Friday — April 9, 2004

Town hall meetings promote patriotism

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Patriotism is a big word. It derives from the Latin word for father, "pater." In other words, it follows the line that a patriarchal society would. Listen to papa, let him tell you what to do.

However, we don’t, after all, live in a dictatorship. Instead we live in a country that was based upon gaining religious and political rights for individuals. One of those rights is the freedom of speech.

One organization that is putting its patriotic sensibilities and rights to the test is MoveOn.org, founded in 1998 by software entrepreneurs Wes Boyd and Joan Blades.

In the past six years, MoveOn has pioneered new ways to use the Internet to bypass big politics and big media to reach frustrated citizens and empower them to become activists in a movement to revitalize democracy. Already they have promoted a virtual march on Washington, D.C., when millions of people called and wrote to their representatives the same day.

In a new, face-to-face move, MoveOn is encouraging town hall style gatherings at independent bookstores around the country. Over 2,000 stores responded to the call for volunteers. Iconoclast Books in Ketchum is one of the 200 stores chosen to host an event, which is scheduled for April 24, 4 to 6 p.m. at the bookstore in Ketchum.

Iconoclast special events director Sarah Hedrick suggests people pick up ballots at the store or email iconoclast@cox-internet.com with three ideas and issues for discussion that are relevant in the Wood River Valley.

"As we see what people in the community want to talk about hopefully a natural leader will surface," Hedrick said.

The purpose of these meetings is twofold. The small grassroots political action organization has published a new book, "MoveOn’s 50 Ways to Love Your Country," which it is promoting. At the same time, the meetings are to facilitate discussions on issues of concern to each community.

"This is not a daunting political book," Hedrick said. "It’s a large paperback, $10.95 and totally accessible."

Written by 50 of the over million MoveOn members, the book contains essays which share personal stories and resources for taking inspiration a step further. Simple ideas are illustrated in essays such as "His Last Vote," about a dying man's wish to cast a ballot. Another titled "Start a Petition," which chronicles a couple's quest to protect wolves from trappers in Alaska.

"MoveOn's 50 Ways to Love Your Country" also answers the question that more and more citizens are asking: "What can I do?"

The book, though not yet released, is in the top 100 of Amazon.com bestsellers, stemming from pre-orders.

"We are thrilled to see the public respond this way," Blades said. "This book brings a message of optimism and opportunity to anyone who wants to get involved in the political process and is filled with uplifting stories of success from which we can all take inspiration."

In 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt wrote: "Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country."

Enter MoveOn.

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