DEMOC.note

## Please note! This site has only just begun... This set of pages on democracy and civil liberties is what we at the Global Dialog Project call "Integration" pages. Integration pages are an attempt to draw together all the various facets and components of a complex issue, allowing us all to construct 'the big picture'. The big picture is important, of course, because it is only when we see things in context that their true meaning is apparent. In this case, many of the individual actions taken by our government since September 11 are only incremental changes, or new steps in a single area - but all of these actions taken together constitute a major challenge to constitutionally-granted civil liberties. These pages are NOT a 'finished' website - we have only gotten the first set of pages off the ground, and the constant flow of change and information means we'll have to work hard to build an accurate and complete picture of events, actions, and opinions on challenges to our civil liberties. Because they acknowledge the connections between things, integration pages in particular require an enormous amount of effort invested in putting together all the small pieces that make up the big picture. A few individuals alone cannot do it - partially because the opinions of *you*, the Reader, are part of the picture! Without knowledge of your responses to what is happening in the world, your agreement or disagreement with opinions of the media or actions of the government, none of us can put together the Big Picture. And without the big picture, we are uncertain if our actions, or those of our leaders, are wise or foolhardy. So - we ask you to submit your own writing or other editorial material, to add comments to the opinion pages or in the comment boxes at the ends of pages, or to submit links to news, stories, pictures, etc., that you believe others would find interesting and useful in this arena. Soon we will have up forums, chat rooms, polls, and other ways to understand your perspective - please email us if you can help with any of these - or if you'd like to host salons, town meetings, or other events in your area. If you're in doubt as to how you can best participate, don't hesitate to write us at democracy@global-dialog.org If we all do a little - we all benefit a lot. Sharing our knowledge can help us **all** understand this unique point in history that we exist within - and can help us make the wise choices that our future depends on. The Editors

Participant Comments follow below

So much to lose, so much to gain! All of it is inside of us, we just have to reconnect to the truth, and yes the truth will set us free~inside and out. I am here to pull my weight, I would love to dialog all issues related to mankind. I am particularly interested in the topics of "culture", youth input, Native American indigenous knowledge, non-western knowledge in general, philosophy, prophecy and open minds with loving hearts, among many others. Warmest regards to the creators~~ TALK TO ME Star Cardinal sevenindians@hotmail.com 08/19/03 18:26:43 GMT

Alright. Truth, the first casualty of war, sometimes hurts, but it also sets you free. The shock and awe honeymoon, at least, seems to be over. There are those of us who have come to feel that the alternative media has never been more important than it is, now. I do not watch television, and, among other sources of information, find villagevoice.com to be indispensible. While so much of America seems to be mesmerized by a bunch of jingoistic bullshit on the idiot box, many of us are deeply concerned about what is happening to the Iraqi people; about whether America's reality T.V. extravaganza isn't the ultimate Al Qaida recruitment ad; about the loss of American democracy, even as we are supposedly providing democracy for Iraq; the fact that Bush slashed medical benefits for veterans a few weeks before this war; the economy, the environmnet, and on, and on, and on. Before the next election, like, say, starting ASAP, may I suggest the concept of a Boston T.V. Party? My original idea was that all protestors need to direct their attentions at even local television stations, with signs that provide tantalizing bits of largely unreported truth, coupled with the available source for that info; NPR; villagevoice.com; etc. I still think this is a good idea, and that it should be applied to mainstream newspapers, as well. Part of the idea is that if these T.V. stations and newspapers acknowledge what is going on outside their doors and provide imagery of these protests, they will then, essentially, advertise the alternative media sources, and will, eventually, be shamed into doing what the First Amendment said they should do; serve in the capacity of a truly free press, regardless of whether they actually belong to a subsidiary of Clearchannel Communications, they've been threatened by Uncle Sam, and whatnot. Another idea, which would need to be facilitated by those who have a clue about technical matters, is an enormous e-mail campaign, aimed at the masses who are only getting T.V. hype and straight up bullshit in their information diets, including Republicans, cops, military personnel, government personnel, mainstream media scumbags, and damned well everyone else who has an e-mail address. Just a thought. Keep up the great work. Peace, Mike Donohoe, a.k.a. Kane S. Latranz. kaneslatranz@yahoo.com Michael R. Donohoe kaneslatranz@yahoo.com 04/07/03 04:44:06 GMT

Thanks to whoever started this movement. We hope it is not too late and keep fighting. Get our elected officials off their asses and out front of stop the War and take back the Patriot Act. frank froschle froschf@aol.com 03/02/03 23:40:30 GMT