So I went to this event yesterday: DFA Event: A Forum On Voting Machines. Although this was not a DFNYC event per se, there was the ecosystem concept in play and many organizations were involved, but I was aware I was going to a DFNYC event after a long break. I expected to see, if not meet and greet, the usual suspects. They were there. Looked to me like the white asshole males have taken over DFNYC. Dan Jacoby was in charge on stage, Lewis Cohen was in charge off stage. People to whom my clear message has been, get the fuck out of my face, forever. It is like this. You get into a time machine, you go back, and you eat some of your words, or you stay the fuck out of my face. And by the way, there are parts of my life where you don't belong (A Few Diagrams), and don't be making racist comments. Ever.
The South Dakota Event
Social Progress: Show Me The Money
I am going to do a Nepal repeat in New York City for Barack Obama. The idea is to launch a digital democracy organization - text, photos, audio, video, people, events, organizations - to project New York City progressivism into the country. Obama 2008.
Barack Obama: This Is A New Century
Barack Obama: New Approaches To Old Problems
Switching To Obama
Obama Was In Town And I Missed It
Seven Party Delegation
The First Major Revolution Of The 21st Century Happened In Nepal
I walked into the city, and I am taking over. It is called the vertical implications of one person, one vote, one voice.
The Spectrum Concept: Wide Applications
The 90 Minute Experience
Politics At The Speed Of Thought
DFNYC, 100,000 Strong, Scalable Organization
The richest Nepali in North America lives in Toronto. The richest Nepali in the world lives in Moscow. I know both. Actually I just received an email from the latter. What's up with New York? (ANA Convention: Reflections)
The vast majority of those in attendance were seniors, perhaps from the locality, mostly women. I was sitting next to a few of them. The one next to me peered as I wrote down my question for the panel. I noticed and shared.
If online banking is such a good idea, why is electronic voting such a bad idea? My point being it is not the technology that is the problem."Oh, I was just answering that one to my friend over here."
Paramendra.
And she proceeded to share her answer. It was a lively conversation. And then the stage was populated. Every single person on stage was a white male. The emcee, a white male. Joan Paylo, who I talked to after the event, made a few brief comments along the way. She is female. She was a small exception.
This is a problem. Joan and I talked about it.
Video: Hillary Rodham Clinton
"First Nancy Pelosi, Then Hillary"
Hillary 2008: Enough White Men
What most bothered me was a technicality. It got announced there had been "3000" meetings in the buildup to this event. Even if there were only 300, that's too many. That is inefficient. I think that is where digital democracy organizations come in. It is called politics at the speed of thought. (Hamro Nepal Constitution)
The discussion was impressive. I am glad I showed up. And I was glad I had already blogged about the issue. It was like I did my homework before I showed up. Actually I blogged so well, my blog entry would compete with the event itself. It is so informative. What I have not displayed outright can be had through the links.
You can be poor, but if you are white in the South, chances are you are Republican. In New York City you can be rich and white and progressive. Fair enough. Maybe Americans are not subsistence farmers no more, most people eat, and so they can afford to have culture wars. Fine.
After the event was over, I went on stage. Better late than never. Man in black.
Come to think of it, I think I am going to spend November 7 in Harlem. (Iraq Movie, Liberally, But Not Drinking) I am going to videoblog the day. For Obama.
"For your father, for your father." (The Godfather (1972))
I don't do high school reunions. I don't do college reunions. I am the opposite of Bill Clinton. That guy goes to every reunion he can think of, and then some. Barack Obama says something similar here: Charlie Rose - BARACK OBAMA, about being an "outsider." I relate to that. You interact with institutions that were designed with you not in mind. So you make new ones, or you morph old ones fundamentally. Preferably both.
So I get on stage. And I keep trying to get myself in the face of this professor from New York University. And he keeps turning away. I can send vibes like that. I manage to insert a short comment to someone else' question. "He has a point there. If online banking is an okay idea, what's wrong with electronic voting?"
And that is when he totally turns away. And I was left watching his back.
And next I am having this lively conversation on the topic with this white male senior. He is telling me how Microsoft screwed up and Google is one better. Totally my cup of tea. But aren't we getting a little off topic?
Somebody announced it was time to vacate. So I vacated in style. I jumped off stage. (Formal attire makes me want to play sports, soccer.) And I walked out. At the door, I said to a familiar DFNYC face - no, it was not Merle (September 16 Protest Rally) - "Nice event." I know her face, she knows mine, but I never knew her name. She beamed. Nice tie, nice pin. Nice event.
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