I've had many different phases as a blogger and as I've passed through different phases of my life so has my blogging. My home now sits and www.JimNichols4.com but I can't help but reflect on the beginnings.
Tuesday March 26, 2002. 1:16 in the A.M. A 21 year old sit at his computer and writes:
I don't know what i'm doing here. Intentional obfusication of observation, pedantic self-servering diatribes. Or just something to kill time extending to the outside the internal rumblings of the inside, something to scream out loud and clear across the land that I can't spell and have no trouble thinking all at the same time (its a tough job). And maybe i'm here cause i'm too lazy to write in my journal, too infuriating (to others) to email friends on those random things that hit me at 1:13 in the morning, and too self-obsessed to sing sonic youth songs over and over to myself and not share with the group. This may turn into an utterly embarassing failure to create something interesting (once again) but as Woody Allen said "If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative."
It was my first blog post.
I called the blog Blame the extended Gestation after I had read some science article saying that the gestation period for humans was longer than other primates and therefore allowed us to have more highly developed cognitive capacities. The title quote reads:
"If I start describing what I want to do, i'll end up not seeing the point in doing it." Blogging on Politics, Music, and culture...
At the time I had no clue that blogging would become just as much a part of my day as eating, sleeping, and reading the newspaper. Back then I was "left-er than thou" and never would have imagined that I would be knee deep in Democratic Party politics, or running for public office. You can pretty much blame Democracy for America for my political involvement. Before I attended their Campaign Academy I had the frustration--dare I say anger?--and energy to be a political activist, I just didn't have the tools and skills I needed to make it happen.
After a weekend of trainings I was out the door and within a month was running a Get out the Vote effort for a Democrat in a December special election. The State House district was heavily Republican, and we got slaughtered at the polls. But that didn't matter for a few weeks a small group of us worked the phones, canvassed, formed meet-up groups, and posted on local newspaper forums and blogs raise awareness and network.
It was the hardest571 votes I ever worked for(got to give a shout out to Team Madden!). It was the funnest 571 votes I probably ever will work for again. And it was the nail in the coffin of my arrogant apathy--I still remember trying to get a friend to come to our phone bank but he wouldn't help out because Democrats were too conservative for him.
I had finally figured out elections were a mathematical equation and that my time knocking on doors, posting on local blogs to try and recruit volunteers, and raising small contributions online had an impact on election day. My gut told me, 'you're in red America, you'll never win' my heart told me and keeps telling me--"so what, might as well try..."
Thats what I am so appreciative of the chance to attend Netroots Nation this year. Once again Democracy for America is providing me with the opportunity to learn and grow as an activist. Once again Democracy for America is giving me the opportunity to educate myself on ways to become more effective and productive. Once again Democracy for America is bringing me into a community of people who have a common agenda. Politics is a strange beast were you end up with more disappointments than victories. Blogging is a strange beast as well, one that serves different purposes for different people. But the core goals of Netroots Nation show how these new technologies can make a difference and create a better tomorrow.
I've used my blog as a way to vent. I've used it as a place to keep links of interesting items I come across along the way that I want to be able to find later. I've used it for my poetry, random short stories. I've used it for my photography, for political ramblings and social commentaries. Most importantly i've used it as a way to stay linked in and slowly grow a larger and larger community of people who want to be involved in the social process. Humans are social beings, politico's doubly so.
Technology allows for a son to talk to his dad on the other side of the world
, and see the baby sister he's never met, it allows for a Professor at UC Berkeleyto teach me economic history, a philosopher at University of Chicago to help guide me through Nietzsche, a think tank in DCto help me learn the in's and outs of policy and its impacts on working people. Technology can increase productivity, effectiveness, efficiency. But most importantly it can empower us as individuals and strengthen us as a collective whole.
Blogging has been there through the ups and downs of my life. It has given me a voice when I often felt I lacked one. Democracy for America has given me the tools and inspiration to keep trying and growing as an activist. Democracy for America works.
If you can chip in to help send another deserving candidateto Netroots nation do so--every dollar you contribute is an investment that comes back to you in more ways than you can imagine. If you work the night shift so you can go to school and pay your bills; if your sister lacks health care and you want to learn how to do something about it; if you've never tried to blog and are going to write your first post today because you have something to say--sign up and try to win a scholarship to come on out to Pittsburgh. We want you and need you. If you want to help build a better tomorrow read through the nominee's and find someone who inspires you, you will be helping to create a diverse community of activists.
If there is one thing I truly believe is that when someone falls you pick them back up, and no one gets left behind--not on our watch. If there is one thing I've learned in this life is that you never give up--no matter what challenges you face. These are things that Democracy for America nurtures and helps sustain in me. I'm grateful to all the donors, volunteers, and staff who have given me this opportunity to attend netroots nation. Your sacrifices pay off in ways you can't imagine.
I look forward to seeing old friends I've never met in person, and meeting new ones as well. I'm excited to be going to Netroots Nation, because we can always use time with our online community of progressives, a community united behind the belief that we can all use a little more democracy in America--no matter how sappy that sounds to write...
I just wanted to take a second to say thank you for the scholarship and the chance to grow as an activist.
Thank you.
And I'll end on that note. I have 521 days 21 hours and 38 minutes until the polls open on election day 2010 so i've got a lot of work to do. By the time the polls close, I'll hopefully be the next State Representative for District 109 in Georgia. I never would have imagined I'd be in the midst of this when I first walked up to the Training Academy and asked Arshad, "do you need any help getting ready." He smiled and said, "that'd be great," and gave me a box of packets to pass out. Its been off to the races ever since.
I have no illusions, if we win it will be because my campaign pulled together a community of people who worked for a common cause by raising the money, contacting the voters, and engaging citizens to believe again in the potential of their government. But most importantly, it will be because Democracy for America gave us the tools and know how to win--even in Red America.