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  • Anna rRxia
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    Too much for you Ted?
    We have the right to vote and staying informed is key to having an informed opinion on which way to vote. Put a humurous, interesting twist on any important news story and, however much you might disagree, you are a bit more informed. Take, for instance, the Suprmeme Court's striking down of the heart of the Voting Rights Act. This has highly pissed off black people, organized black people. It has disenfranchised tens of thousands in Texas alone, already, with the new requirement of a voter ID card. If you've seen the movie of the anatomy of the LA riots in the early 90s you can see how tensions mounted leading up to the outcome of the Rodney King trial. Those people who were gathered at LA City Hall were there because they heard the news, they were informed. It's important to be informed, Ted. Then, when George Zimmerman is acquitted on charges of 2nd degree murder in about three weeks (most likely) and there may be large rioting breaking out in Sanford, Orlando, Overtown, Tampa and Jacksonville in which more blacks will be inevitably slaughtered, you won't walk around with a look that says "I don't have a clue why this happened in this great country of ours where we all share the same freedoms". On another tack, it was my spouse's birthday and we had a delightful couple of days picking strawberries, watching the movie Before Midnight, eating out at an Indian Restaurant, giving a nice gift inside a golden Dancing Bear birthday card and looking forward to seeing Furthur in a few weeks in a lovely venue. You see Ted, it takes me about 20 minutes to write my posts on this site in the morning and the rest of the day is spent in lovely splendor, most of the time. It's an easy balance to strike and one that keeps me happy. I choose not to talk about the darker aspects of the Grateful Dead, though that would be totally appropriate to do on this website. On the current events thread, I stick to current events. I'm so sorry they are not the same current events you would choose to speak about.
  • Parkas4Kids
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    RE: Too much for you Ted?
    Anna, I think Ted is merely referring to your recent dominance of this thread. I don't think anyone here on Dead.net has anywhere close to your keen eye for what's lurking in the shadows, and I'm pretty sure we all greatly appreciate you reminding us all of what's out there. In no way am I attempting to tread any toes here, but I think his comment was a harmless one and an attempt at a joke; he meant no offense, I believe. Just my $0.02.
  • Parkas4Kids
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    2013: The Year in Which Every Band Breaks Up
    Let's see, how many bands have parted ways so far this year? I think I remember hearing that Wilco has called it quits, Stone Temple Pilots fired Scott Weiland, Kim Deal left the Pixies to--most likely--focus her attention on the Breeders...did I miss anything? I feel like I've left at least one band off this list but, for the life of me, can't remember who. And it's not even July!
  • Gr8fulTed
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    And the Cavaliers pick who?
    WTF is Anthony Bennett!? Good luck Cleveland! (take a break from all the Annarexia posts)
  • Anna rRxia
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    So there we were
    In Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport international transit lounge. We've been desperately looking for Snowden who seems to have dropped off the face of the earth after arriving from Hong Kong several days ago. Apparently he never made the flight to Cuba that had been reserved for him. Then we noticed several swarthy men with mustaches and cheap suits hurry through, forming a cordon for what appeared to be a youngish caucasian with glasses. One of them gave the young man a fine Cuban cigar as he awkwardly took the five foot hookah from him. Could it be Ed "The Red Panda" Snowden? Yes, it was, our facial recognition app. quickly gave us a 97% match. We followed as far as we could until airport security blocked us from following the party through the security door. We followed with a small set of binoculars as a dark-colored SUV scooped up the men. The license plate read "Raoul". The SUV traveled a few hundred yards to a Gulfstream 500 where the men quickly hustled aboard, their tail fin sporting the logo of the Cuban state. Quickly the plane gunned away down a pre-cleared taxi route to a runway where it received immediate clearance for takeoff. The Red Panda had a play date with Raoul Castro in about 12 hours. We'd been the only press with boots on the ground to catch the fast-moving party. Next: Ed parties like a rock-star with revolutionary Cuban hookers in the People's Palace in Havana. Keep it tuned here for the latest on the commie traitor's movements to elude the intelligence omnivores.
  • Anna rRxia
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    @Parkas
    Well, Parkas, you might want to consider that there is quite a debate around these parts (dead.net) as to what hippy deadheads stand for, politics wise. Jerry Garcia was definitely of the opinion that, as I paraphrased, electoral politics was THEIR game and that we (deadhead hippies) should have nothing to do with it. So, in Jerry's time, the deadheads were pretty apolitical. But, as I have pointed out many times to many people, the Grateful Dead played many benefit gigs over the years that supported very radical, even revolutionary causes. The Black Panthers, the White Panthers and AIM (the American Indian Movement) are the three revolutionary ones that come to mind but there were many, many others such as the Pacific Alliance that supported the total ban of nuclear power, especially at Diablo Canyon. In 12/12/81 there was the Dance for Disarmament with Joan Baez that I attended at San Mateo. There was a slew more. Like all good hippies they supported what was radical and hip at the time. They didn't support candidates for office though (and neither did I) for as long as Jerry was around. Only in 2008 did Bob & Phil get behind Obama and there was a lot of chatter from old hippies saying this wasn't kosher, Grateful Dead-wise. More folks said they were entitled to do as they pleased, though it was dissonant to see Bob & Phil playing Obama's Inaugural Ball in tuxedoes. But I would say you are correct in that there were a lot of hippies out there who composed the anti-war movement and such who weren't deadheads. The Grateful Dead didn't have a monopoly on hippie-dom. Lomg hairs were often times the organizers. I should know. I was one of them for a long time (no time-cards, no rubles!). There are a lot of people out there who went and cut their hair and changed their politics and made compromises as marriages and kids and inheritances and responsibilities came down the pike. I live in a place where a lot of counter-culture types moved to from Boston and Philly and NYC and points south and west. They moved back to the land and started communes and tried to do the self-sufficient thing. The best of these became artisans in some way and survived the breakup of communal idealism to live with their values intact. You really do have to have your act together in a big way to get off the grid, recycle, compost and live to scale while still involving with political activism. If it was easy a lot more people would be doing it. But, alas, it's not easy so when you find those juicy people who have kept it together all these years salute them! They are winning the nonviolent revolution every day - imho...
  • Anna rRxia
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    Supremes Deal Death Blow to 5th Amendment
    Today the news is about DOMA but it is a smokescreen for the huge ruling handed down last Monday: The Right To Remain Silent -- Otherwise known as the 5th Amendment, has been gutted by Alito and Roberts. First in 2010 the court held that a suspect did not sufficiently invoke the right to remain silent when he stubbornly refused to talk, after receiving his Miranda warnings, during two hours of questioning. This meant that since that time (which I majorly underlined in this thread without one comment) you have to indicate to a police officer that you are specifically invoking your right to remain silent, not just remain silent. In this newest ruling last Monday the case involved a man who owned a shotgun that was used in a murder. They did not arrest him or read him his Miranda warnings. Salinas agreed to give the police his shotgun for testing. Then the cops asked whether the gun would match the shells from the scene of the murder. According to the police, Salinas stopped talking, shuffled his feet, bit his lip, and started to tighten up. At trial, Salinas did not testify, but prosecutors described his reportedly uncomfortable reaction to the question about his shotgun. Salinas argued this violated his Fifth Amendment rights: He had remained silent, and the Supreme Court had previously made clear that prosecutors can’t bring up a defendant’s refusal to answer the state’s questions. This time around, however, Justice Samuel Alito blithely responded that Salinas was “free to leave” and did not assert his right to remain silent. He was silent. But somehow, without a lawyer, and without being told his rights, he should have affirmatively “invoked” his right to not answer questions. There are now special dangers that police may, intentionally or not, coax false confessions from innocent suspects. A large group of those innocent people falsely confessed, and many supposedly admitted their guilt, even before any formal interrogation. The Supreme Court has now officially gutted the 5th Amendment. YOU HAVE TO ASSERT YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN READ YOUR MIRANDA RIGHTS. The scales are tipping in a big way towards fascism these days.
  • Anna rRxia
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    Snowden in Moscow, smoking blunts in the transit lounge
    President Vladimir Putin has said that the US whistleblower Edward Snowden was still in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, and was free to leave. Apparently the story about Putin stealing Bob Kraft's Patriots Super Bowl ring, while true, was part of a blackmailing smear campaign orchestrated by the US government and the now compromised US press. If they thought Putin could have cared even a teensy amount about his image on the planet they were wrong. His position among the oligarchs (heads of criminal enterprises and Russia's vast oil empire), is well-entrenched. Snowden is traveling on an arc of evil, no doubt. With the exception of Venezuela and Ecuador he is dealing with some pretty unsavory regimes. All of this in an effort to get to a country that honors freedom and privacy more than this one does. On the lighter side, Putin is complaining about the amount of high grade herb Ed is blowing through in his huge five foot hookah he and his supporters are using in the smoking section of the transit lounge. Putin has refused to pipe in anymore Bob Dylan or Rodiriguez for their enjoyment and is threatening to bill Wikki-Leaks for the air-freshening that will be required when they depart.
  • Anna rRxia
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    OMG! The Supremes just set the table!
    Lets be clear. Roberts removed restrictions against the "Famous 15" states who have been racially profiled by the Fed's Voting Rights Act. Section 5 is the clause at the heart of the Act and the Court said more up-to-date evidence is needed. I would have to agree that the 15 states in question are still heavily guilty. I would say that the states who bear the burden of proof haven't changed. But I still think the liberals have gone slightly hysterical over the matter. There are more important issues out there. If the blacks want to dust it up then from Tuscon to Lubbock to Wichita Falls to Houston to Tupelo to Birmingham to Mobile to Tallahassee, to the heart of rebel evil - Charleston, SC where the legions of Darth Vaders are assembled, all they need to do is utter the word "Reparations". In the more important, shorter term, the Supreme Court just lit the fuse for a long, hot summer in the wake of the Treyvon Martin trial and verdict in Florida, if Jorge gets acquitted.
  • Anna rRxia
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    Palin Supports Snowden, The Siren shrieks
    "Sources claiming to have had minimal, erratic contact with Edward Snowden have said that he’s considering turning himself in after Sarah Palin came to his defense, taking his side on many of the same issues. They’re reporting that not only is he contemplating turning himself in, but he’s also having a change of heart about leaking classified information concerning the NSA’s secret surveillance programs. Apparently, he thinks that Sarah Palin taking his side on these issues clearly means that he must have been out of his mind to have leaked any of this information to begin with." From a blog called Forward Progressives. This blog needs more checking out. I smell a rat here. Of course, then again, this could be what passes for middle-of-the-road progressive thinking these days. Everybody I talk to says the same thing, in private. The government is full of shit and trying to scare us to death. In public there is nothing but a deathly silence, for the most part. It is OK to speak up and say something. Mozilla Firefox did and they haven't jailed the entire corporation. Maybe I can express this in a Big Bang Theory equation: Created Enemy=Dominant foreign & domestic policy=Armed Forces larger than necessary for defense=Economic hegemony=Concentration of wealth=Minute inflated lifestyle for the middle-class (trickldown)=unquestioning obedience to authority for crumbs. Divide by Climate change & Monsanto pesticides and you get? What? Every once in a while somebody will come along, even for a second, like Ed Snowden and say "Fuck You" to those fat-kid bullies you used to know who go around bellowing "You will ruhh-specc my a-thaw-ity!" (Unbelievable!)
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What's happening out in the world? Did it matter, does it now?
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For the majority of us, the recent let-up in prices at the pump have certainly helped ease the monthly budget. It cost me $20 to fill up yesterday. I remember talking to someone last year, and he told me that he hasn't filled his tank in years. Of course, his workhorse is a diesel and diesel hasn't been impacted as much as gasoline with the recent lowering in oil prices. For those of us that like to delve deeper into the economics, it's interesting to observe the way the Saudis are increasing output, and keeping it high, in order to put the squeeze on newer technologies like shale drilling and the Canadian tar sands which require higher prices per bbl to be cost effective. The economics here are intriguing, and so far the consumer is coming out the winner. How long will this last?
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What the Ottawa Senators/Andrew Hammond have been able to do in the last two months of the NHL season is nothing short of incredible. Five Canadian teams in this year. Let the real season begin.
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Probably talking out of turn. And not in any loop at all so other than what the website shows not sure where the project is. But, if these really are the last shows. Hope they never stop. Shouldn't something be done for the furtherdowntheroad project to save and preserve the bus. If not only for Neal and Kesey but to preserve our history. A future with no bus to get on would stink. NFA
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17 years 4 months
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Rough day up in Toronto. Blue Jays are being a bit too hot-headed as KC comes back!
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Sure I guess...but rightly so. Personally i blame the incompetent boob calling the plays at the plate. To give a warning in the first and than NOT back it up throughout the game was disgraceful. Then to throw out Sanchez on a 2/0 pitch for grazing the batters knee? Anyways...the good guys won. Hopefully they meet again in October.
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I'm still befuddled that the Yankees are in first : Toronto with Price will be a real contender.
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How was the event at the Giants game last night? I saw a video clip of Annabelle throwing a pitch and also singing with Bill Walton. Was the 8/13/75 40th celebration after the game at GAMH? List of musicians sure looked impressive. Sounds like a busy and hectic evening!
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Gonna be a fun race to the finish between the Yanks and Jays. Both teams seem to be firing on all cylinders. Lets go Jays!!
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15 years 3 months
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Going to my first CRB show tonight in Buffalo. Its been a very long time since I've travelled a long distance to hear great music. Can't wait for this.
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I am a born and raised New England guy love my teams Red Sox don't do it for me this year though nor last for that matter. I am routing for the Mets which is rather unusual for me seeing as we are almost against teams from New York. There is something about the Mets magic this year though. Just my 2 cents worth
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What a chill night that was. Great band, great crowd, great venue and no hassles at the border. Neal Casal took a photo of the crowd after the encore and posted it on their facebook page. Im the bald dude in front. I'll never forget it.
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Can we have a sports section for this paper?
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one moment...
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Justice Scalia (RIP) anyone? It's a great time to be a political junkie. There is plenty of intrigue and subterfuge on the horizon to be sure...
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I can't imagine what Jason Callahan's family have been through in the last 20 years. I'm sure they "knew" but now they know precisely. That has to be a smidgen of comfort.
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I'll bite... you wanna discuss politics let me know. The Universe said times up for Antonin...karma is comin' round for those in the political sphere...and the rest of us for sure. Sure to be a fight to the end on both sides... But please, for the love of all that's holy...NO President Trump!
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I don't see why we cannot discuss, it's free to live. Please, discuss away...I'll be happy to chime in! :-)
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9 years 5 months
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Well alrighty then...for now...Im just gonna say, GO BERNIE!!!
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respect, civility, and recognition that a person of good will and intellect can look at the same thing you're looking at and come to a different conclusion--essential. Discuss on!
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Attention all Dead Heads! We’re working on Vol 2 of an art history book focusing on the culture & history of STICKERS. Please let us know if you have, or know of any fan created Dead stickers! We would like to feature them alongside official stickers from the band throughout the years. If have anything at all, please contact us at whoMadeThatSticker@gmail.com Thank you!  Lauren 
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Or, is that an effin' toy truck in your hand!?! Quick, on your belly and do a crab walk! I said last week! wtf?
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the best/worst part of the story is that when the victim asked the officer why he shot him, the officer replied "I dont know"...Houston we have a problem.
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Any Deadheads in either North or South Dakota have any news about what's going on with the oil pipeline constructions going on in your neck of the woods? The only "news" coverage I've seen has been spread via Social Media, and it's being done by no one I know of that lives out that way. I live in Maryland and haven't heard a thing about it.
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A contemplative Veterans day message: Speak with those who have survived to take down walls. Remember those who were lost during WW1, or in any battle, with admiration and thanks. Respect the freedoms that sacrifice brought us. And now some opinions about the election. I know I know, this is very touchy shit, but I feel the message is important. So, why not, on a website so deadicated to the crimson-white-indigo, express my opinions. I dont go many other places on the internet is my other excuse. Maybe ill post something similar on NPR... The media seem to be trolling for hate, like the fact Trump wins means we go back to a segregated America, back to hate. That we forget about science, and environmental facts. All of my neighbors feel the opposite of this perceived hate. The eldest, most conservative of them, notice the change in the environment. In-fact, no matter who voted for who, we mostly see eye-to-eye. And some neighbors I have not talked with in so long, which is the point, communication, which is why we are where we are, or where we could be going. Maybe this hate is mostly media influence? I can not say, but just in-case: I am a patriotic person, and I believe this incoming government change needs a chance to prove themselves, but hardly any plans they say they want to do are on my lists, except of course supporting our troops, especially if that means bringing them home, and making a strong economy. Although nothing we really need, including money, is shipped here from mars, food grows on trees, love grows in the heart. I do like the idea of infrastructure fixes, who does not like nice roads for trips, but not at the expense of quality of life for all, not at the expense of the Earth herself. Im pro-life, but even i cant find a fair way to force people...ok, ok, going to far, sorry. Very polarizing world. Debates everyone should have a voice in, people way smarter than myself. But then the weight falls on us all to seek the best path. I believe we cannot sit by and complain about what Trump does in office AFTER he does it. We have to be ready to stop actions we all know will not benefit a future and freedom. We cant live in a world that reacts more like a tv show, like we are in a zombie apocalypse, more then a world that reacts of kindness and logic. Even the idea of race-color-creed, is just fabricated to keep us distracted. There is only one race, the human race. Social-cultural-religious differences are a challenge to break through and communicate or commune with, no doubt, but not an excuse to look the other way or grow hate. Until you drag yourself out from the depths of oppression, and poverty, you never know how hard that is. Compassion. Empathy. We can never afford to be naive, but we can always start with the good. We can start with trust. I find it easy to define hate acts of any kind, neo-nazi=isis, and beyond extremes of that ilk, i think we should be able to find a way to coexist, and write those ways down for all to attempt. "Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity."- Some Hippie “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” – Thomas Jefferson Remember who the government work for, the people, and a million more of us voted against new walls. This is a minority-minded government with what seems like all the power. An unfortunate reminder that we cannot sit by and watch choices be made for us. We must be ready to peacefully enforce our true ideals as a country. True equality. To protect each and everyone of us who believes in peaceful existence. I believe we needed the election to go this way to shake us out of our comfort zone, from behind screens, from behind doors. Im not truly freaking out, I dont put all my hopes-wishes-fears on the shoulders of one person/president. My neighbors, my local government, thats where to really start. But the grand stage will need many players to pull off this show, to make sure the ending is good enough for us and our children's children. That means putting all of our best-feet forward and being proactive. Petitions, peaceful protests, fighting internal and external fear. We have enough to worry about with corporations, oligarchies around the world, Monsanto, natural resources. Now the things we have all been opposed to have all the friends, in all the highest positions? If ever we needed the spirit of the 60s, we need that spirit now. Get out and show your face somewhere, maybe somewhere that takes you out of your own comfort zone, but shows you are with peace. This new "Not My President," movement isnt exactly my cup-of-tea. I support whoever is our president, hard as it is, even Trump-the-pizza-commercial-reality tv star, but with watchful eyes, my voice at the ready, my boots tied tight. I am going to a gathering to show my face. I may have to watch someone burn a flag, not a fan, but i can express my distaste for the act and still be there in support of freedom, be there to show my face, to say, hey, we are all in this together. I can be there for Black Lives Matter, because if those lives matter all lives do. I can be there for the LGBT, even if i can not completely understand those lives. I can stand for women's rights. I can stand with any group who demand equal rights if their views include themselves and all others. I can walk to say no to pipelines for oil when we have the brains to invent new, better, ways. Walk against money ruling all. Walk for universal healthcare. And many many other reasons that promote individuality without destroying any one unique group. I dont have many answers, just know how I feel inside, I know how wonderful life can be, I am privileged to be an American, and don't see why everyone who wants too, cant have that feeling. I now, gladly, hop down from the soap-box. Cheers, heres to love winning. "If a reckoning comes maybe we'll know what to do then." -Words by John Barlow, sung by Brent Mydland
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Amen brother.... give peace a chance....
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So, my wife, a friend, and I, took to the streets in Philadelphia. Third night of protests. Some of the chants we skipped. Some we joined in on. The youth running things were fairly competent. They did a good job of getting rid of trouble makers. A lot of people spoke, some of them harder to listen to then others, but some really excellent young speakers mixed in. Completely peaceful interaction between the many many police officers and the crowd of about 300-400 people. A few police officers dressed all in black with red-arm bands did there best to intimidate, they didnt. Bicycles are a much better choice to follow the march then horses and hoses. Bicycles say, hey, we are here for the protestors and non-protestors. Traffic was briefly stopped, news crews blinded us with camera lights. People looked from the sidewalks, people stared motionless from windows. All in all this was a positive experience. I felt better just getting out there, showing the masses that we are watching, that we expect the best from the incoming administration, that we will be back if need be to petition those expectations. My protest offended a few friends and family members, I dont see it that way, but i try to be understanding. History tells me that we have to be ready, and getting out there is indeed the very thing democracy demands. America has been different for me after 9/11. People seem quieter, reserved. At shows, out on the streets. I think finding our voice is a good thing. That voice is almost a caricature of the sixties at-this-point. The shy sibling of the sixties trying to grow-up, and we will. We will get our protest-legs under us, peacefully, eventually, defiantly. Removing the media influence, being with a true mix of people on the train, through the protests, and back is a much better litmus for how America really is, who America really is, and that alone was helpful. We will get by, we will survive. Chin-up America.
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Hey, I am glad to hear that you are out there, and joined by at least a few hundred supporters. Numbers in Indiana were rather low, but that's not unexpected. You mentioned not having the voice of the 60's. I have been giving the 60's a lot of thought since this. Maybe I am being overly dramatic, but to me, this feels like the establishment's final push to undo the progresses that the 60's brought us. If I was to categorize the things the 60's brought forth, I would say: civil rights, women's rights, anti-war, and environmentalism. Since the 60's movement faded out, the right has been pushing towards reversing all of those things. With the new administration, further armed with congress and the Supreme Court, I fear a 4 years assault on all of that. I feel let down by the Democratic Party who chose to not listen to so many (on both sides) crying for a change in the normal political structure. I think HRC would have done a good job as President, but this was not the election for career politicians. We (progressives, lefties, hippies) need to rebuild the movement. Things are very much stacked against us. As much now as back in the day. We should have the numbers, but we need to organize, fight them as best we can these 2-4 years, and be prepared to do true political battle. Well, OK, I was going to just write a "good for you!" message but apparently I had more to get off my chest. Sorry for the soap box. Peace, -Dave
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Hello fellow hippies! I have a question... Where online are the best sites/blogs/reddits/etc. to read or subscribe to? I obviously am on here each day, but where else? I am looking for communities of like minded folks to hopefully join in with. Peace, -Dave