elected as our next President!
In-fighting, yes; and incivility with anyone
Snoop-07 wrote: "I truly believe the only thing that can slow down RP's momentum is in fighting among his supporters."
Yes, the other candidates of both parties will look for opportunities to divide us. And how they must hope that in the large numbers of youth, there will be enough passion, zealousness, and untested wings of maturity, that they can count on us imploding from our own passion.
Furthermore, any immature behavior and discourse that is vulgar and slanderous -- swearing and name-slinging for instance -- will invite "blowback and unintended consequences." :-) Sound familiar?
As between nations, individuals can best achieve harmony through respectful discourse.
AND, remember, Dr. Paul has suggested we have fun in this process. I think it is a lot more enjoyable and delightful to be reasonable and humorous amongst ourselves and with our opposition (no matter how immature or nasty anyone becomes) than it is to enter into vituperative and sullying interaction.
Holding the vision: Dr. Paul, President of the United States of America,
Gwen Kraft
Gwen Kraft
"Personal Liberty & Personal Responsibility" -- Dr. Ron Paul
"A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom." -- Bob Dylan
Putting the FUN back into fund raising!
We certainly put the FUN back into fund raising, that's for sure.
If we're not having fun, what are we doing? It's OK to get angry and be prepared to support what we believe in, but can't we have fun while we're doing it? Sure, that's what the Doctor has prescribed in this r3v0luti0n... putting the LOVE back into it, too.
I am a Republican
and until recently I used to watch Fox news a lot and listen to Hannity and the gang. Well, they pit the Republican's against the Democrats every moment of every day. Inciting hatred towards the Democrats in office and ''the people'' - like those who'd call in or write into the shows.
I don't know if CNN and the other news networks who are more supposedly liberal did that against the supposed conservatives, never really watched any other channels...
but why do they do this? Why not try to bring the people together for a common goal?
Oh, I know why, because we're not meant to follow the constitution and bill of rights nor are we to remember what the Declaration of Independence said, we're supposed to hate whoever doesn't think like us.
Dr. Paul can and will bring people together, I really believe if he were President - he could work with the Democrats in Congress. If not - we'd just replace them with smarter Democrats :) The Republicans have drifted so far away from who they are supposed to be - they'd take a little more work, but there again, throw 'em out by voting in new ones :)
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I agree
But it is the idea of freedom itself that makes it possible for us to all work together. We really DON'T have to like each other or approve of each other's lifestyle or values. We can come together under the banner of liberty anyway.
For example, I don't care if you own a gun. I don't care if you HATE guns. I don't care if you think I am insane for owning a gun. I don't even care if you call me nasty names because I own a gun. All that matters to me is that you don't try and use government to interfere with my RIGHT to own a gun. And as long as that is true, you and I can walk
hand in hand in the Ron Paul parade. But if you advocate using government to interfere with my right to own a gun, and a gentle eduction on the meaining of liberty does not help you to understand, then we WILL have a problem.
Another example- You should be free to exercise any sexual preference you choose (or are genetically destined to pursue). I will never try to interfere by government force with anything you and any other consenting adult (or adults!) decide to do with each other on private property. BUT you don't get to use government force to make me subsidize it, condone it, or even be nice and not criticize it.
This is how we come together to support Ron Paul - by respecting EVERYBODY'S right to do with their own life, body, and property whatever they want, so long as they don't interfere with anyone else's right to do the same.
Letting go of the need to force our values on others allows the freedom message to bring us together.
Peace
Perfection
I'm with you!
Yes
I concur.
It will also take self-esteem and courage for people to embrace this liberty message and build this candidacy to victory.
People of small mind, fear and insecurity usually are the ones who want to control others the most and I see that in our "opponents" on a daily basis.
We must use force of reason, principles of liberty and courage and confidence in our beliefs and broad values in order to make this happen.
It is well worth the fight.
United For Liberty!!
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Freedom - Peace - Prosperity
In Unity There Is Strength
I agree. When I was in school, we learned that in unity there is strength. The US was called a Melting Pot. People came here from other countries and assimilated to become Americans. Today, our politicians promote "diversity" and multiculturalism". They accentuate the differences among us. They divide us. It's called Divide and Conquer.
We need to put our differences aside and concentrate on what we all have in common. We are not opposing a different ideology. We are fighting evil people who wage war for profit. We are fighting those who refuse to secure our borders. Politicians who make secret deals with businessmen and foreign governments.
We are fighting people who are dismantling the Bill of Rights to "protect us from terrorism". I don't want their protection. I want my freedom.
If Dr. Paul is to succeed, we need to all work together. We need to respect the fact that we don't all agree on everything. But one thing that we do agree on is the idea that freedom is important to all of us.
When you serve in the military or elected position, you take an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. In case you have ever wondered who the domestic enemies of the American people are, I will tell you. They are those who are taking away your rights.
I think you're RIGHT ON
Of course it's easier said than done...but hey. Let's go for it.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
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I think Unity
is something RP supporters need to start stressing right now. Tolerance is going to be key to this whole thing. We must keep our eye on the prize. I would like to see every RP backer both stress political tolerance, and practice it everywhere they go. We have to be ambassadors, because people fear change, we have to ease them in, not bully them.
Just a Bump
Gotta bump myself, this forum is fast paced!
I agree 100% I just posted
I agree 100% I just posted something earlier about the establishment going into the "Divide and Rule" phase. This is a classic textbook move to get mass movements of people to start fighting amongst themselves to the point that they disperse the momentum. I agree 100% and the fact of the matter is we all come from various backgrounds, and we are going to have different views on certain issues, be it gun control, religion, or marriage. The thing that is important to to join together on the overall message and to not fight on the details. The media and establishment is going to try and do this with us, and we need to be aware of that and we need to be strong and be true Americans, True Americans unite on common ground for the greater good. We can settle our differences later...
Regards,
David F
www.myspace.com/asymptote
Regards,
David F
www.myspace.com/asymptote