Ogle County Democrats

The point is, when we don't pay close attention to the decisions made by our leaders; when we fail to educate ourselves about the major issues of the day; when we choose not to make our voices and opinions heard, that's when democracy breaks down. That's when power is abused. That's when the most extreme voices in our society fill the void that we leave. That's when powerful interests and their lobbyists are most able to buy access and influence in the corridors of Washington - because none of us are there to speak up and stop them." -- Barack Obama, May 1, 2010

Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. -- John F. Kennedy

Down the long lane of the history yet to be written America knows that this world of ours, ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect. -- Dwight Eisenhower

I didn't know

by Sara Hulsether on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 9:54pm
On Feb 15th, 2011:
 
I didn't know the name of my State senator.
I didn't know what a quorum was, or that you needed it in order to take a vote for fiscal matters,
 
I didn't know what buses went to the capital square,
I didn't know that I could be in an enclosed building with my children and 4000 people chanting and feel safe and involved.
 
I didn't know why the teamsters logo had horses on it, or what AFSCME stood for,
I didn't know what Macaroni & Cheese pizza tasted like, or that Wisconsin was the first state to have public sector unions 50 years ago.
 
I didn't know what open meeting laws were, or that you can ignore a court injunction.
 
I didn't know that we had so many clever people in our state,
I didn't know that my marching around the capital 3 times a week gave hope to people in California, New Jersey and Egypt.
 
I didn't know that I could cry at the sound of a bagpipe, or the lyrics of "Solidarity forever".
 
I didn't realize how beautiful our capital was, or how offensive it felt to be shut out of it.
 
I didn't know I could dance to a drum line for 15-20 minutes straight, or calmly ask my neighbor if she knew about the power plant sales without being judgmental.
 
 
I didn't know that I would recognize Jon Erpenbach, or Rep Barca like a friend and call out to them on the street.
 
I didn't know who Stan Grothman was, or that I could question him clearly about what he has done to this state.
 
I didn't know what it felt like to pump fists and slap hands with union correction officers, or know that I could feel unity with them, firefighters or steel workers.
 
I didn't know what pride in the job felt like, or what power and knowledge in the face of injustice did to me.
I didn't know what the DOA, the LRB or the difference between the DOJ and the SOS.
I didn't know that people in power could repeatedly abuse the system and go against orders because "no one would make them" .
I didn't know who the Koch brothers were, or what they made- I still don't know the whole extent.
I didn't know that I would never shop at Kwik trip, Menards, M&I or eat Johnsonville brats anymore.
I didn't know that when I was overwhelmed with despair that I could hand some of it over to my friends to take a load off of me, and that sometimes I did the same for them.
I didn't know how much it meant to tell teachers that I stood for their collective bargaining rights and that I appreciated what they do each day.
I didn't know that I would be thanked for my presence as equally as I would thank others for theirs.
 
I still don't know how to get out of the capital in my intended direction.
 
I didn't know that solidarity across such a diverse mix of people could feel so good and natural.
 
 
I didn't know how much it scared me to think of public education being destroyed, or a sense of martial law being imposed on us.
 
I didn't know I could have such brimming hope seeing a group of 800 high school students walking up State Street,
I didn't know I could have no fear of violence in a crowd of 150,000 people.
 
I didn't know how loud a bucket drum could be, or how quiet and alone I could feel in my own home.
I never dreamed the response to such policies, and master plan of a power shift could transform me into a hopeful being.
 
I never knew how proud I was to be from Wisconsin, and how lucky I was to be able to take a bus to be part of and watch history unfold.
I never wore red clothes, or sang in the capital , or felt such a combination of shocked outrage and confident resolve.
I didn't know what solidarity felt like, what democracy looked like, who's house it was, who has to go, and what is disgusting.
I didn't know how much fun it was to honk in rhythm, or march with 40,000 people on a cold February day in the snow.
I had never seen my Father "wanded", sang protests songs with my brother,nephew and shake shakers with my sister at the rotunda.
I didn't know the generosity of the world, or what it would feel like to tap into such strong unity of purpose.
I didn't know how exhausting it could be to politely request to be heard and to be so rudely ignored.
I didn't know how insulting being pushed aside felt like.
 
I didn't know how right it felt to be singing a prayer for healing outside by Forward, while cars honked "this is what democracy looks like".
 
I never dreamed that group outrage could feel so peaceful, strong and uniting.
 
So much I didn't know.. but now I know.
 
Now we all know.