...and it's long overdue and monumentally deserved.

(and no, I'm not announcing that I'm leaving DU)

(assholes)

( )

I came to DU in May of 2001, which means I will be celebrating my 9-year anniversary as a member of this forum in six months. Insane, right?

Like every long-time poster here, I've seen it all. I've been part of the problem sometimes, part of the solution sometimes, and an increasingly informed and motivated bystander in between. This place motivated me to begin the first real, serious political action of my life. I'd worked on campaigns here and there before, stayed as informed as possible, always voted, and gone to the occasional protest, but it wasn't until I met Matcom and several others in the aftermath of 9/11 here that I really rolled up my sleeves and pitched in. I will go to my grave believing we made a difference, and our reports of the actions we took spawned other groups of DUers from all over the country to go out and do the same.

I researched three books and countless articles here. I've met some of the best people I've ever known, and have gotten involved and informed in more ways than ever could have been possible had I not come to this place in May of 2001. DU changed my life, made me a better person, and more importantly, a better citizen of this country and the world.

I'm sure pretty much of you, long-timers and newbies and everyone in between, could share a similar story about this place.

And that is entirely entirely entirely due to the tireless efforts of Skinner, EarlG, Elad, and all the Moderators past and present. Beginning with that dark January day in 2001 when they first unfurled that DemocraticUnderground.com banner along George W. Bush's inaugural route, the Admins and Moderators have worked so hard to make this place what it is. I am sure they feel like schoolmarms locked into a giant classroom with 50,000 demented children sometimes, but they've always been there for this place and for us. Yeah, this joint is batshit crazy, but it's our batshit crazy, and that is all because of them.

Given the mood and mayhem of this place lately, I think it is safe to assume none of the Admins or Mods are having a festive time of it holding this place together. So if you have a story about what DU means to and for you, share it here as a well-deserved thanks to the ones who are always here, making this place better, and keeping the lid on.

Thank you, folks. From my heart.