By now, you've all heard about Sarah Palin's crib sheet on her palm:



Energy
Budget Tax cuts
Lift American Spirits

Rev up your favorite image editing program and show us what's really on Sarah's hand! Here's a blank hand for you...

Early last month, when we were caught in the heat of the health care debate, and the tone here on DU could have been rightly described as "toxic," the DU Administators wrote a fairly long and thoughtful post about the need for greater civility. And then we decided not to post it.

Overall, it was a pretty good post. We gave it to the DU moderators, and their feedback was mostly positive. But we ultimately decided against posting it because the DU Admins decided that asking all of you to be nice to each other was no longer good enough. Sure, asking people to be nice is a good thing to do, and sometimes it even makes a difference. But before we did, we decided to take a look at the way we moderate the discussions here, to figure out if we could help our moderators do their job more effectively. Our hope was that if our moderators could enforce the rules faster and better, then small problems would be less likely to escalate into big problems.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

This website was founded on the day that George W. Bush was inaugurated, on January 20, 2001. During the eight years of his presidency, no matter what loud and long disagreements we may have had among ourselves, opposition to the Bush regime was the glue that held us all together. Now that the Democrats have control of the House, Senate, and White House, that glue has been stripped away. While the end of the Bush Administration has been good news for this country, it has created some (not entirely unexpected) challenges for Democratic Underground.

The ongoing debate over health care reform has served as a stark example of the new challenges we face. While we all share the goal of reforming our health care system, and most of us probably agree on what we feel is the "ideal" way to change the system, there have been some very clear splits among our members on whether the various reforms under consideration should be enacted into law or allowed to die. The health care debate is just one illustration of the situation here on DU now that the Democrats are in power, but it is not the only one. The pattern is repeated over many different issues, with some DUers expressing support of Democratic policy proposals, while others express their opposition. To be clear, this is completely appropriate for a large and diverse community like our own. But it has obviously caused a fair amount of consternation for some of our members.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

I'll say straight away that many of you need to come to grips with the fact that we will be unable to mediate discussions here to your satisfaction. We are well aware that many DU members have long believed that we should exclude viewpoints that differ from their own. But while it may feel good to hold the belief that all of DU's problems will be solved if the Admins just got rid of the "trolls" or the "neo-cons" or the "PUMAS" or the "paid cheerleaders," we have to deal with the reality of running this enormous discussion forum.

For the nine years that DU has been in existence, we have for the most part resisted urges to exclude points of view held by anyone in "our half" of the political spectrum. I feel pretty safe arguing that this policy is a big reason why DU continues to thrive. Therefore, while many of you might wish me to say that as of now only those who adhere to a point of view similar to your own will be welcome on DU, that's not going to happen.

I firmly believe that we need to find a way to keep this community open to a broad range of progressive viewpoints, and after a great deal of thought and discussion, the DU Administrators have come to believe that the best way to achieve this is to focus on combating incivility. We don't believe that it is the fierce arguments over policy and the direction of the country that have been causing our problems -- after all this is a discussion forum -- but more the manner in which these arguments are being conducted.

UPDATING OUR MODERATING SYSTEM FOR THE NEW ERA

Our system of moderating has never been perfect, but it was good enough and it served us pretty well for a long time. However, with the Democrats in charge our disagreements tear at the fabric of this community in a way that they never did (and never could) before.

To be sure, our moderators themselves work extremely hard every day to enforce the rules, and to do so in a manner that is as fair and evenhanded as possible. But they have been saddled with an antiquated moderating system that throws up needless obstacles, ties their hands, and makes it difficult for them to act in a prompt and effective way. By tying their hands, we had created a situation where disruptive posts stayed on the site for too long, breeding more disruptive posts, and sending the message that there are no consequences for incivility. We were caught in a vicious cycle, where a pervasive culture of incivility bred more incivility -- even by people who wanted to be productive members of the community. Many people stopped alerting on rule violations -- either because they thought someone else already did, or because they came to believe it was pointless -- which left even more disruptive posts on the site. Even if everyone did alert on every rule violation, I suspect the moderators would have been too overwhelmed to deal with all of them anyway.

So, we decided to focus on our moderating system, to see if there was anything we could do to help our hard-working moderators be more effective. During the month of January, we identified a number of things we could do to streamline the moderating process, and we have already begun to implement these changes. With a few relatively simple updates, we have been able to signficantly improve the amount of time it takes to respond to member alerts. Where it used to sometimes take hours to have your alerts read and acted upon, it now takes minutes. During the day -- when we have a lot of moderators online -- an obvious rule violation will almost always be removed within 15 minutes of the first alert. (The more borderline stuff will often take longer than that -- but even if they don't come to a resolution, I can almost guarantee that the mods will be busy discussing your alert within minutes.)

We have chosen to focus on improving our response time for alerts because this is where we feel we can make the most difference. If you know your alert will be handled in a timely manner, then you will have an incentive to alert on an uncivil post rather than respond in-kind. Over time, we believe it will become easier for members to participate here in a positive way. If you are not faced with so many uncivil posts, then you all will not feel the need to act in an uncivil manner. We hope to replace a vicious cycle with a virtuous cycle.

WHAT YOU CAN (AND SHOULD) DO

So, now that we are starting to put the necessary infrastructure in place, we need you to start clicking the alert link again. I can't promise that the moderators will always agree with you when you want a post removed. But I can promise that every alert will be considered in a timely manner. And virtually none will fall through the cracks.

Of course, it would be even better if it weren't necessary to alert in the first place. We're coming off of a week where the news was mostly good, and the discussions on DU were mostly positive. The news won't always be good, but we can all do our part to help keep the discussions civil.

Now that they have the means to do so, the moderators are doing their part by tightening civility enforcement a bit. Some behaviors that have been common in the past are now more likely to get your post deleted. One such behavior is the use of unflattering names to refer to groups of DUers. This has had a particularly corrosive effect on discussions of Present Obama's legislative agenda, where it has become common to refer to people as "Obama apologists," "Obama haters," and the like. This type of name-calling is both inflammatory and unnecessary. Instead, use more respectful and specific phrasing like "Obama's critics" or "Obama's defenders" (Or better yet, "critics of President Obama's ___________ proposal" or "supporters of President Obama's ___________ proposal").

Everybody here can help make DU a more welcoming community, where different ideas are exchanged in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Let's all make an effort to participate in a more positive way. I know it's difficult sometimes, but I am confident everyone here is capable of doing it.

Donate to Haiti Earthquake relief efforts.


DONATE ONLINE

American Red Cross: http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServ...

UNICEF: https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation...

Doctors Without Borders: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/S...


DONATE BY MOBILE PHONE

Text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts.


OTHER WAYS TO HELP

Visit the Google Haiti Relief page: http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthqua...


A WORD ABOUT DONATING

I received this message from a DUer whose wife works at a local food bank. He asked me to pass it along to all of you...



Please take a moment to donate now. And give this thread a kick and a rec so more DUers can see it.

Thank you to everyone who has donated during our year-end charity drive. If you haven't given yet, please take a moment to donate right now. (If you have already donated, or if you feel you cannot donate, you can help us by giving this thread a kick and a rec.)

Just click this link to give:

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...

Happy New Year!

David Allen
DU Administrator


About Feeding America (Formerly America's Second Harvest)

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Each year, the Feeding America network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. Our network of more than 200 food banks serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.The Feeding America network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The Feeding America network supports approximately 63,000 local charitable agencies that distribute food directly to Americans in need. Those agencies operate more than 70,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafes, Community Kitchens and BackPack Programs.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


About your Donation

100% of your donation goes directly to Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest). Democratic Underground is NOT collecting or forwarding the donations, and Democratic Underground does NOT get any part of what you donate.

Donations are tax deductible. You will get a receipt for your donation directly from Feeding America.

Democratic Underground does not have access to any of your personal information, or any information about your donation to Feeding America. We won't know who donates, or how much you donate. All we know is the total value of all the donations made through our link.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...

Whatever year-end holiday(s) you observe (or don't), I would like to wish all of you a happy holiday season, and a great 2010. Thank you for everything you have done to support this amazing community of progressives this year. Democratic Underground is not a collection of words and pages somewhere on the Internet -- more than anything, it is a community of people. You make DU great.

I know that 2009 has occasionally been a confusing and difficult year for this community. Now that Democrats are in charge, we face a situation unlike any we have seen before, in which our memberhip includes both critics and defenders of the people in power. Sometimes the disagreements seem so malicious and over-the-top that even I get sick if it. Let's all make an effort to remember those things that unite us rather than divide us. We have a lot more in common than it seems. When we disagree, we can do so in a spirit if mutual respect.

And if you are looking for something positive to do today, you might consider donating to help feed the hungry. Our year-end charity drive is still going on, and you can still get a 100% match on your donation. Just click here:

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...

Again, thank you.

David Allen
DU Administrator

Because feeding the hungry is boring. Even on a website filled with progressives, feeding the hungry is boring.

Maybe you've heard that Democratic Underground is holding our fourth annual year-end charity drive to benefit to Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger-relief charity.

BOR-ING!

But this isn't boring...

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION!!! DUer brooklynite has generously offered a CHALLENGE GRANT to provide a 100% match on the first $7,500 donated through our link! If you donate now, he will match your donation! Please don't leave all that extra money on the table -- Donate today and put it to work feeding America's hungry!

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


About Feeding America (Formerly America's Second Harvest)

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Each year, the Feeding America network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. Our network of more than 200 food banks serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.The Feeding America network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The Feeding America network supports approximately 63,000 local charitable agencies that distribute food directly to Americans in need. Those agencies operate more than 70,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafes, Community Kitchens and BackPack Programs.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


About your Donation

100% of your donation goes directly to Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest). Democratic Underground is NOT collecting or forwarding the donations, and Democratic Underground does NOT get any part of what you donate.

Donations are tax deductible. You will get a receipt for your donation directly from Feeding America.

Democratic Underground does not have access to any of your personal information, or any information about your donation to Feeding America. We won't know who donates, or how much you donate. All we know is the total value of all the donations made through our link.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


Please kick and recommend this thread so more DUers will see it. Thanks.

(Please kick and recommend this thread so more DUers will see it. Thanks.)

For the last three years, the members of Democratic Underground have joined together in a year-end charity donation drive, benefiting Feeding America (Formerly America's Second Harvest) -- the Nation's Food Bank Network. As we approach the end of the year, I encourage all DUers to do what you can to help feed the hungry this holiday season.

100% of your donation goes directly to Feeding America, and you get the tax deduction. Feeding America has set up a secure, dedicated page so we can keep track of donations from our members. DU does not collect the donations, and DU does not receive any of the money donated. To donate, click here:

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


Here are some of the Faces of Hunger from the Feeding America website:


DANIEL



Little Daniel is out to prove that he is the toughest and bravest of all his siblings. As the youngest in the family, he has a need for power and speed, ready to fall to the ground to do a series of pushups when he is not running laps around the makeshift church and pantry of Denver’s His Hands Ministries.

The five-year-old started coming with his family to the pantry during the fall of 2008, finding that His Hands Ministries offered a safe place to play as well as to get food. Daniel’s parents, who have often been weary of the youth violence in their neighborhood, are glad to let all six of their kids attend the Food Bank of the Rockies agency for after school activities and church services.

Daniel’s mother, Santana, relies on the large boxes of fresh produce and meat she receives each week from the family. Since her husband lost his job with a railroad inventory company, the family has often struggled to come up with one meal a day. The food stamps she receives don’t stretch as far as they did when her children, ages five to fourteen, were receiving free meals through their schools’ lunch programs.

Daniel’s ambition to be a cop, a fire truck, and an ambulance all derive from his mother’s determined drive. Santana is putting herself through school by working at a discount store, training at night to one day work in a hospital preparing medical bills and codes. She dreams of a time when she and her husband can move Daniel and his older brothers and sisters in to a ranch house on a sprawling farm. Wherever this young family is headed, they know they have the support of His Hands Ministries to get them there.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


ZOEY AND FAMILY



The job search has been taxing and unpromising for Crystal, a former shift manager at a fast food restaurant, and her husband, who prior to the storm worked at an air conditioning company. Scouting leads in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida quickly depleted the family’s savings. They came to South Carolina after an internet search alluded to the state’s booming labor industry.

At the time of this early December interview, Crystal and her family had spent only two weeks in their South Carolina city, cramming the entire crew into a motel. As they had done each morning, the family got up and put on some of the same clothes they’d worn on the day they left their Mississippi home. Alex, Crystal’s eleven-year-old son, often shares clothes with his mother. Now he finds himself continuously adjusting the extended waistline of his ill-fitted sweat pants while attempting to control his three rambunctious siblings.

Crystal’s husband isn’t at the Tricounty Ministry with his family- he spends his days searching for construction work while she brings the children over to the small food pantry. Apart from the hot meals and grocery bags full of food they receive from the Tricounty, Crystal is excited to know that the executive director of this Lowcountry Food Bank agency has even offered to help them find a new apartment. It’s a needed comfort in this turbulent time for the young family, allowing Crystal to concern herself with other ways of keeping her family afloat.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


EDWARD AND FAMILY



Since 2004, Edward’s life has been a near-constant struggle. Shortly after losing his job due to a chronic illness, he also received temporary custody of his ex-girlfriend’s four children. He has since drained his savings, and cannot get by solely with the assistance of food stamps and modest disability pay. Faced with virtually no income and a newfound family to feed, Edward began to search for help.

He contacted the San Antonio Food Bank for support. Trough the food bank, he found out about local food services offered at a church—where he now receives groceries two Thursdays each month.

“It’s been a blessing because it gets me through the week,” Edward explains. With the food he receives, Edward creates weekly menus for the kids—with rice and beans, he makes chalupas; with chicken and ham, he makes sandwiches.

Edward grew up in a poor family and learned from his mother that children always come first. He holds true to this lesson today, and when food supply is low, he waits for the children to eat first and then eats their leftovers. He does not believe in letting his children go hungry—he will go without before he sends his children to bed with empty stomachs.

Edward is scheduled to have surgery on his knees and ankles, which will address his chronic health problems. It is his hope that they will heal smoothly so he can gain his strength back to go back to work. In the meantime, his local food pantry and the assistance he receives through food stamps help him get by.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


ABOUT FEEDING AMERICA (Formerly America's Second Harvest)

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Each year, the Feeding America network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. Our network of more than 200 food banks serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.The Feeding America network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The Feeding America network supports approximately 63,000 local charitable agencies that distribute food directly to Americans in need. Those agencies operate more than 70,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafes, Community Kitchens and BackPack Programs.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


DONATE NOW AND DOUBLE YOUR DONATION!!

Once Again, DUer brooklynite has generously offered a challenge grant to provide a 100% match on the first $7,500 donated through our link! If you donate now, he will match your donation! Please don't leave all that extra money on the table -- Donate today and put it to work feeding America's hungry!

(If anyone else would like to make a challenge grant, please send me a private message with the details of your offer, and the words "Challenge grant" in the subject line.)

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


ABOUT YOUR DONATION

100% of your donation goes directly to Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest). Democratic Underground is NOT collecting or forwarding the donations, and Democratic Underground does NOT get any part of what you donate.

Donations are tax deductible. You will get a receipt for your donation directly from Feeding America.

Democratic Underground does not have access to any of your personal information, or any information about your donation to Feeding America. We won't know who donates, or how much you donate. All we know is the total value of all the donations made through our link.

https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donati...


The Charity Donation Drive ends at midnight December 31, two weeks from today.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them in this thread. We hope this donation drive is a big success!

David Allen (Skinner)
Dave Allsopp (EarlG)
Brian Leitner (Elad)
Democratic Underground Administrators

This holiday season, DU members can purchase "Going Rouge: The Sarah Palin Rogue Coloring & Activity Book," and have it SIGNED BY THE AUTHORS, Micheal Stinson (Symbolman on DU) and Julie Sigwart (Demobabe)! And as a bonus, a portion of the purchase price goes to support Democratic Underground!

A great gift for all the liberals on your holiday list! Also makes a great gag gift for Teabaggers!


Click here to purchase!





Click here to purchase!


Articles and reviews of "Going Rouge: The Sarah Palin Rogue Coloring & Activity Book"

Associated Press:
Palin's memoirs triggers a boomlet of other books - By MARK KENNEDY
(AP)http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...

The New York Times
Palin's memoirs triggers a boomlet of other books
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/14...

Washington Post:
Going Rouge: The Sarah Palin Coloring Book
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/shortstac... –_the_sarah_palin.html

The Washington Post
Palin's memoirs triggers a boomlet of other books
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...

San Francisco Chronicle
Spell Rogue: R-O-U-G-E, Going Rouge: Sarah Palin
http://sfchron.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ybenjamin...

The Atlantic
The Other “Going Rouge”
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/11/th...

Mother Jones
5 Reasons We're 'Going Rouge' instead of 'Going Rogue' This Holiday Season
http://www.motherjones.com/riff/2009/11/5-...

Hollywood Life
What's the Next Best Thing to Putting Lipstick on a Pig?
http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2009/11/16/wh... /

Mediaite
The Audacity of Going Rouge (Not a Typo)
http://www.mediaite.com/online/the-audacit... /

Buzzflash.com (Interview):
The Politics of the Crayon: How a Coloring Book May be the
Best Medium to tell the Story of Sarah Palin
http://blog.buzzflash.com/interviews/162

The Chicago Tribune: (Page A3 in newspaper - with full color copy of cover & page)
Writers go rogue on Palin: Ex-governor’s memoir already drawing parodies, including a coloring book
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tal...

The Today Show:
‘Going Rouge’ offers roguish reply to Palin book
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33624898/ns/to... /

Entertainment Weekly:
Attention Sarah Palin Bashers: Lookalike Book “Going Rouge” is Coming!
http://shelf-life.ew.com/2009/10/21/going-... /

The Guardian UK:
Spoof Biographies Look to Spoil Sarah Palin’s Book Launch
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/oct/2...

Chicago Tribune: The Swamp
Sarah Palin: “Going Rouge” — Copycats
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics...

The Moderate Voice:
Going Rouge (Not a Typo)
http://themoderatevoice.com/50439/going-ro... /

GQ Magazine:
“Sarah Palin is appearing on Oprah November 16th to promote her new book, Going Rogue. We’ll be watching while pasting bunny boots onto Sarah’s feet.”
http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2009/10/in-t...

Anchorage Daily News:
Sarah Palin Inspires Variations on Book Theme
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/995387.html

“Going Rouge”: It’s not just a Typo Anymore
http://www.adn.com/3437/story/981505.html

Colorado Independent:
Palin Insta-Memoir “Going Rogue” Priced to Sell at $9
http://coloradoindependent.com/40359/palin...

Los Angeles Times (mention):
Sarah Palin: Rouge or Rogue?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy...

The Mudflats Weblog:
Going Rogue vs. Going Rouge
http://www.themudflats.net/2009/10/21/goin... /

Examiner.com
Sarah Palin Goes Rogue
http://www.examiner.com/x-14868-Knoxville-...

WorldMag.com:
The Left’s Obsession With Sarah Palin
http://online.worldmag.com/2009/10/21/the-... /

AlaskaDispatch
“Going Rouge” Two Spoofs
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/blogs/palin-...

Click here to purchase!

Featuring amazing animal photos by DU members! Buy it for all the liberals and animal lovers on your holiday gift list...





Three sizes available:

Small 7" x 11"
Standard 11" x 17"
Huge 14" x 22"

Buy it here: http://www.zazzle.com/du_store

Thank you to everyone who donated during the DU 4th Quarter Fund Drive last week, and to all of our monthly subscribers. We are pleased to report that we brought in the funds we need to keep the site running for another three months. And, as promised, we have given 10% of the funds donated to charity.

As usually happens during our fund drives, the amount donated varied from day-to-day during the week, with the busiest days occurring at the beginning and end of the week. In order to make up for the lower donations mid-week, we decided to do an alternative minimum donation of $250 for those charities that would have otherwise received less. We just finished donating to the six selected charities. Below is a list of how much we gave to each charity.

Thanks again for your support. And have a Happy Thanksgiving!

David Allen ("Skinner")
Dave Allsopp ("EarlG")
Brian Leitner ("Elad")
DU Administrators


PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA -- $475
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. For more than 90 years, Planned Parenthood has worked to improve women's health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible choices. http://www.plannedparenthood.org

MODEST NEEDS -- $250
Modest Needs is an award-winning public charity with a simple but critical mission: working to stop the cycle of poverty BEFORE it starts for the low-income workers whom conventional philanthropy has forgotten. They do this by empowering compassionate members of the general public to safely and securely help hard-working, low-income households to afford the kinds of short-term emergency expenses that we've all encountered before: the unexpected car repair, the unanticipated visit to the doctor, or the unusually large heating bill, for example. http://www.modestneeds.org

TREEHOUSE FOR KIDS -- $250
Treehouse for Kids offers kids in foster care what all children so desperately need: a safe place to dream. Their core programs – Tutoring, Educational Advocacy, College and Career Planning, Little Wishes, Summer Camp and the Wearhouse – give foster children a real childhood as well as hope for the future. http://www.treehouse4kids.org

REMOTE AREA MEDICAL FOUNDATION -- $250
The Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps is a non-profit, volunteer, airborne relief corps dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world. http://www.ramusa.org

AMERICA'S VET DOGS -- $290
America's VetDogs helps veterans who have served our country honorably to live with dignity and independence whether they are visually impaired or have other special needs, by providing them with guide dogs, service dogs, and innovative technologies. A project of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. http://www.vetdogs.org

PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS (PFLAG) -- $340
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. http://www.pflag.org

"...At the time, I was having such different and opposing feelings, but PFLAG affirmed that being gay is a gift. I never forgot that."

-- Quote from A PFLAG member from Saginaw, Michigan



PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

If you donate to Democratic Underground today (Saturday) or tomorrow (Sunday), we'll give 10% of your contribution to help PFLAG.

And you're also helping Democratic Underground during our 4th quarter fund drive, which ends on Sunday night.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/donat...

Thank you to all of our monthly subscribers, and to everyone who has donated to this week's fund drive. Your support is vital to keeping Democratic Underground online.

Please kick and recommend this thread so more DUers can see it.

David Allen
DU Administrator

"...but having the dog helps. Not just in what he will do for me, but in the companionship that touches me in the heart."

    -Quote from a U.S. Army veteran who was caught in an IED explosion during his second tour of duty in Iraq, losing his left arm and left leg.



America's VetDogs helps veterans who have served our country honorably to live with dignity and independence whether they are visually impaired or have other special needs, by providing them with guide dogs, service dogs, and innovative technologies. A project of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. vetdogs.org

If you donate to Democratic Underground today, we'll give 10% of your contribution to help America's VetDogs.

And you're also helping Democratic Underground during our 4th quarter fund drive.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/donat...

Thank you to all of our monthly subscribers, and to everyone who has donated to this week's fund drive. Your support is vital to keeping Democratic Underground online.

Please kick and recommend this thread so more DUers can see it.

David Allen
DU Administrator

It's the REMOTE AREA MEDICAL FOUNDATION.

The Remote Area Medical® (RAM) Volunteer Corps is a non-profit, volunteer, airborne relief corps dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world.

Founded in 1985, Remote Area Medical® is a publicly supported all-volunteer charitable organization. Volunteer doctors, nurses, pilots, veterinarians and support workers participate in expeditions (at their own expense) in some of the world's most exciting places. Medical supplies, medicines, facilities and vehicles are donated.


If you donate to Democratic Underground today, we'll give 10% of your contribution to help the Remote Area Medical Foundation perform these vital services.

And you're also helping Democratic Underground during our 4th quarter fund drive.

It only takes a moment.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/donat...

Thank you to all of our monthly subscribers, and to everyone who has donated to this week's fund drive. Your support is vital to keeping Democratic Underground online.

David Allen
DU Administrator

Please kick and recommend this thread so more DUers can see it.

As you probably know, this week is Democratic Underground's Fourth Quarter 2009 fund drive. This is a completely independent website, and we depend on the generous contributions of our visitors to help cover our costs. We receive no funds from any other organizations. Other than advertising, our main source of income is small donations -- about $20 per donor.

With Thanksgiving next week, we decided to try something new this year to give back to the community. If you donate this week, we will give 10% of your donation to charity. A different charity has been assigned to each day. If you donate before 12 midnight Pacific Time (3am Eastern Time), we'll give 10% to help foster children:

 

Treehouse for Kids offers kids in foster care what all children so desperately need: a safe place to dream. Their core programs – Tutoring, Educational Advocacy, College and Career Planning, Little Wishes, Summer Camp and the Wearhouse – give foster children a real childhood as well as hope for the future. http://www.treehouse4kids.org

Please take a moment right now to donate. It's quick and easy and totally secure. Just click here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/donat...

Thank you so much for your support.

Please kick and recommend this thread so more DUers can see it. Thanks.

David Allen
DU Administrator

I just recevied this email about 45 minutes ago. Had to share...



C'mon you miserable, baby-killing, misguided and unhappy people: You have until 12 midnight Pacific Time (3am Eastern) Tuesday to donate to DU and have 10% of your donation go to Modest Needs. More 'charities' throughout the week...

For more information, or to donate, click here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/donat...