04-23-01

VOICES FROM THE FRINGE


One of the things I love most about the Fringefolk project is reading the comments of those who join; it is a constant reminder that I am not alone in feeling angry, betrayed, and absolutely determined to take back our democracy. And one of the frustrations of being the webmistress for the project is that I have to be an editor, and can't post all of the great comments that I receive.

So for today's rant, I'm posting a few random "mini-rants" I've received from the Majority Fringe.

"Labeled a "loose cannon" and a "zealot" by Republicans for fighting to save the house where our flag first flew over American troops and as a Hospital Corpsman in Viet Nam having seen that flag draped over hundreds of coffins. The words "and to the republic for which in stands" has strong patriotic feelings for me.

Webster's definition of Republic is as follows "a state in which the supreme power rests in the citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by their chosen representatives." and "a state in which the head of government is not a Monarch but a usually a president"Ê Democracy is "government in which supreme power is exercised directly by the people."Ê

As of December 12th and January 20th we as a free people no longer fit either of those above definitions; and I'm real mad about it! During my fight for Lafayette, DeKalb, Pulaski, and the 13 Star Flag this quote by George Bernard Shaw was assigned to me and I feel its meaning holds truth to all who protest the theft of our Republic.ÊÊ "Reason" (The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.)Ê Is it unreasonable to object to Florida's treatment of voters and the Supreme Court taking the election out of the hands of the people? I'll choose to be unreasonable and a Patriot. Cur-Non? (Why-Not?) replied Lafayette in 1777.

I've heard Republicans use the word republic alot. Now I think it's time to make them justify the definition as it applies after the election. When people pledge allegiance to the flag, they should think of its meaning. Complacency thrives in my township and I'm bitter for what they put me through to save Moland House. Twelve years of fighting Republicans and the Mob to save a house that will be a Nat'l Landmark. I've sat on the democratic executive board for over twenty years, quit last month. I can not represent complacent people who only care about tot lots and soccer fields. I prefer to remain a zealot and a loose cannon for all people, the past and the future. Not all veterans are for Bush, Dick and Colin."

"My family went to DC to protest the Shrubs coronation, along with THOUSANDS of other ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT lunatics, according to the news media. After freezing in rain, sleet and snow for 12 hours we went back to our motel room to watch the newscast, expecting to see at least one picture or sound bite of the massive protest. The only thing we saw was a 2 second picture about the violence of the protesters and the police beating the hell out of several protesters, nothing else!

I was 20 yards behind the group involved; they had been with us in Dupont Circle and were ordinary people making their way to the parade route to voice their protest and wave their signs. What happened was the police let them walk half way down one block and then cordoned off the street arm to arm to stop everybody. They stopped and turned to come back and take a different route, but an entire busload of police pulled up at the intersection blocking their return and formed a line preventing their escape, and closed in on the marchers from both directions, not allowing them to escape. I didn't see the actual beating, because we turned and went to the right since we saw other people going that way also. The POLICE caused the incident, and the media was right there to film it. There was no other violence that we observed or heard about ALL DAY. Just thousand and thousands of protesters like us, some young some older, just MAD Americans!"

-Daryl D. Heslop

"As a veteran, I was completely disgusted my this election. I was disgusted in the way the Supreme Court appointed Bush to his position. If there is ever a inkling of suspicion that there are irregularities anywhere in the voting system, then there should be recounts. This whole thing leaves the nagging suspicion that Al Gore really won Florida and that the reason that the Bush camp fought the recounts so hard is that they knew he lost the state. VP Gore would have been successful if Bush's Republican allies had not stopped every effort to count the votes fairly and show the American people who really won. We need to fix the voting process as it is obviously broken. The will of the people has been ignored and we have a pretender on the throne. The constitution has been ignored and desecrated by Bush. He continues to break down all the safeguards to our freedom with every day he is in office. Already, he is whoring himself out the religious right by providing them with funding. This is so wrong. My question, which I also posed to Senator Richard Durbin (IL-D) is..."The republicans where very quick to impeach President Clinton of having sex with Monica and for lying about it. Will the democrats be just as swift in impeaching Bush for violating his oath of office?"

"As much as I fear the personal reprisal for joining this group and many others, I cannot as an American, NOT join. If my business fails, it will be from hate and fear from those who are going along with the selection of the current occupant of the White House.

I was a teacher for 14 years. Part of that time I taught in an inner city public school and part in an expensive private one. Who can state without doubt, where I was a better teacher?

We do not live in a perfect country, but we used to live in one where we elected the people to govern who we chose. We did not have to worry about what our "faith" was or that we would be condemned for out choice. As a member of an AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, we were taught to love ALL, not just those who looked or believed in the same manner. Indeed, Christianity and our churches, are for Sinners, not those who are perfect.

We, as women, have taken the first hit by the current Supreme Court selection president. Then, came our children and grandchildren. Who is next on the hit list? We must be afraid and join together to stop what has happened in just a few weeks, and never allow this to get worse than it could and will become.

We must never forget that the word "conservative" is not a religious one, nor is the word "liberal" an anti-religious one. We live in a country started by those who owned slaves, and didn't permit women to vote, yet had the nerve to write into an otherwise great document that we were all created equal.

We, as Americans, must never look backward. Progress is our only hope and prayer, regardless of which faith we choose. When the Christians and Deists who wrote our Constitution wrote the words: "One Nation Under God" it logically means they were more likely than not, not using the word to denote ONE God. Not as in the Christian God, son of Jewish parents or any specific God. They most likely, considering their different faiths and religions, were referring to the definition written before the 12th century in England: "a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically: one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality."

Therefore, Americans, let us all be realistic."

-Janet Boyle

"This country has been headed for this train wreck for some time. Ever listen to the Right/Extreme Right/The Religious Right radio stations. Ever heard of the Christian Coalition, Ralph Reed, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Ken Tomlin, Rush Linbaugh, Dr. Laura, John Ashcroft...? Two women gossiping on the phone led to the impeachment of one our truley greatest Presidents. How did that happen? Big Business and Big Religion brought it on, the GOP, the Right - the Nazi minded Right.

Bush was conceded, inexperienced, a governer well known for his deplorably high execution rate, and he had done nothing but party all his life and let his name earn him great sums of money through dubious financial situations that his daddy's friends would occasionally throw his way. His father's influence also gained him a degree at Yale (supposedly). In the debates he threw little tantrums of arrogant disgust for his opponent. And he had nothing of the slightest value to offer anyone (except for the extremely rich and fanatic religious right) And on election night his brother Jeb publicly announces that he is going to win the state for his brother. Now how, pray tell, is such a feat accomplished at that late hour in the campaign-and-hope-to-get-elected process. By campaigning more? No, I don't see how that is possible, it is far too late for that. Must be some other way, let's just stop and think a minute or two about how one would accomplish such a seemingly impossible feat. Hmmmm? By praying to Jesus for a certain victory? Why that couldn't be it because Jeb couldn't have been praying, no sir-ee! He was too busy scrambling to come up with and carry out new wild and whacky ways to CHEAT!

Only a true dictator would cheat to get into office."

-Craig Quiter

Opinions expressed in the daily rant are those of the author and may not reflect the opinion of every member of the fringefolk project. The articles posted here are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without the author's express permission. You do, however, have permission to post a link to this article and include the first few sentences as a lead-in, if you wish.