I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge the blatant and outright disrespect- nay, disenfranchisement- Obama supporters have been shown on this site. And I want to thank Senator Clinton for the courage and strength to give me the right words to use to frame this very important argument.
There's a reason why so many have fought so hard and sacrificed so much this primary season. It's because they knew that to be a citizen of this country is to have the right and responsibility to help shape its future. Not just to have your voice heard but to have it count. People have fought hard because they knew their rec/rate ability was at stake, and so, by proxy, was their children's futures.
Those people refused to accept their assigned place as second-class citizens. Men and women who saw America not as it was, but as it could and should be, and committed themselves to extending the frontiers of our democracy into the blogosphere. Just like the abolitionists, and all who fought to end slavery and ensure freedom came with the full right of citizenship. Just like the tenacious women and a few brave men who gathered at the Seneca Falls convention back in 1848 to demand the right to vote.
We're seeing a situation occurring just like this, right now in Zimbabwe. Tragically, an opposing viewpoint was held, the site moderator lost it, and then refused to abide by the will of the people.
So we can never take for granted our precious right to rec and rate. It is the single most important, privilege and right any of us have, because while rec'ing and rating, we are all equal. You're equal to a billionaire. You're equal to the president, every single one of us.
Why, Jerome? Why are you disenfranchising us? It's unconstitutional. Sure, you may say, this blog would constitute a private organization, and as such abilities such as "voting" are entirely at organization's behest, but really- this transcends such legalities, because it's so important. Sure, Obama supporters apparently "broke" the rules, but those rules were unfair to begin with, and even when we agreed to them, when the situation changed, we all know we no longer have to agree with them or abide by them.
Don't disenfranchise us, Jerome, or we may not show up in November to click on links and drive site traffic for you to remain profitable with. I'm not bandying that about as a threat, mind you- we'll all have very valid reasons for not showing up come November. In no way is this an episode of "stamp feet, take ball, go home"- this is serious. And you should take it seriously.
Thank you.
|
|
|
Permalink :: 47 Comments :: Post a Comment
|
In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.
If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.
