Leaning Into It
The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.
-Dante Alighieri
Joi points out an amusing movie exposing the scare tactics used by speakers at the RNC, then says "Apologies to my Republican readers, but although I already declared that I'm a partisan blogger, I'm going to start leaning into it a bit harder as you can see from my recent posts. Since I can't vote, it's the least I can do."
First, there's no reason to apologize, and secondly, this is exactly what everyone needs to start doing. Specifically, if you have a weblog, you have a moral obligation to take a stand on the issues and put that stand out there for everyone to see. I don't care if you have a "tech blog" or a "art blog" or whatever, you need to start making your voice heard. Why do I think that? Because the strength of your voice will support others who's voice may not be as strong. The strength of your convictions will shake people awake to the seriousness of this election. The fact that you show no fear in supporting John Kerry will show others that they should have no fear as well.
I truly believe there are many, many people out there who choose to vote for Bush not because they like him or think he's doing a good job, but because they fear change and they want to feel that their decision is being supported by others. Don't believe that this election is only in the hands of the 6 million undecided voters, it's in all of our hands. We all have friends and families all over the U.S. If you live in California, pick up the phone to your Dad in New Hampshire and harang him constantly with the issues until he realizes that voting for Bush is a bad idea. Put that publicly in your weblog. Make him realize how important this issue is to you. Join a phone bank in your area and get on the phone to voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania and Florida. Let them know there's a ground-swell of support from all over the country for John Kerry. Let them know you too are disgusted with George Bush. Let them know they're not alone.
And as Joi noted, he can't vote, so let me just say that this advice goes for Americans and non-Americans alike. Lean into it! Non-Americans need to make it clear that George Bush is not respected abroad and damages America's credibility and good will around the world. Show your support for Kerry. One third of this country comes from outside its borders and all of them have friends and family back home. Get on the phone. Send emails. Write on your weblog. Are you a Canadian living across the border from this potential disaster? Take a day trip over the border and tell every American you know how important it is to vote Kerry. Put a big-ass banner on your weblog, write long heart-felt posts explaining your views. Are you in Europe and can't stand to see our countries grow farther and farther apart? Write your views, support our candidate. Write it in French, in Spanish, in German, in Dutch, it doesn't matter. Just make sure your voice is heard.
If you convince just one American to vote for Kerry, you've done your job.
And the other side is good as well. See a weblog that promotes Bush, let them know how ignorant and destructive their choice of candidates is. Let them know that you are dissappointed in them. People do that to me all the time, and I welcome it. You know why, because not only are those people so obviously wrong, but every month I get more and better quality readers. People who not only share my convictions, but make me realize that I'm not alone in my beliefs. Are you afraid to put something up your weblog supporting Kerry? Don't be. By showing you're not afraid you bolster others to do the same.
There are just 30 days left and Kerry is real danger of not winning. Show your support, not just your disgust of Bush. Don't give the undecideds a reason to throw their hands up in disgust at voting for the "lesser of the two evils" make them realize that yes, you do believe that Kerry is not only a better candidate than Bush, but will actually make a good President. This election is too important for wishy-washy support. Put your heart into it.
More than that, put your blog into it.
-Russ