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Plainsman1963

Well OK, but seems to me that giving up that quick is going to make it hard to be "THE MOM" and initiate this dramatic change you are going to do. You said yourself it would take a lot of hard work. Taking your ball and going home when you don't get the response you want from a sympathetic audience doesn't bode well, imho.

All I can do is give my view. I don't speak for this site, I am just a member like you. Paid the same dues.
Perhaps the "movers and the shakers" don't quite get your bona fides yet. Perhaps they are waiting to see if you are all mouth.
A couple of letters does not a successful campaign make.

While I applaud your enthusiasm, I get a whiff of a condescending attitude in your posts. After 60 some odd years of being illegal, you have the answer. While I hope you do, please allow us poor folk who have lived, breathed and suffered through our own personal WOD to be a bit cynical when someone comes along and tells us all we have to do is commit ourselves heart, body and soul to your version of the answer.

Your leadership skills need a bit of a work up, imho. Better go do some affirmations.

If you would take the time to search the different forums you would find some very good posts by very dedicated people. When you find someone who is "speaking your language", click on the search button at the bottom of their post to search for other posts by them. You will soon be swimming in thought provoking, motivating threads/posts.
Greenman, KWhite and MamaBudz are three that come to me off the top of my head. As a matter of fact, Panama who has already posted in this thread in my humble opinion has done his part and more in this campaign against the prohibitionists.

I applaud anyone who is willing to do their part in combating the demonization of cannabis. Please do not detract from others contributions just because they don't agree with your views or you are unaware of them. We all are different cogs in the machine. We all have different views and opinions and as long as we all are doing something, I will respect everyone's decision on what is their best contribution.

If you do decide to "give up" on this site, be sure to come back after you have managed to convince the sheep (always a good leadership skill, call someone a sheep) that are following the prohibitionists to follow you...oops, I mean when you have done us this favor of huge magnitude and accomplished what better minds and bigger hearts than mine have failed to accomplish and I will personally thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Not a negative attitude, just a reality check.

Plains

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"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." - Claire Wolfe

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kindGSL

Thanks for your suggestions. Your criticisms are perfectly right on and well deserved, I will try to do better. Honest, I'm not really a jerk, I just sound like one. I would NEVER want you to commit yourself to MY version of the answer. Oh my god! No, no way! And I'm dissapointed with my crappy communication skills that have given you that impression.

Here is link passed on to me. It's an example of exactly what I think will turn this war around.

http://adrugwarcarol.com/ADWC.php

I tried to do my homework before crashing into this thing willy nilly, but besides from being all mouth, I am also not that great with computers and just dont have TIME to search the whole thing. I have many real life responsabilities. I was sampling groups and stumbled onto this one at a critical personal turning point, my own 'coming out' you could say. I experiment with lots of different tactics and voices, and welcome your suggestions. My pompusness was simply my own enthusiam running wildly away with me, so, I am sorry for that.

But, I do believe more 'mouth' is needed in this war. I'd like to meet the folks who want to have a 'mouth' around. A reporter from Fox News called to interview me a few months ago regarding a school issue I am involved in. I want to have THAT interview on this bigger issue instead, when I am ready for it. When I have talking points together, When I can speak for a group, when I can talk about our ACTIONS and attract the positive attention this issue needs and deserves.

I'd like to organize sit-ins and a new occupation of Alcatraz, that sort of thing. But first, I have to meet the folks who want to do it with me. That is what I am really looking for here, the grass roots people who are interested in taking action. It isn't my ball, but if no one here wants to get up and run around, I will go where they do. I am looking for the team that can use me. Most folks want to watch from the sidelines, post a note, ect. I know that first hand.

I had a friend tell me once "You are my hero." When I asked her why, she said, "Because you stand up to 'them'." She wouldn't do it herself of course, but she was very proud of me for doing it and very happy to cheer me on, in private, where she didn't attract any of the negitive attention.

The movers and shakers dont know I exist, but shouldn't they want to? - not just me, but everyone else like me? I dont know who they are either, or how to reach them. We need to bring this movement together. How will that happen? I dont know. I am much better at following than leading, so where are the leaders? I had hoped this site would be that connection, that is why I have asked for help navigating it. So, thanks for sugesting some names, I will pursue them.

I think we are at the tipping point where political actions will breed sucess. Young people are ready for change and just looking for a way, but they are also very cinical and everyone needs some encouragement, some hope. In politics groups are effective, indivuals are not.

Honestly, I don't WANT to do this, I have a family to raise, other things to do. I only decided to do this because I saw myself as a rare bridge between the freaky deadhead concert going types and the PTA/girl scout leader mom types. I do know how to put on events and I can train others to do them too. I see this whole thing as a big series of Jamborees, something I know how to organize.

It is very hard to have original ideas and solutions and not come across as a blow-hard. I do have an answer to this I haven't seen tried yet, so I thought it was worth a shot. I didn't mean to offend.

Plainsman1963

No offense taken on my end and I hope I didn't get carried away and offend or discourage you at all. Sometimes my mouth runs away with me too.

Thinking about it, all I can suggest is what you are currently doing. Going to message boards (as many as possible) and see if some connections are made that way. I would imagine it would be frustrating, the pace it would take. First there is the trust factor, etc...

On the front page of this site, www.marijuana.com, there are many stories posted concerning legislation and different battles being waged regionally, nationally and around the world. Maybe if you have the time reading some of those and harvesting contact names from them.

MAP (linked on the front page) is a great organization that is working hard with noticeable results with "us" and I would think joining forces with them can only continue the momentum that is building.

I welcome anyone who has the energy and the committment to do all they can to help. I hope to see you around the battlefield, but I would rather meet up with you after the war is won and share a bowl.

Peace,
Plains

kindGSL

A little bit discouraged, but that is ok. Part of the normal ebb and flow, ect. You are so right about the trust, ect., very, very slow. Like one at a time. Sadly too slow to feel very politically useful. Rush Lindbaugh had millions listening to his crap, not just a few like we get the impression there is in chats like this. There is no way to know how many, or who, we're reaching here.

I have a couple of girls sort of showing interest in this issue, but I must be extreamly careful to be a responsable leader for them, and for their parents. If one or more of them wish to do a big project we can really make hay with it, but that can't be my idea.

I was thinking after posting to you today where my real responsabilities lie. First with my family, then my scouts, then the community of 'gifted failing' kids I am trying to address the problems of. Fighting against the DW is actually a bit down the list for me. I have read you can only really focus on, at the most, three issues at once and expect to be effective. The people attacked by the DW policies truly are 'my people' but realistically, what can I do?

I have had a real spiritual experience in deciding to take up this cause and I do plan on following through with it. I'm giving myself at least four years. It could happen without me in that time. Actually, I hope it does, but it would be fun to be involved.

I am reaching out to the Dead community and trying to get a church started with those who feel as I do, that it is their sacrament. If we go to the high court with that message, and make it stick, my idea will work. I need help for that, I can't do it by myself and I honestly wouldn't want to. I want to feel I am part of something, not a creepy figurehead. I'm not into that. But I am willing to take point, a rare quality.

Unfortunately, I am way too good at pissing people off, which is not a good thing. I appreciate you taking the time to set me strait when I've spun too far out. I have always felt 'different' from most folks and have trouble keeping them at ease with me. Lately I am realizing it is because I am so different, which does not solve the problem, but helps me see how to approach it better. Public relations is a set of skills I really need to work on. This is a low risk place for me to work on that. So, thanks.

You won't by any chance be going to the Phil and Friends concert in Denver will you? I really enjoy meeting people in person, I would love to meet you. I only started this project in ernest at the last Phil concert we went to at the SF Warfield a couple weeks ago. If I could just talk to everyone in person... I KNOW I could make this happen...

Like a guy said once to me; "Whatever she is on, I want some of that." Well the joke was on him. I wasn't on anything - it's natural, and I hope will prove to be infectious.

Take care and talk to you soon, L.

Panama

Please E-mail me your plan for occupying Alcatraz and any other events you may have planned. Please include total costs such as security and permits.

If your plan is to illegally occupy Alcatraz then good luck on finding followers. I don't mind getting arrested for my beliefs, happened more than once, but at this point in the game I ain't putting up bail money unless I'm getting press coverage. And I guess I don't need to point out that Alcatraz is accessable from only one way: boat. Only way the press will see you is from the air and there'll be no interviews to put your point across because you're going straight from the island to jail.

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"This fight against the War on Drugs is not a war in the classic sense of the word, so it's virtually impossible to point to one instance and say, 'That was the battle that stemmed the tide in our favor'. We have had many small victories that have led us to where we are and each day we continue to communicate and educate brings us that much closer to our ultimate goal: The end of marijuana prohibition." -Richard "Panama" Red-
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kindGSL

I had to send it in three emails, so I hope I cut and pasted accurately. Let me know what you think. Political activity is still legal in this country, there is no need to get arrested.