Bryan
05-30-2011, 09:22 AM
As the campaign picks up, I thought it critical to reiterate the words of "Bradley in DC" (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?22909-Supporters-taking-it-to-the-next-level-YOU-ARE-THE-LEADERS-and-ambassadors), show below (tweaked for us now).
Also, please keep in mind, Ron Paul Forums is NOT a free-for-all. We have very specific guidelines for posted content, a Code of Ethics and more-- you are expected to follow it as best possible. See:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?22-Site-Policies-Usage-Guidelines-and-Other-Important-Information
If your post is moderated it is nothing personal, it is an application of principles that this site has adopted in the pursuit of our Mission Statement.
--------- Bradley in DC's message, for your careful consideration:
The freedom philosophy message is greater than one man or one campaign--no matter how great that man is or important this campaign is.
I'd like to offer some free, unsolicited advice (for everything that's worth). Education is key. We're not only trying to educate voters to support Dr. Paul, we're leading a rEVOLution in thinking. Yes, WE are the leaders. Don't shirk that responsibility.
When I started my political activism many, many years ago as an undergraduate student, I had the great fortune of meeting and working with a brilliant LP activist. I'll share her words of wisdom to me, "Everyone else is inconsistent in their views. Our challenge is to find the issues where we agree with each person, get them understand the principle by which they came to that understanding, and urge them to apply that principle more broadly." Ponder that thought.
That appoach has made me a broad "strange bedfellows" coalition kingmaker in DC public policy circles. My first year working for Dr. Paul I organized a coalition that included drug legalizers, the Christian right, socialist privacy groups, anti-tax and anti-regulation groups, other libertarians and lots of business groups. The first meeting in Dr. Paul's office was priceless: many of them knew most of the rest but had never been on the same side before on issue fights. Unity through the constitution. Respect for everyone's rights as individuals. Human dignity comes from our Creator and not for governments to take away--nor for us to denegrate.
If we're going to win not only this race but make the rEVOLution succeed, we have a lot of education to do and a lot of converts to win over to our cause (and welcome to you newcomers!). As with most things, follow the good doctor's example. He NEVER makes personal attacks, never denegrates anyone, only sticks to the issues, stresses what unites us--what common values we share.
Yes, there is no shortage of opportunities to mock (even just pointing out the painfully obvious, I know, I know), but that's how we lose. We need converts, lots of converts. No one in Congress agrees with Dr. Paul on everything (or most even on most things!), but he is universally liked. Let that thought sink in.
Stick to policy arguments. Stick to principles (http://www.house.gov/paul/bio.shtml). Every activity we do... Every word out of our mouths... Every move we make while driving with a bumper sticker on..., etc., you are ambassadors for the movement. Conditions for this rEVOLution are ripe. It's ours to win or lose.
Buck up and show some confidence. We're the ones who are right, remember?
The next few weeks and months are critical for this battle. We have a compressed and accelerated electoral calendar. No more whining. Go out and win this for the Gipper or whatever trite cheer motivates you.
YOU ARE THE LEADERS and ambassadors, act like it. We have a country to take back and a rEVOLution to lead. We owe it to the patriots before us and the generations following us. Focus on what's needed RIGHT NOW.
Thank you for your continued patronage. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Also, please keep in mind, Ron Paul Forums is NOT a free-for-all. We have very specific guidelines for posted content, a Code of Ethics and more-- you are expected to follow it as best possible. See:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?22-Site-Policies-Usage-Guidelines-and-Other-Important-Information
If your post is moderated it is nothing personal, it is an application of principles that this site has adopted in the pursuit of our Mission Statement.
--------- Bradley in DC's message, for your careful consideration:
The freedom philosophy message is greater than one man or one campaign--no matter how great that man is or important this campaign is.
I'd like to offer some free, unsolicited advice (for everything that's worth). Education is key. We're not only trying to educate voters to support Dr. Paul, we're leading a rEVOLution in thinking. Yes, WE are the leaders. Don't shirk that responsibility.
When I started my political activism many, many years ago as an undergraduate student, I had the great fortune of meeting and working with a brilliant LP activist. I'll share her words of wisdom to me, "Everyone else is inconsistent in their views. Our challenge is to find the issues where we agree with each person, get them understand the principle by which they came to that understanding, and urge them to apply that principle more broadly." Ponder that thought.
That appoach has made me a broad "strange bedfellows" coalition kingmaker in DC public policy circles. My first year working for Dr. Paul I organized a coalition that included drug legalizers, the Christian right, socialist privacy groups, anti-tax and anti-regulation groups, other libertarians and lots of business groups. The first meeting in Dr. Paul's office was priceless: many of them knew most of the rest but had never been on the same side before on issue fights. Unity through the constitution. Respect for everyone's rights as individuals. Human dignity comes from our Creator and not for governments to take away--nor for us to denegrate.
If we're going to win not only this race but make the rEVOLution succeed, we have a lot of education to do and a lot of converts to win over to our cause (and welcome to you newcomers!). As with most things, follow the good doctor's example. He NEVER makes personal attacks, never denegrates anyone, only sticks to the issues, stresses what unites us--what common values we share.
Yes, there is no shortage of opportunities to mock (even just pointing out the painfully obvious, I know, I know), but that's how we lose. We need converts, lots of converts. No one in Congress agrees with Dr. Paul on everything (or most even on most things!), but he is universally liked. Let that thought sink in.
Stick to policy arguments. Stick to principles (http://www.house.gov/paul/bio.shtml). Every activity we do... Every word out of our mouths... Every move we make while driving with a bumper sticker on..., etc., you are ambassadors for the movement. Conditions for this rEVOLution are ripe. It's ours to win or lose.
Buck up and show some confidence. We're the ones who are right, remember?
The next few weeks and months are critical for this battle. We have a compressed and accelerated electoral calendar. No more whining. Go out and win this for the Gipper or whatever trite cheer motivates you.
YOU ARE THE LEADERS and ambassadors, act like it. We have a country to take back and a rEVOLution to lead. We owe it to the patriots before us and the generations following us. Focus on what's needed RIGHT NOW.
Thank you for your continued patronage. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.