[WAsummit] Fwd: The other race battle behind JoeWilson'soutburst

[Nancy]

Sharon - thanks for affirming what I'm seeing about the "right historical moment" - although I've been disappointed that the energy around Van Jones seems to have disappated - not so much in our org but in the larger internet community.

I've followed our stream - and while there are lots of suggestions, other than signing petitions, writing letters, talking with folks, and sending and forwarding e-mails, I didn't see anything that has pizaz. Maybe that is what you are saying. Now is the time for step by step building connections and keeping the conversation going and spreading, and each individual step is a brick laid on the path. I am still hungry for that juicy action that explodes the movement - unrealistic, probably. I need to be reminded occasionally when I get impatient - those old saws - Rome wasn't built in a day..and every journey begins with a single step....etc.

I like that Louisa is gathering info about our connections, and I can't even imagine how many thousands of folx we touch as a group, and the Highlander group looks like it can be a central hub for action. I spent the afternoon with Holly Fulton, and we were talking about how to craft a message that stands for what we are committed to, and speaks to a large proportion of people. And then to get it out broadly. It looks like that is one thing the Highlander group is attempting to do, and then to design strategies. I appreciate your sending it out - I'm checking it out. 

best regards, nancy
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sharon Martinas 
  To: White Anti-racist Summit 
  Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 12:10 PM
  Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Fwd: The other race battle behind JoeWilson'soutburst


  Hi Nancy,


  All I can think of in response to your reflective email is that this is definitely the 'right historical moment.'  As to 'effective strategies,'  I think thats what people on  this list have been bouncing back and forth for the last couple of weeks.  Do check back on what Larry Yates said, as well as others.
  sharon

  On Sep 20, 2009, at 1:38 PM, Nancy wrote:


    Does the fact that the book is on the best sellers list and Blumenthal's voice is getting out there offer any opportunities for effective action beyond signing petitions and calling our representatives and writing letters? Kathy Emery once told me that an effecive movement requires organizing, forming coalitions, planning, doing what we can locally, strategizing and waiting and being prepared for the right "historical moment". It made great sense to me, but I have no idea what a right historical moment would look like. Nor do I know what an effective strategy would be, nor how we prepare for this next one.
    nancy
      ----- Original Message -----
      From: Sharon Martinas
      To: White Anti-racist Summit
      Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 11:36 AM
      Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Fwd: The other race battle behind Joe Wilson'soutburst


      Thanx Lou,


      Here's another possibly useful study that is nation wide.  It is a book by Max Blumenthal, called REPUBLICAN GOMORRAH: (spelling??) INSIDE THE MOVEMENT THAT SHATTERED THE PARTY. It's published by the Nation Magazine's book arm.   It has just come out and is already on the NY Times best seller list.

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