Saturday, March 13, 2010

Tea or Coffee?

Today, I had the most exhilarating experience since the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I attended the national launching of the Coffee Party at Bus Boy and Poets in Washington, DC. After months of watching other groups, radio hosts, TV news and pundits, on the far right, hijack the political discussion, it was refreshing to listen to a cogent and civil discussion regarding the pressing issues of our time - even when I vehemently disagreed.


There was no shouting nor name calling. There were no signs demonizing other groups of people nor any one's image disfigured to resemble a Nazi or Klansman. No, it was civil discourse - an element missing in our current political arena. It was a gathering of grown-up concerned citizen.


In the era of 24 hour news cycles, it is too easy to get caught up in the, us vs. them, fervor. So, I caution, beware of those that practice the politics of subtraction - in other words, divide and conquer.

Once again, we can not expect our leaders to be saviors - let's be We The People. The next Coffee Party meeting is Saturday, March 27th at 10:30 am. Goggle and find a location close to you.

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