This would, I suppose, be a Lounge thread, because at bottom it is a straight vanity post. But I wanted to put it in General Discussion because I wanted as many people as possible to see it, and because it has to do with the entire DU community. I hope the Mods, in their excellence, will forgive me and let this stay here.

I am on the edge of weeping right now because I am about to go home.

I have been from Boston to Nantucket to Boston to Philly to Delaware to Philly to Boston to New Hampshire to Boston to Phoenix to Denver to Boulder to Denver to Boston to San Diego to Boston to San Francisco to Boston to Montana to Seattle to Boston to New York to Boston to Austin to Houston to Austin to Boston to New Hampshire to Boston to Greensboro to Chapel Hill to Boone to Asheville to Greensboro to Boston to Amsterdam to Antwerp to Amsterdam to The Hague to Amsterdam to Berlin to Oxford to London to Paris, where I currently sit and write this post. Mixed in between were radio interviews by the truckload, television interviews, and local speeches around Massachusetts in the spare days when I was not on the road.

Tomorrow I leave again for Amsterdam, and on Wednesday I leave for Boston. Again. This journey, this vision quest that covered tens of thousands of miles and reached tens of thousands of people, is coming to and end. For the moment.

I am tired in a way that I cannot possibly explain, so tired that sleep is an impossibility. Strange but true. My head reels with the heroes I have met, the people I have spoken to, the friends I have made, the power I have felt in this American and international progressive community.

YOU ARE AN ARMY.

I have seen your ranks, and you swell ever by the day. If you entertain for a second the idea that you are alone, bereft, weak, inneffectual, useless, hopeless, alone, I am here to tell you my brothers and sisters that you stand in ranks that crack the horizon. Believe it. I have seen it. I may piss you off here, and I may be rude and obnoxious, but I would never ever ever lie about such a thing. I have seen you in the whole, and you are beautiful and huge and stronger than you can possibly imagine.

I am coming home. I am weeping for home. I have not seen more than two or three days at a stretch in my home since July 16, almost four months to the day from now. I am coming home, my brothers and sisters, and no one has ever been more ready.

I am writing this for one reason.

I am writing to say thank you.

Thank you to the DUers who organized various parts of my trip. You know who you are. Thank you to the DUers who came out to see me...and there is evidence right there of this army, BECAUSE I DID NOT VISIT ONE CITY ANYWHERE IN AMERICA OR EUROPE WITHOUT AT LEAST ONE DUer BEING PRESENT. I have a perfect DU record. I met Paragon tonight, Rogue_Trooper on Saturday, and my God the list goes on. DemocraticUnderground.com is GLOBAL. Everywhere. Motivated.

I owe the DUers who came out to see me, who took me into their homes, who brought me out for drinks, a debt I really can't explain. I've been on the road permanently, on display, putting myself out there on stage in a risky venture and on a lonely road. Yet I never, ever, not once, not one time, felt alone on that road, because there were DUers there every step of the way, in every town, every single town, and meeting them was like meeting old, dear, beloved friends.

I also owe DU because the books that put me on the road were written entirely on the strength of the data, research, inspiration, and flat-out writing practice provided by this place. This website is a gold mine of information because of you. We may fight and tear each other and bleed and cry and scream and quit and come back and break things and start all over again the next day, but at the end of things the value of this place cannot be diminished by such nonsense. If you are reading this, and you are a writer, then you have found Shangri-la. Noplace is better, anywhere, than right here.

I owe you all a lot. I have paid some of it back by pouring my guts out on the road these last months. I am going home now to rest, to sleep, to recover. I will be back, and I will carry your banner to victory.

Thank you so much for everything you have given me, collectively and individually. I will never be able to pay that all back. Ever. Thank you.

I am coming home.

and thanks again

:hi:

Love ya and miss ya, Bro!

Get some SLEEP when you get home--- we'll watch the place until you get your rest. :hi:

thank YOU, William. :D

For doing all you do...

:hi:

We would luv to hear from you. and we get plenty others here too. Just gimme da word man.

Come, we eat, drink, laugh, smile, have fun.

Good Post guy.

I'll buy you a beer, keep us posted.

you made me cry.

Dammit.

Quite a journey, eh? Just can't get away from DU and DUers, eh?

Safe trip.

Eloriel

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

eom.

wasn't he? (Extreme sarcasm intended.)

Love to see you say that to Will's...well actually my face. You'd catch a good beating then, tough guy.

I should go home have a beer and kick back.

Not one Freeper on this long road...and I have advertised practically every stop of mine on DU, which is demonstrably monitored by FR. I've had a bunch of people argue (and I have DUSTED THEM, yo), but not one freep.

Dear freeps. You = cowardly motherfucking suckass punks. Cowards. Cowards. Brownshirt motherfucking cowards. I call you chickenshit.

Yeah.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

I'd have to say that it's definitely warranted though.

and I GUARANTEE I will be alone with my meatloaf.

Cowards.

because you are not a pill-popping hypocritical gasbag

the wittle fweeps got their feewings hurt last week

:-)


we laugh

It's kinda like that Time mag edition that asked if God is dead.

He's not.

He's just stoned on Vicodin.

:)

"Think you're tired? Go home. Take a hot bath. Rest up for about 15 minutes and then get back at it!" "Oh, there's nothing riding on this just the First Amendment, the future of the country....."
:yourock:

but since the post before this one is from a disruptor, and bound to disappear.

Instead, I will merely say that Will makes me feel just for a moment, that there may be some hope after all.

Thanks, Will.

Yup, this place is a gold mine for writers alright. Unbelievably so.

Keep on fighting the good fight.

Rest well when you get home; you've more than earned it!!

Welcome to DU

Sounds like an awsome experience

Be Well!

On the way home...

time for you to rest up and recover. There's way more work to do, and we can't do it without you.

:thumbsup:

Come back to SF anytime! :hi:

:toast:

We missed even the bad you. :loveya:

and welcome home!
:yourock:

http://globalfreepress.com/mp3/AntiBush/davidrovics.com/We_are_Everywhere.mp3


:toast:

peace

You have a talent to vocalize what what we feel and to others.

That's a rare talent and don't think we don't appreciate it.

Once again, thanks, Will!

yes, DU is a phenomenon. it's helped me tremendously. kept me sane(r) in this insane and big big times...

DU rallies the soul, just like you've been rallying the global troops!

Nice post.

Our posts haven't crossed much on DU, but I thought I'd let you know that I've enjoyed reading your articles over the past couple of years. I'm looking forward to reading more in the future. (So, I hear you wrote a book...)

:)

Nice to meet'cha. Come thursday, we shall commune in the DU fashion more fulsomely.

:)

It does me good to hear you talk of hope. I get so down when reading the newspaper, cruising the Web, watching television. Sometimes I wonder if resistance if futile and I'm just wasting energy trying to fight back against the Bushistas, the environment killers, the people haters.

But you injected some positive energies into the atmosphere.

:grouphug:

Now, when are you going to visit the center of the storm, our nation's capital? :bounce:

:)

Speaking during the march, or signing books?

Seems to be a good-sized DU gathering at the march. If you let someone know (organizing is happening on the Activities thread), I'm sure we'd make extra effort to check you out.

Woo hoo!

:thumbsup:

Just gonna be there.

Of course, I am a an eeeeeeeeeeeeeevil moooooooooooooslim, so I doubt too many DU'ers will actually WANT to meet me. Pity- I'm actually a pretty cool broad!

(Found out the level of bigotry on this board the other day, sadly enough.)

I was cut off from DU and could not post for several days. I tried to get info from UNCG about the time and place and they were SO not helpful. So I missed you yet was there in all my DU spirit. Keep writing the words describing our fight and thank you....

I'm sure you have a ton of cool stories to share.

:)

where DU was a factor...There were two people there from DU but I only spoke to the guy briefly. Psychic, no doubt.

Wecome back, Will...

And hopefully you'll get out here to the heartland someday. If you're ever in eastern Iowa, I'll buy you a beer and dinner and we can discuss all that is wrong with the "administration" If nothing else, you can get a blue collar pov, although I'm sure you have already. Be well, and fight the good fight.

if you feel like making the trip... :)


must...keep...perfect...record...

:)

excellent post.

(Cue the Hellraiser theme)

:evilgrin:

:evilgrin:

than opening a Cenobite puzzlebox, so I'm getting my fill of anguish these days.

:evilgrin:

The debt is ours.

I only wish that I had more to give, as I know I have given very little indeed.

Thank you for showing all of us what it is to fight to exhaustion, and then to fight some more.

--bkl

For the much needed words of encouragement,
and for fighting the good fight alongside us.

"But what would you be if you didn't even try
You have to try." - Lyle Lovett, 1989

:hi:

Sorry I couldn't make it when you were in Philly, but that was before I showed my parents your book.

I will be glad to know you have arrived safe and sound. You must know that you have given back at least as much (good and bad) as you have taken and possibly much, much more. This is most definitely a place for learning. Good and bad. As many times as I have wanted to quit I have not been able to. This place means something. We are many and we are one. Welcome home, it will be great to have you back.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Thanks for the kind letter and inspiring words. Thank you for your work. I have only been reading you for about a year and you are a clear voice in the wilderness. Rest up and keep up the good work.

Woof ( fellow Mass. yankee)

thank you, 100 times over.


Cher

Watching the game in a few minutes! Hope you can too!

Go Red Soxes!

:loveya:

Haven't had time to return your many many kind emails. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Will,

When you had your website, I naively wrote to you in frustration over the Bushies. I was mad and asked what was up with the "liberal media?" You wrote back and suggested some books to read. Since then, I have learned sooo much. Thanks to you and DU, I have found a place to come and learn.:toast:

:)

I'm so glad I helped. Thanks. :loveya:

;)

:)

That was the one that got me the truthout gig, too. :)

Your posts were eagerly read by me, I gained much from them. Helped get thru the sadness and anger of 2002 siezure of our government. Thank you, I hope we hear much more from your journey of discovery and give us some much needed hope and inspiration for the next big battle! Rest now, peace be with you. (2548HR formaly, new monica now)

been here at DU for what seems like forever..don't post very often but am too busy digesting all the info I read in all the Forums. I am here at least 8 hours everyday, and more often than not, it is continuous. I very seldom miss a WilliamPitt post and I have always felt just a little bit better after reading them.

You are right...DU is an Army and every army needs its Generals, and you are a 5 Star in my book. Too bad you missed VT during your recent travels in New England...very very pretty here right now with all the brilliant colors.

Rest well when you return as there is still much to be done.

and I can't wait.

If you can organize something up there, even 10 people, I'll come with pride and glee. Thanks.

:-)'s and best to you!

koko

:-)

We'd better be, 'cause we have a war to win.

Thanks, Will. You've inspired me today - again.

You were in our thoughts Will.

I love DU too!

With so much bad news in the world today, I sometimes need a good pick-up. Thanks for giving me one today.

rest up GOOD for the next book. K?
luvya/hugs

Debra

:loveya:

Awww...very nice.

Next time you're in the Santa Monica area
round 20th and Pico....

:)

I know a great bar there!

The Gaslamp. meet me there some time . BIG Howard Dean support.
As populist I think you could relate.:toast:

for the last two Dean meetups,
spying for General Clark.

that has to be the most heartfelt and heart- string- plucking post I have ever read. simply awesome

The irony is that I had just finished reading "The Mission' and "The Sins of Sept.11" at TO, thinking to myself: 'Damn, Mr Pitt is really hitting his stride'

My 5 year old son Brett is standing here, he wants to know: "are you one of the presidents?' (I told him I was writing to a really smart man.)

needed a lift. You gave it to me. I do feel helpless and hopeless sometimes, even though I know there are millions of Americans out there who feel the same way we DUers do.

Still, I wonder how we can beat this Regime if they control the vote? Why isn't every single candidate for office talking about those G.D. machines? Why haven't the Dems in Texas stormed the State House by now? Why did California let an Enron buddy become their govenor? Is it possible to overcome this devastating period of our history without hitting rock bottom first? Is it going to take violence in the streets before things change? How can so many in the mainstream media look themselves in the mirror, KNOWING they are keeping so much from the people? It really is like a bad dream.

I have to fight the urge to just say "Fuck it!" Let the people lose their jobs, have their enviornment poisoned, have hard fought worker's rights taken away, turn the USA into a pillaging, lying, stealing, arrogant dictatorship etc., etc. THEY DESERVE IT! THE TRUTH IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIER FACES AND THEY REFUSE TO SEE IT!

But then you come along and show us what dedication, perseverance, commitment and PATRIOTISM is all about. And I slap myself (figuratively) and feel ashamed for even considering giving up.
Have a good rest Will, I'm glad you're on our side. :-)

:)

kidding. You've done qute a service yourself. Have a safe journey home.

sure would like to be marching with you all in DC on Oct 25, but my son might be shipped out on the 24th from his Guard Unit in MI, and my priorities right now are to spend as much time fighting to keep him from going, and spending time with him.
Ill be there in spirit, and thank you for all you have done.

I bet you set Europe on fire, and clearly helped the plight of the 'ugly american' over there by showing them that we are not all afflicted with the values (or lack thereof) that the Bushies try to cram down the throats of the rest of the world.

Welcome home for a well deserved rest. You are indeed a treasure.

Who knows how much destruction it will bring. I know you will be there standing tall,helping the survivors.

But when are you going to come and meet the awesome Minnesota DUers?

Get thee to Minnesota!!!!

Thank you for a very lovely letter Mr. Pitt. I wish I could have been one of the DUers you saw along the way. But I am in a very rural section of the country without a car so I don't get to go where I would like. But Du is my home now and I love it and can see why you do too. Welcome back!

your beloved Socks need your fanbase homeboy karmic rooting for tonite.

Best of luck, Boston, against the Evil Empire :)

Great to see you in Seattle.

Not much time to post now, but .......

It's impossible to be truly connected to humanity, and not be saddened by the actions of this administration, their lies, and their warped values and judgments.

"Snow, delicate snow,
that falls with such lightness
on the head,
on the feelings,
come and cover over the sadness
that lies always in my reason."

from a beautiful poem by the Spanish poet Miguel de Unamuno
The Snowfall Is So Silent (find in www.poets.org/)

(as translated by Robert Bly)

I also read your great article today at truthout. I printed it out and passed it around to some friends. Thanks Will.

Thank you I needed, really needed to hear this.

"I have seen your ranks, and you swell ever by the day. If you entertain for a second the idea that you are alone, bereft, weak, inneffectual, useless, hopeless, alone, I am here to tell you my brothers and sisters that you stand in ranks that crack the horizon. Believe it. I have seen it. I may piss you off here, and I may be rude and obnoxious, but I would never ever ever lie about such a thing. I have seen you in the whole, and you are beautiful and huge and stronger than you can possibly imagine."

You're killing me.

Very touching. I wish you safe travels back.

i needed that

Now, let's see you on the RADIO?!

a beacon home

:hug:

The fights just startin'. I haven't even rolled up my sleeves yet. Miles to go before we sleep.

long ago.....

"So through the night rode Paul Revere;
And so through the night went his cry of alarm
To every Middlesex village and farm,—
A cry of defiance, and not of fear,
A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,
And a word that shall echo forevermore!
For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,
Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed,
And the midnight message of Paul Revere."
(from Paul Revere's Ride-Longfellow)

Welcome home William, well done.

you must be exhausted. Rest, renew yourself for the fight. We need you.

That said, I'm happy for you that you went on your journey and had such a wonderful experience and that you shared it with us. But more than that, I'm gladder than I can say that I got the chance to meet you.

DV

It is nice to know that someone such as you can carry the banner for those of us who feel so inept!! And you do such a fantastic job! Perfect timing on that powerful uplift for our souls...sometimes it seems we are in the dry, parched desert :( Hope to see you Oct 25th. Did see you on FSTV or LINK the other day, just can't remember where :O

We must come up with a song for OUR army of one!

:hi: :hug: :grouphug: :party: :bounce:

Going to give anything back, You post

Thank you so much for everything you have given me, collectively and individually. I will never be able to pay that all back. Ever. Thank you.

We owe you, and if you don't like it.......... :evilgrin:

http://hnn.us/articles/1727.html
Liberal Dissenters Are Patriots, too
By Jonathan M. Hansen
Mr. Hansen, a historian, is a visiting scholar at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and author of The Lost Promise of Patriotism: Debating American Identity, 1890-1920 (University of Chicago Press, 2003).
(snip)
On the home front, the liberal patriots argued that the way to ensure genuine and lasting solidarity was not to intimidate immigrants and political dissenters but to demonstrate the salience of the nation-state--i.e., the federal government--to the well-being of all Americans: E Pluribus Unum meet Quid Pro Quo. The liberal patriots were not jealous sentinels of the people's hearts. They did not regard local loyalties (whether ethnic, racial, regional, or religious) as anathema to national loyalty, or national loyalty, in turn, as inimical to global allegiances. Citizens first learn about loyalty at the local level, they recognized; without local education in obligation, national loyalty would be impossible.

The liberal patriots were devoted to America's founding principles, but they saw no reason why those principles could not extend over the entire earth. They viewed democracy as a universal impulse, but they did not construe the U.S. Constitution as the final word on democratic governance. They regarded as compatriots individuals of any nation who shared their commitment to liberal democracy, just as they denounced individuals, institutions, and governments--at home and abroad--that compromised that fundamental ideal. The liberal patriots expected American foreign policy to uphold the democratic ideals regulating life inside the Republic. For a nation founded upon putative universal values, promoting those values universally constituted the ultimate form of self-defense.

Here, surely, was a vision of patriotism appropriate for a culturally dynamic society in a fluid, globalizing age. It is one contemporary liberals could be proud of. But before liberals can adopt such patriotism, they will need to demonstrate the courage of their conviction by staking out discursive ground. One place to begin is by demolishing once and for all the shibboleth that political dissent is somehow corrosive to the morale of American troops-an argument that is always the last refuge of entrenched political elites. Not only does this argument slight the professionalism of our troops--if they can't stomach political controversy at home, how will they endure the vicissitudes of war?--but it leaves the fate of the troops, like the policy that deployed them, in the hands of a tiny minority: the president and the department of defense. Were I a private in the U.S. Army, I'd want the whole country seriously invested in my fate.
(snip)

A MASSIVE, RIGHTEOUS DU PROJECT - HERE AND NOW
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=386951

for all that you do to make this country a better place.

It was a real pleasure to meet you!

:yourock:

DU, that is.

I knew your writing was good, Will. But I only "got" it when I heard you speak, here in Houston.

You were awesome, man. Informed, passionate, funny, outraged, spontaneous, quick.

Keep it up (after you take a nice nap).

Thanks for all that traveling, and for holding up a global mirror so we can see ourselves.

And, cut back on the smokes when you can, because we might not win this quick and we might need you next year and the year after.

:hi:

BTW, My husband converted about 4 Republicans because of Truthout.

THANK YOU MR PITT!!! :toast:

Don't let anyone else even think of touching your bags as you come home. Be careful in your whereabouts and circumstances, with your wits about you.

We need you.

:)

Have a good rest, you certainly deserve it!

One year, three weeks, and counting. ABB!!!

:hi:

4 this global perspective. Since last Tuesday I have been beating back gloom, looking 4 an ointment 2 help heal the ballot gash. (steroid boy's election knocked me down - I didn't believe there were so many really stooopid people here). Your missive has helped heal that wound. We R so deep N2 the daily strife, we all need periodic reassurance that we R not alone.

I feel inspired and honored to have seen you speak in The Hague.....and wish you a wonderful period of hard-earned rest in your HOME!

And after that I hope to see some new great work coming forth from your experiences and knowledge!

:hi: :toast: :hi:

DemEx

to participate in the best democracy in Internet Town!

I read your wonderful article on the history of our present day conflict. My husband, who is a faithful truthout visitor, gave it to me. Between my DUing and his truthouting, we have formed our own Will Pitt fan club. Honestly, this article will wend its way throughout the University of Louisiana Lafayette (ULL). I think it's the best you've done.

BRAVE ON, Will, you are a vital voice in this fight. DU loves you back.

And Will is experiencing this on places like DU and when he hits the road and meets people face to face.

This is more proof that a small group of people (in the media, government and corporations) are making us feel weak and isolated - when we are really strong and should be united.

I believe most people when they come into this world are very good and most people are strong enough to live their lives honorably. We knew this in the half-million years preceding the recent 10,000 years when the world was still young - and we are getting a glimpse of it again as the Internet starts to compete with giant impersonal corporations and media and governments which have been confusing and dividing us for so long.

I have been very inspired by the many things I've read by people such as Will on DU. This gives me great hope for the future.

To say hello to you, but personal business got in the way.

Anyway, rest assured that I do have your book Will.

Hurry home Will, safe journey!! :hi:

Julie