Monday Morning Open Thread

Posted by seeta persaud on September 12, 2011 in Civil Rights

Good morning and welcome new visitors!

Feel free to help yourself to some virtual java, donuts, lox, and other goodies. In light of the clarion call for a DK boycott by the venerable Robinswing, a few tips to get you started on your visit and stay at Critical Mass Progress.

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There are three new items up this morning:

Quick political news round-up:

Tim endorses Mittens.
9/11 Memorial opens
Same-old GOP playbook: Gay marriage ban may be on North Carolina ballot next year
Democratic leaders fret aloud over Obama re-election
Crisis in Europe drags down Wall Street

Discuss whatever is on your mind this morning! Welcome!

Update: If anyone is having trouble viewing comments, please let me know by sending me an email.

Monday Morning Wake Me Up:

(6)

Partriotdaily

I have not been around much recently due to personal issue.

I posted this comment at DK in hepshiba diary just now and wanted to share over here. I want to urge that people remain at DK, return after boycott. And i’d like to see cik return too.

After the many diaries yesterday supporting the boycott, i think now the community is ready to seek real solutions.

Right now, more so than in past few years, racism (and other isms) are center stage and i think people are actually thinking about it. seriously. and i think the time is ripe for a productive discussion and solutions.

I offer two ideas:

1. a week long blogathon that explains isms.

I read a diary yesterday about how NYT reporter called President Obama “Barry.” A quick skim of the comments showed that many don’t understand why that is racist, offensive and disrespectful. I think a diary that explained this could be a good starting place. Some will simply refuse to listen or accept. But i think many simply don’t understand an issue, and when informed, they will get it and then one issue resolved the best we can.

A blogathon could have each diary addressing one ism issue.

2. I think we need to have a clear prohibition against isms in the rules FAQ and a definition. so many times comment threads fight over the meaning of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism etc.

A panel from each community could draft a definition that is then subjected to community and Markos approval for tweaking.

Right now it seems the entire community is thinking about these issues. It seems the perfect time to grab that opportunity to discuss and resolve and then move forward.
- Anonymous
  
  I think we need to get something up for people to discuss what the goals and strategies are for when folks go back. I think seeta’s place is the best place for it – there is too much polarization at the people’s view – but most folks seem to be there.
  
  My own view is that the PoC need to have their own discussion about what they want, and whites should work on strategies for support – that is the model I like best.
  
  As to the concept of subjecting definitions to the community/kos – that is not going to work, imo. There is not trust and besides, the majority should not have effective veto power over the perspectives of the minority.
  
  Good that you are thinking about it. Happy you are here.
  - Anonymous
    
    Thanks sberel. What do you think would work?
    
    As I mentioned upthread/downthread (depending on your setting), my blog will not be used as a space to fix DK’s virulent racism — in other words I won’t create a separate open thread especially for it. If the site administration of DK is serious about its mission and the members of the DK community is serious about community, then DK will do what it needs to do to fix that.
    
    People are free to comment here or in other open threads if they would like regarding the DK Boycott.
    
    I think Patriotdaily’s suggest regarding a blogathon after the boycott is over is a good one. However, I think others more invested should chime in.
    - Anonymous
      
      yes, my suggestion is not to ‘fix’ the racism, but to provide people who have left a way to decide how they want to handle being involved in the community. What do they want to focus on doing. Are you saying it would be ok to have these discussions in open threads? I don’t want to do anything you are not comfortable with. I think a blogathon is a great idea.
      - Anonymous
        
        By which I mean discuss priorities. No way to fix the racism, imo, but I do think it’s possible to carve a space, given a focus and consensus to pursue it, and then to expand the space.
      - Anonymous
        
        Thanks sberel. Yes, I didn’t think you were suggesting that we fix DK’s racism, voice-suppression problem. :)
        
        Yes, anything is kosher in the open threads so long as it is civil. There’s a new evening open thread, so all I ask is if people want to chat there to go here https://criticalmassprogress.com/2011/09/12/varios-and-sundry-open-thread/
        
        Otherwise I think this conversation may get buried and lost in the shuffle.
        
        I also want to reiterate my support for a blogathon. But given people’s ennui over some issues — I don’t know. Others will hopefully share there thoughts.
    - Anonymous
      
      I’m always blunt and I will be here. kos messed up. It is highly unlikely that I’m going to line his pockets when he has deemed me worthy of someone who needed singling out for behaviors, let’s be honest, an entire slew of other people engaged in. I’m not seeking to expand a purge or find some type of equivalence. With his actions, he has branded me as someone unwelcome on his blog. Nobody in the e-world, no post, no blogger is worth my dignity and for darn sure not for someone else’s profit.
      
      So I’m weighing it because there seems to be little focus on this and that we are just supposed to wear the scarlet letters and go back and humble ourselves as if we did something wrong. Nope, not buying it especially from someone as I said, he calls people idiots and posts phallic humor (sexist and homophobic) on the front page.
      
      So people can continue on with the soul murder. I won’t be a party to it. I don’t deal with the nasty racism in my day-to-day and I’m not going to deal with it for someone else’s profit.
      
      Other places to go and not be smacked in the face with every other post with racists and those who want to deny it or feel we should just put up with it.
      - Anonymous
        
        Thank you princss. I stand behind you 100 percent. And I have to say that I agree with much of your sentiment.
        
        I think we need to support blogs lead by people of color that address issues through a poc/intersectional lens.
        
        I have to say I am not all that interested in another private web site’s customer service/ community management issues.
        
        POC voices are drowned out in predominantly white spaces. Doesn’t have to be that way, of course.
        
        Love to you, sister.
      - Anonymous
        
        I know, seeta and sorry for the excursion! My dander gets up when there is no fundamental recognition of a systemic issue but free band-aids are being offered! :) Love you, too, Sis and now going up to read the news of the day!
      - Anonymous
        
        We are sympatico, sister. I hear you. :)
- Anonymous
  
  Good to see you here. Hope everything is okay, personally.
  
  As for a week-long blogathon addressing “isms” on DK after the boycott is over — that’s sounds like a good idea.
  
  I will let others who are more invested chime in.
  
  However, in the meantime, my blog will not be used as a space to clean up the virulent racism that plagues DK. DK has problems it needs to fix. As I mentioned, I will let others who are more invested chime regarding DK’s pervasive problems.
  
  If I misunderstand your suggestion, please forgive me.
  
  Once the boycott is over, I’m sure many will return and a dialogue will be had. I don’t know. It remains to be seen.
  
  I do appreciate your comment here and the spirit in which it is offered.
dirkster42

Hi everyone –

Glad to see so many familiar faces.
- Anonymous
  
  Hope you’re having a good Monday dirkster!
bubbanomics

Thanks for the invitation, Seeta!

morning, everybody. Good to see y’all. Really good. Now, for the real test….
- Anonymous
  
  Great to see you bubba! Welcome. I do believe you are officially a sistah. LOL xoxo
  - Anonymous
    
    LOL! Still cracks me up!
Julie

The community that dkos was and may be again

That is my wish
- Anonymous
  
  Welcome Julie! Good to see you here.
poco

Hiya, fellow rebels,

Just posting this as a test and to say, I am so glad to have found this amazing blog.
- Anonymous
  
  Welcome poco! Great to see you here! And thank you for the kind words. Hope you find the information here useful!
- Anonymous
  
  Hey poco!
Anonymous

Just thought I’d say hi. I’m here and look forward to participating!
- Anonymous
  
  Welcome the dogs sockpuppet! Great to see you here. In solidarity for community, always.
Anonymous

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20110912_4_of_5_slain_men_identified_by_police.html

Good morning everyone! Good to see you all here. Yes, my city. Of course, this is relative “low” for a summer weekend in Philadelphia, yet just as tragic!
- Anonymous
  
  Can’t believe I forgot you heartsis princss. You should have been in that comment.
  - Anonymous
    
    Ha! I was….siblings unnamed! At least I just threw myself in there, lol!
- Anonymous
  
  Good morning princss! Tragic news, indeed. Btw, I just wanted to tell you that your comments across the blogosphere have been absolutely fierce. Have learned so much from you sister!
  - Anonymous
    
    Likewise, Sis Seeta!
    
    I’m happy to have a space where I can post news that move me and not fear the judgements of others. This is going to be a blast!
    - Anonymous
      
      Well said. Just posted this comment in the TPV —
      
      In solidarity, fellow fighters for social justice. We need more people of color in the blogosphere addressing a host of issues — where we lead the conversation and frame issues through our lens. Glad to be in the movement and fight with you.
      
      The more POC voices out there, the better.
Anonymous

Burn the MF down!

Didn’t it rain, children?

My actions this weekend are dedicated to:

My heartbrothers, Adept, Time, mally

My mentors in integrity: my parents, wiscmass, jessical, FogCityJohn, fcvaguy, Radio Girl, shanikka, dclawyer

My warrior elders: dopper, sephius, sisDee, Robinswing, FrankAletha, cacamp

Heartsister sooth

My BOLD companions with a special shout out to, members of the vets community who stood up, people who leaped with ignorance of the issue and trust that it was important

My rocks: the nice girl caucus, including the AWESOME jmls; birds everywhere; and the letter J

Those who stayed, wishing them strength

poco, Mets, unspeakable, who touched me with the vision and humility to commit to Robinswing’s call to action without prioritizing their issues

The community that dkos was and may be again

Siblings in spirit unnamed,

The spring that sustains me, trashablanca.

Phoenix rise!

May we spend some time this week talking about what that looks like.

I’ll be dark for awhile – – – blessed be
- Anonymous
  
  I dig it! Good morning sberel! So happy to see you here!
- Anonymous
  
  Powerful comment, sberel! Agree with every word.
  - Anonymous
    
    Hey seeta! Good morning!
Anonymous

Welcome! Any questions about posting or commenting — drop them here. Thanks for visiting. :)
- Anonymous
  
  glad to be here. will be checking in all week and maybe longer… hugs to everyone
  - Anonymous
    
    Thanks TrueBlueMajority. Wonderful to see you here. Hugs to you as well.
  - Anonymous
    
    Hey TBM! Good to see you!

CMP

Educate, Agitate, Organize

Monday Morning Open Thread