and also to note: yeah, i’d been wondering what was happening with Big Brass Blog.

but i like the idea of a number of…overlapping coalitions/webrings/something as a way of building a more connected and more powerful progressive ’sphere.

I think the problem with Kos, MyDD, and so on is that they all got really centralized.

dunno how you really keep that from happening. although maybe wrt Kos it was partly built in from the get-go? (friends already knew each other, yadda, or so i understand it).

do people not really use webrings anymore?

I’ve been feeling pretty strongly in this election cycle that a discussion amongst “us” needs to happen pretty soon, even as I also, for want of a better term, am probably a “Black partisan”. I don’t know that this discussion is one that can exclude those who are not self-identified “progressive”, or “radical” whatever those terms really mean. It seems to me that at the grassroots level, communities of color have far more folks that are “liberal to centrist” in their outlook that are doing good work for our respective people, and for us collectively as people of color. IMO, they need to be part of the discussion, at some point, even if it means that at times we are in sharp disagreement about methodology or outcomes, because IMO it seems to me that we are doing what we do to make a diffference in our communities, not just to read ourselves think. Just something to think about.

You’re far too hard on yourself. “Practice” is certainly the operative word, but in my book that doesn’t always mean being the nice one. Think of the Parable of the Burning House. For me, dharma practice means balanced discernment in action. There are times for restraint, times to silently absorb a beat-down, and times to express compassion by knocking the stuffing out of someone whose karma requires it, for their own dam,n good. In this instance, it continues to amaze me that the only two sincere apologies that have been issued during this episode have come from Liza and you. And they’re the ones who are claiming to be the grown-ups around here. It’s ridiculous. I, for one, appreciate your role in all this.

First I want to applaud Terrance’s effort to turn this nasty spat into something positive. Thank you. Must be a function of your dharma practice. So Namaste to you.

Thanks, though looking at my own participation in spots reminds me that the emphasis belongs on practice. (In other words, I haven’t quite got it yet, but I’m still working on it.)

I also want to also thank you for attempting to turn this nastiness into something postitive.

Regarding “mixed” and “pure” race, I’d propose that any self-identified progressive person of color be granted access; basically, the “one-drop rule”. (Incidentally I suppose I’m “mixed” because I’m half Han, half Manchu, but hey in America that makes me “pure” Chinese; most Americans are unaware that there are over 50 ethnic groups in China. Anyway…)

Regarding tensions between agendas of different races and ethnicities, especially relating to the unique experience of African Americans, I’d suggest we cross that bridge when we get there. Personally, I do believe that African Americans deserve the most prominent platform, because of the centrality of slavery in this country’s historical narrative and the unparalleled contribution of African Americans to this country’s cultural and economic development. (I’m usually pretty much required to add something here about how indentured Chinese built the railroads yada yada but this is a POC thread so I can save my breath…ahh, I like it already!)

Regarding the mechanisms of gatekeeping, this is a biggy. As I see it, there are 2 fundamental approaches that could be combined in some brilliant hybrid manner that only POC could come up with: (1) algorithm-driven (i.e. something like Google News for POC bloggers, with no human editorial intervention), and (2) human-driven, in which editorially-empowered groups of people decide by vote or discussion or some other means to promote various stories in alignment with the network’s priorities and principles. I believe the gatekeeping function in this context will be something that will require constant attention and adaptation.

Regarding ideology, short of calling for violent coups or assassinations, I don’t see a need for much of a cutoff on the left side. Democrat, social democrat, socialist, revolutionary workers, anarcho-syndicalist, whatever, let’s all talk.

Peace.