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Welcome To The Neighborhood

By: penguin2 (Diary)  |  August 6th, 2009 at 08:43 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Traditionally, a neighborhood was a community of like minded people.  Several
decades ago most of us grew up in neighborhoods/communities that shared
common interests and common goals.  We were culturally connected.  The
Amish are a good example of people being members of a community, though
they don’t live close-by.  Yet, they can gather together to raise a barn.
Recent societal changes due to affluence, increased mobility and technology
have changed our neighborhoods.  Now it is much more difficult to form and
maintain our cultural bonds.  Often our local communities are less connected.
Yes, we may live where we are economically compatible, but not culturally.

I want to tell you about the community of RedState.  Geographically, we may be
many miles apart.  We have no tall apartment buildings, condos or suburban
houses.  Yet, RS is filled with neighbors.  Each and every contributor,
commenter or reader, is part of the community.  Almost everyone comes to RS
seeking a connection to their conservative values  and like-minded people.  We
don’t have to be in the same social economic strata, the same city or even a
village.  But we all have this unique membership in the community.  All members
are vital to the function its function.  When Mark Kilmer passed away this past
year, the community was grief stricken.  I do not think that is too strong a
description.  I had only recently come to know him through his writing summaries
of the Sunday talk shows, but I grieved for him too.  I believe his family was
comforted by the support and condolences that poured forth from the RS
members to Mark’s family. He was remembered at the Gathering.

Now, that brings me to that recent, special event.  My husband and I went to
Atlanta to join the community.  Our friends here at home asked if I knew anyone.
I said no, but I felt I knew them.  I did not feel I was going to meet strangers or
would be out of place.  Most of the people who visit RedState and stay are
people who share and desire to promote Conservatism. We have similar
values,interests and goals.  Of course there may be variation, but those would
be minor, not major, else one would not stay at RedState.

While one is on this site, bits and pieces of ourselves are revealed.  Even
members who just read the site are often able to identify with the ideas and ideals
being discussed.

The Gathering did not disappoint.  For myself and even my husband, I found my
premise that RedState is a true community validated.  Especially unique to our
gathering, was the realization that even our absent members were still very
much on our minds; they were missed.  Our moderators were checking in,
monitoring and fixing tech stuff.

To me that is a true community.  Welcome to the neighborhood.

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  • Skanderbeg

    Actually, thank YOU (and all the other diarists) who took the effort to be there. That was wonderful.

    • penguin2

      I loved meeting and talking with you in Atlanta.
      Thank you for the reco.

      I look forward to seeing you next year. Stay safe.

      • Skanderbeg

        Oh, I’ll be in a REALLY strange foreign country for a couple days next week.

        San Francisco. :)

        • penguin2

          I think they have created and live in their own little world.

          You’ll probably need debriefing when you leave. : )

        • http://www.redstate.com/tnjim TNJim

          Apologies to Robert Heinlein.

  • JadedByPolitics

    a community and a damn fine one I might add. I might get taken to the woodshed by dad (moderators) for using that language but it expresses the way I feel. I appreciate all my brothers and sisters here at Redstate because WE work hard for the one thing we all agree on The United States of America and her Constitution and our RIGHT to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that includes no government interference in those RIGHTS!

    • penguin2

      Maybe we get a pass tonight. It has been such a rough week.

      I just wrote what I’ve been seeing all along and the Gathering only confirmed that RedState is a place where we don’t have to apologize or hide our beliefs under rocks. In fact, I believe the other side has just discovered how much of a neighborhood we are. And when you rile up the community, things begin to happen and change. We are connected to each other and we are strong. We are not alone. The left underestimated us.

      Thank you for the reco and support.

  • mailloux

    You’ve perfectly captured in writing the way many of us feel about the RS community.

    Thank You! mailloux

    • penguin2

      one of the most meaningful comments I have ever seen here. The one you wrote, “RS is not only a community of fellow conservatives, but a gathering of friends.” That touched my heart. Your writings and participation here, along with so many others, is what makes this site unique.

      The Conservative movement has had to find its voice in a world that had effectively shut it down and shut it out. Here at RedState, connected by our Conservative values and beliefs, what was initially a few voices has grown to thousands, maybe millions. One does not have to feel crowded or alone, we are in the neighborhood.

      Thank you so much for your wonderful words and support.

    • alleykid76

      I’m new to RedState and it’s like the proverbial breath of fresh air. I live out in the hinterlands, and when you see what’s happening to our wonderful country, it’s easy to get a bit down about things. You wonder if, as a country, we’ve seen our better days. Reading here convinces me that there is still alot of life left in the U.S.A. Thank you.

      • penguin2

        facts and stories of the day and lets us know what is really going on. Along with that , I have been able to find strength and courage to not only face what is going on, but the means to combat it. I’ve noted before we do not have to hide nor apologize for our beliefs here and thus we are empowered to make a difference.

        We are and we will. Welcome.

  • http://www.redstate.com/tnjim TNJim

    I feel as if I was there in spirit. Of all the conservative blogs out there I kept gravitating back to this one. Maybe it is that sense of family you spoke of, penquin2, not just the like-mindedness I felt toward the main contributors and many of the members here such as Gamecock, Susannah, Vladimir, you, janis, DTOM… I better stop lest I leave someone out. Oh, I already did! Any way, you get the idea.

    I joined here 5 months ago and have thoroughly enjoyed reading the informative and well-sourced diaries. Most of the comments from the regulars have expanded on those diaries to boot. I concur with all you have said above and hope to learn more as the months and years go on, to recognize the squishes, to see who the real conservatives are as 2010 and ’12 approach. RedState is the place to do that.

    • penguin2

      of not only the Gathering, but RedState.com itself. I am essentially a people person (though they can be so annoying), and have not been overly fond of machines. Yet, when I learned about the site and later joined it has been an amazing experience. Geographical distances do not matter, we are still connected and it is not superficial.

      Jim, like you I wanted to name names. The part of the diary that I did not post was about who was in my immediate neighborhood. I had roles in the “Civic Association” for so many. And then, you were the one I could call on to fix things, Maillux our spiritual resource, GC was our legal rep, Susannah our resident physician, DTOM, janis, eburke, etc. etc. well you get the picture. Everyone fits somewhere in our community, on any given day those we know by name and those we do not, they are part of this great Conservative world.

      Thank you, for your kind words TNJim and reco.

  • azaeroprof

    It was great meeting you and Mr. Penguin in Atlanta! RedState is definitely a very special place and personifies the difference between thoughtful dialog and the type of vociferous hate you find at places like dKos and HuffPo. It’s so awesome to be a conservative!

    • penguin2

      and strangely enough, this is actually a great time to be one. We have been on the downside and downtrodden for so long. Now we must stand up and speak out for our beliefs, or we will be lost forever.

      We enjoyed meeting and talking with you too, azaeroprof. Thank you for the reco. I tried to capture, IMO, the essence of what makes a site like RedState work. And because it does work is why the Conservative movement is re-emerging, finding it’s voice and fighting back.

  • Cheryl

    and right on Penquin 2. Although I had peeked in for a couple years, I took to Redstate about the time of the Tea Parties and I love it here. You said it so well, thank you.

    • penguin2

      to write about things I feel passionately about. In fact, that is what the folks here on RS are doing. Writing and working to achieve our Conservative goals. Political activism takes in the spectrum of all of the facets of our Conservatism. No one need feel left out. Conservatism itself is a way of life that I believe the Founding Fathers had and wanted future generations to keep.

      Again, it was great to meet and talk with you. Thank you for kind words and reco. Take care and have a good year.

  • eburke

    due to job commitments (yup, ‘the mob’ still needs to feed itself) but I have found this place to be addictive. I spend *way* too much time on here (it’s a good thing I’m the director of my department; the only person looking over my shoulder is….me :-)

    The intellect, the information, the comraderie, the wit and the absolutely hilarious snark and sarcasm (janis just kills me) make this an awesome place to ‘get away’ from the nihilistic, narcissistic, hedonistic MSM/pop culture world.

    Thanks for a great diary. Mr. Penguin’s a lucky penguin (if he doesn’t mind me saying :-)

    • penguin2

      and absolutely hilarious snark and sarcasm” is a great description of what one can find when they come to RedState. Using all of those attributes is what allows us to go forward and accomplish our goals for the Conservative movement.

      I have figured out that just one reader telling five people, who in turn tell five people, and so on, well we have a grassroots movement that can only grow. That must have been what Erick had in mind when he started RS. Yet, as you and others have noted, there is a uniqueness. Something that takes us further, allowing us to connect, care and be concerned as individuals and a group. I believe that can only be a positive for the site and ourselves.

      Thank you again for the your supportive words, Mr. Penguin is a rock and I am the lucky one. Take care.

  • Lords86

    It was tough not being able to make it back down to my old law school stomping grounds, but by all reports, it was a terrific weekend. I am so happy that you were able to make it and enjoyed your time meeting neighbors.

  • penguin2

    I have always respected and liked your writings, so I take that as a wonderful compliment. Thank you.

  • ColdWarrior

    Have you taken steps to become Republican Party precinct committeemen?

    Talk about a Dynamic Duo! <;^)

    Beat Navy!

    Sincerely,

    ColdWarrior

  • eburke

    called the Republican Party turned around and headed in the right direction because we took it over from the bottom up, I’m gonna find and mail you a t-shirt that says “I made a difference” on the front, and “I helped save America” on the back for your tireless, fanatical, myopic focus on precinct committeemen.

    We don’t have PC up here in the land of Sen. Stuart “I’m a buffoon” Smalley but we have county delegates and it is truly amazing the difference you can make. I am convinced that we have the GOP state chairman that we have because of the kind of delegates that we county delegates sent to the state convention. The old boy/girl network got smoked across the board and movement conservatives now rule the roost.

    So, CW, you are the living corollary of the old adage: How do you eat a whale? One bite at a time.

    How do you take back the Republican Party – One Precinct Committeeman at a time.

    Rock on, my friend!

  • penguin2

    CW, I knew you would be mentioning that little detail. Hey, we are works in progress. And I mean that seriously…

    eburke, absolutely CW is making a difference. At that Gathering, he asked perfect questions of the speakers (they even took notes) and made sure people knew to sign up and become a PC. One person at a time ultimately joining together, can make a difference and get the job done. I think that is how RedState started and why it is succeeding.

    Thank you both for your comments and recos.

  • http://socratesbox.blogspot.com Socrates

    There will be many more to follow, I’m sure. Some will be as beautiful and reassuring as this one, because that’s who you are. Some will be full of righteous anger at something you have seen on the nets or in your life. But all will be just as easy to recommend as this one.

  • penguin2

    I took your words to heart at the Gathering and knew you were right. So, I nudged myself again. And yes, there will be more and likely along the lines you have described. RedState helps one grow and use the gifts each of us has.

    It is sometimes difficult to put into words, the impact people have on each others lives, so I’ll just say…

    Thank you.