Every Voice Matters

As someone who loves to read and write, I've always been a sucker for good quotes.  I own no less than four quote books and I know this makes me a bit of a dork. But the fact is that so many wise and inspirational things have been said in the past that stil carry relevance today and that should be repeated often.  So, in light of my love of quotes I've decided to share them on occasion as I come across lines that strike me as particularly relevant to the discussions here.

I'm going to start today with a gem from Martin Luther King, Jr.  Monday is MLK Day so that in and of itself makes the selection fitting.  But I particularly like this quote because it's an election year and because lately the idea that we are all entitled to voice our own opinions has been threatened by those weilding power in DC.  In my book, civic duty is more than serving on a jury when called or voting the first Tuesday in November.  Civic duty means staying informed, being aware of what is going on, holding those we vote for accountable and, yes, speaking out on the issues that move us. The single greatest thing about being an American is the freedom to be an individual, to form and express our own creeds and to live the life that fulfills us.  This quote captures all of this and more:

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
                                                   -Martin Luther King, Jr.

-BG

Comments

[www.dmocrats.org]

I seek Kentucky grassroots organizers to spread this message.

The senate has voted not to pass an unamended minimum wage law.

To the people of Kentucky please call your local Wendy's, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants, each of these companies gives money to the Republican party. Tell the manager that you will never patronize their restaurant again until

1. Your parent company stops giving money to the Republican party.

2. Your CEO gets Senator Mitch McConnell to get a clean law enacted raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour.

Unless you punish the friends of the Republican party, you will have a tough effort to get Republicans to do anything to help the less fortunate in this country.

Will you please spread this message around Kentucky? Thank you.

LOOK AT MY AGENDA FOR AMERICA. http://WWW.DMOCRATS.ORG

The Liberal Democratic Party of the United States

http://www.dmocrats.org

[Adrian]

I really enjoy reading your blog, it always has great insight. But I am very frustrated with the media’s lack of questions to the presidential candidates about global warming. Now that it is down to just a few candidates I would think that this would be a bigger issue.

Live Earth just picked up this topic and put out an article ( http://www.liveearth.org/news.php ) asking why the presidential candidates are not being solicited for their stance on the issue of the climate change. I just saw an article describing each candidate’s stance on global warming and climate change on earthlab.com http://www.earthlab.com/articles/PresidentialCandidates.aspx . So obviously they care about it. Is it the Medias fault for not asking the right questions or is it the candidates’ fault for not highlighting the right platforms? Does anyone know of other websites or articles that touch on this subject and candidates’ views? This is the biggest problem of the century and for generations to come…you would think the next president of the United States would be more vocal about it.

[Adrian]

Hey I'm back with more questions, I know Earth Day has already passed us by, but with everyone going green these days, I thought I’d try to do my part.

I am trying to find easy, simple things I can do to help stop global warming (I don’t plan on buying a hybrid). Has anyone seen that EarthLab.com is promoting their Earth Day (month) challenge, with the goal to get 1 million people to take their carbon footprint test in April?... I took the test, it was easy and only took me about 2 minutes and I am planning on lowering my score with some of their tips.

I am looking for more easy fun stuff to do. If you know of any other sites worth my time let me know.