There's been a lot of talk around the GOS lately about the South. Some love us, and some love to hate us. For some, we are the hope of tomorrow. For others, we are the blame for yesterday.
But, for those who may not yet know it, the Southern United States is one of the busiest progressive political regions of our nation. Citizens here are dealing with real people, and real issues from our Court House, to our State House, and our Halls of Congress--even to our White House!
So, follow me below the squggledoodlethingey fold, and let's see a little more of this phenomenon, shall we?
I will readily admit that I have not been a member here long enough to sit in first class on KosAir. I do get a seat in Business Class, however. From what I have been learning of late, it would seem that one of the more robust discussions going on here for some time has been about the southern region of our nation. You know, "The South".
Recently, one of our Kossacks, Cedwyn created a diary highlighting some of the better aspects of the South, and Southern US contributions to our national landscape. The comments in her diary were "interesting", and somehow very quickly developed into a two-sided sniping contest among commenters (aka pie fight).
Shortly thereafter, Troubadour decided to vomit rant on and on, ad nasuem (see what I did thar?) about The South, and the reasons he thinks it is, as a region, the singular reason that progressive politics is failing in America.
As I have explained elsewhere, I did not respond to either diary. In the first instance, I was quite frankly unaware of it until the second discussed it. As for the second, I passionately disagree with virtually every insinuation, opinion, and heretical pontification presented. Except one.
I could snark my way through this rather easily, but there is an important point to be made here. While I will strongly agree with anyone who represents Troubador as a virulent "anti-southerner", because his words tell me so, he did have (hidden among the refuse of his rant) one significant point to make.
While I would quickly disagree with him as to the regional exclusivity of his complaint, I think it is true that we Progressives do not loudly enough enunciate the activism, the activists, and the progressive movement forward that our work is actually doing. "Perhaps", I thought, "it is because we do not have an outlet for our voice of activism to be heard and shared." But, how do you create such a thing? Obvioulsy, diaries are important singular voices, but how do like-minded southern progressives come together to actually "voice" the work they are doing for the progressive movement?
One Kossack, Patrick (a fellow member of the 3 Star kossack Group--a group which actually DOES work to project those progressive activities of The Volunteer State from time to time) offered another positive response to Troubador's challenge, and created a different group which would deal positively with Southern progressive political activity. He contacted me, and asked me to help start up the group. And thus, the "Southern Action" group on DKos was created. So, chalk one up for Patrick, who began a clearinghouse to inform, educate, and associate Southern progressive action.
Although I have zero experience here with beginning a relevant group, I agreed to help him if, and as I could. Within 24 hours, eleven Kossacks answered Patrick's call. There are, I know, hundreds or even thousands of fellow Kossacks who are working in the American South every day to move progressive politics along. I hope they will all join this group, and bring to light their struggles, challenges, and successes for the entire GOS to see and celebrate. You see, I believe Troubador is fundamentally incorrect in his thesis--if his thesis is about anything other than bashing the South.
I believe there are hundreds of progressives working hard, every day. I happen to know this is true, in fact, because I work with them every day.
When I came to Kos, I was the Regional organizer for the State of Tennessee for MoveOn.org. With some 16 active, or emerging Councils, I know most of the hundreds of Volunteers who are actively engaged in the Progressive movement. I have since moved on to the national team for MoveOn.org, and The New Organizing University (NOU). I see thousands of Southern activists, organizers, and activities spearheading the progressive movement in the 21st century every single day.
For me, I felt it important to bring more light to bear on the prevarications and perambulations of those who believe that the South is not pulling its weight for the progressive cause. After all, MY thesis is not that nothing is being done, but rather that those doing it do not have an opportunity to bring their work into the light of the GOS. So, in my usual response to the question: "So what are YOU going to do about it?", I did something about it.
One of our own, Joan McCarter, DailyKos Senior Policy Editor is a co-host with Jay Ackroyd on a Blog Talk Radio program that I listen to rather regularly. "Virtually Speaking" is a live show that discusses politics at a national and international level. It's a great show, and every caring Kossack should be listening to, and interacting with, this important show. But, it gave me an idea.
I went to Blog Talk Radio, and created a radio show. The idea is that, each week, progressives in the South will have an opportunity to speak out on the things they are doing to work to be the change we seek. The show will air on Sundays, from 1:30 - 2:00PM each week. If there is enough support and audience, we will move it to an hour-long format weekly. To be honest, any Southern progressive actively involved in the movement will be welcome, so long as they have a current activity to share.
The show is titled: Progressive Politics: Tennessee Style. If you would like to listen, and call in to the live show, you can dial (347) 426-3348. Our initial shows will have a caller limit of 50 callers per episode. If we have the audience and financial donation support (this means YOU!) we will bump it up as needed, with a max of 250 listeners live per episode. Of course, you can always listen to the show any time by visiting the show's home page. You can also 'Live Chat" during the live show!
We must raise a total of $75/month in donations to keep the show on the air. I chose this method of underwriting the program as a further challenge to southern progressives to answer Troubador's complaint. If the show should fail (and most do), it will be only because of insufficient monthly donations from Southern progressives, and Troubador will be able to crow. All donors will be listed. If you wish to mark your donation as a response to the mistaken belief that Southern progressives are doing nothing, just mark your donation as "Troubador". I am working on setting up a specific PayPal account for the show. For right now, if you send your donations to my PayPal account via my email (kybudman@writing.com), that account will go to a credit union account exclusively for the show, as of Monday, 03/19/12. (All donations will be accounted by a different member of GOS--any volunteers?)
The format of the show is call-in, interview style. We will be looking to feature those progressive activities, activists and areas of activism important to the southern progressive movement. If you would like to feature YOUR southern progressive activists, activism, or activity, send me a Kos mail. I will ask you to send me a quick bio, important information on your activism, and I will send you information on the show. I'm looking for at least one (and possibly two) co-host for the show. I'm looking for 20 guests to schedule. Why 20?
Hey, it's a long election cycle! While things are happening at a furious rate down here, they will be happening down here until November, as well.
So, I took Troubador up on his challenge. Anybody else want to put 15 minutes of your time (and a few bucks each month) where your uniquely southern progressive is? :)
THAT'S Southern Progressivism, with Tennessee style!