Living Liberally

At Netroots Nation, this year's Screening Series just kicked off. Films, shorts, discussions and workshops, the series touches the variety of places where film/video and political activism connect.

The lead-off offering: The Media That Matters Film Festival, an annual collection of shorts on social justice and awareness that are made available online so anyone can stream their own film festival.

The opening film drew applause -- and here's why I'm writing about it here. "Battleground Minnesota" features an 18-year-old Minnesotan who convinces every major state office-holder -- Dem and Republican -- to talk with him about why young people should care about voting.

He then remixes the interviews into a hip-hop music video -- where original rap is interspersed with Mark Dayton wearing "Dem" bling," Norm Coleman unbuttons his shirt to hang out, Tim Pawlenty is turned into a supporting role rapper, and Walter Mondale gets his turn on headphones.

It's hilarious, and inspirational -- it plays with the cultural and generational gaps between past generations and the current one, but also the power of music, technology and mischief to bridge that divide.

Check it out -- (and if you're at Netroots Nation, come by) -- and thank Media That Matters for making its festival free and open to the public.

New York City has outlawed dancing-without-a-license since 1926. Seriously. Bars and restaurants require cabaret licenses -- originally a measure to crack-down on interracial couples -- if people want to shake a leg. And, in some cases, proprietors have been fined for failure to stop dancers.

All that may soon change, as Mayor Bloomberg is said to be planning a repeal of these arcane laws.

As ridiculous as it was that these laws have existed -- putting NYC in the lonely anti-dance camp only otherwise occupied by religious extremists -- it's more ridiculous that it took so long to tackle them. Despite efforts from advocates like Scott Jeffrey of Legalize, there has never been a really strong, public, dynamic, effective movement to make this change...despite being in a strong, dynamic entertainment-fueled city of conscious, creative-class warriors.

by Seth Pearce, Living Liberally

This week Living Liberally launched Praying Liberally, our new network of local liberal meetups of progressives from a wide range of faiths to talk politics, say a collective prayer for "the least of these" in our world, and build community to organize around our common causes.

Since Monday, when Praying Liberally launched over at Street Prophets and got some mention on Daily Kos and Hullabaloo, we've gotten several requests to start new chapters, many from Boomers, some who've said they felt too 'old' for the Drinking Liberally crowd, which is fine. Different Liberallies appeal different people. But we still haven't gotten any requests from millennials.

This leads us to ask: is Praying Liberally just for the Boomers? Will the religious left die out?

It doesn't have to.

With interest in religion and spirituality rising on college campuses, and the fact that the millennial generation is one of the most liberal ever, the community potential is there.

Plus, The fact is there are many progressive religious youth orgs, such as Mitzvah Corps, that get young people engaged in social justice and other progressive causes.

But unlike conservative religious youth groups, progressive ones don't usually self-identify in ways that would explicitly denote them as progressive organizations. Also, these groups haven't formed solid coalitions with the progressive movement, and in that they fail to act as a legitimate gateway for youth into the progressive movement. Introducing youth involved with religious programs into the greater movement was one of the Religious Right's key skills as they grew their power in the last decades of the 20th century.

The progressive movement needs to build connections with these progressive religious youth groups through more liberal faith communities such as the United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist and Episcopalian churches, and the Reform and Reconstructionist Jewish movements. As well as the younger, more liberal generation of church-goers at traditionally conservative churches.

This relationship between "Church" and Progressive Movement could provide us with great new leaders, who like Barack Obama, would come to the progressive movement through their faith community. It could also infuse these religious organizations with new energy, connecting young people to faith in new ways and expanding the opportunities offered to them by their religious community as they see their church, synagogue, mosque or temple becoming more connected with their everyday lives.

But for now, while we try to convince the progressive movement to get involved with this kind of outreach, are there any millennials out there who want to start a Praying Liberally chapter?

Last year, on the eve of the 4th of July holiday, George Bush pardoned Scooter Libby. I remember being infuriated by it, finding some solace in Keith Olberman's special comment calling upon Bush and Cheney to resign, and I remember thinking, "Surely there is some precedent in American history that has offered wisdom for exactly this type of scenario."

Then I remembered to read The Declaration of Independence.

What did this document say to indict the monarch named George?

"He has obstructed the Administration of Justice"...

"He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance"...

"He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power"...

As Thomas Jefferson penned, "for depriving us in many cases,
of the benefit of Trial by Jury," the ruler had earned himself a Revolution...and Jefferson reminded me that the Declaration of Independence is absolutely an annual must-read.

I've always thought there should be some other celebration associated with the 4th, beyond barbecues, beaches and fireworks (all of which I love).

Our friends at the Bus Project, as was blogged about on this site, figured out the progressive festivities for Halloween. So who has figured out the new way to mark Independence Day?

Until we sort it out, I'll just settle for attending Drinking Liberally tonight...and reading this document out loud -- to anyone who will listen -- tomorrow.

It's great seeing groups like Music for Democracy picking up the mantle of the work that Music for America and Concerts for Kerry did last cycle. Culture attracts -- often more than straight-up politics -- so we have to learn how to use culture to serve as a vehicle for progressive community.

In that spirit, we've been doing more reviews and cultural commentary at Living Liberally. Music for Democracy may dig the bands that are Rocking Liberally as posted by Seth Pearce. And we're seeing more happening on the big screen too -- two reviews posted in the past two days will give you hints for your 4th of July cinema-going.

The first is Gonzo, a documentary on Hunter S. Thompson that will be released in select theaters starting tomorrow. As Brooke Olaussen reports at Screening Liberally:

Everything you could want in a documentary film is in this one. By bringing you the mood and life-force of Gonzo, the film enchants, both visually and philosophically. The multiplicity of voices/interviews, footage, photographs, and songs transports you into the scene, as if like Alice you stepped through the looking glass. The soundtrack, Johnny Depp’s narration of Thompson’s writing,and interviews with friends and family guide you through Thompson’s wonderland.

The second sure success this weekend is more mainstream fare: Wall-E about a lovable scamp of a robot who has an environmental message tucked into his gizmo-goofball gaffes. As Mazhira Black writes:

For those of you who think that WALL-E is a kid's film you may find yourself eating your words. It is great to see Disney using it's power for good rather than evil. Some of you may remember some of the social faux pas in the Disney closet: the racist movie we don't talk about, Song of the South, the subtle anti-Arab lyrics in the song "Arabian Nights" of Aladdin, and of course the good old belief that a woman should lie down and wait for her prince to come and rescue her from her dragon guarded castle in order to achieve happiness.

The jury is still out on whether Disney has gotten the PC bug or the Disney-Pixar marriage has given the Disney folk a younger more open outlook on the world. One thing is for sure, if their movies keep moving in a WALL-E direction then I will have no qualms with raising kids in the arms of the mouse.

Let us know what you're watching, reading and listening to -- if you like it, chances are somebody else will too. And if you share tastes, you may share politics as well.

Greetings, Future Majority -- thanks, Mike, for inviting a few of us to post this week...and for creating such an important online space.

Since I'll be appearing a couple times this week, I wanted to start with an introduction -- my name is Justin Krebs, and I'm executive director of Living Liberally, a national network that creates social communities around progressive politics.

What is a liberal? We get asked that a lot -- and my somewhat dodge of an answer is that people know when they are one...around the country, the attendees of Drinking Liberally choose to identify as liberals -- I don't need to tell them what they are -- they can tell me what liberal is.

And our liberal libation-lifters around the country do. Dan Henry, from our Idaho Falls, has been working to create legal opportunities for youth to protest the war following an incident when several teens were arrested for defacing street signs in an anti-war action. In Denver, liberals took in a night of laughter, attending comedy shows together to promote their progressive identity. Our Springfield, Illinois, chapters believes that part of being liberal is playing host to special guests: candidates, advocates and psychedelic cowboy bands.

How are you liberal? If it's good, put it in the comments...maybe one of our chapters will follow your lead -- or maybe we'll highlight it over at our newly-relaunched Living Liberally blog, where we post reviews alongside rants, and amusements alongside analysis...because that's part of being liberal too.

I’m heading off the grid for the next week to take a much needed vacation. In my absence, I’ve arranged for a number of guest bloggers to join us from some really great progressive organizations including Living Liberally, the Bus Federation, the Young Elected Officials Network, Democrats Work, The League, Swing Semester, the Young Democrats and more. Along with Kevin and Alice, who will continue their regular blogging, these great guests willll take care of you through the holiday. Treat them well and leave lots of comments. I’ll be back July 7th.

Also, don’t forget that user diaries/blogs are now enabled. You could always throw your own .02 into the discussion and write a blog. Just login (or create an account) and click “Create Content” in the personal navigation menu at the top of the page. Some folks like the Sahar Massachi from the Roosevelt Institution and George Colli, who is running for CT state senate, have already done so and found themselves on the front page. Kevin and Alice will have their eyes out for good user-generated content to promote while I’m on break.

I'm about to hop on a train to attend the Demos Better Deal Conference, where I'm speaking tomorrow. Before I go though, I wanted to alert all of you to a great (and fun!) opportunity to support progressive causes.

If you are in NYC on Saturday, please consider stopping by the Living Liberally fundraiser at DCTV (Downtown Community Television Center). Living Liberally is an amazing group that uses culture (books, comedy, movies) and community settings (bars) to encourage progressive thought and activism. In many areas they are the glue that holds together the progressive movement. I've been going to Drinking Liberally since the beginning and they've been super good to me - even hosting my book launch party and writing some kinds words at Open Left.

Tix are $100 - which I know is a lot - but it's well worth it to support an amazing organization that often runs on a shoe-string budget (or out of pocket at the expense of the organizers).

For more info, click on the Martini glass.

Today is Super Tuesday, but it is also Fat Tuesday, the peak of Mardi Gras. Fully cognizant of the fact that these should not at all conflict, the folks at Living Liberally, Young Voter PAC, Forward Montana, New Era Colorado, Democrats Work, and Traction are throwing election watching parties all over the country tonight.

From the Super Fat Tuesday website:

Super Fat Tuesday. Because election day should be celebrated. Because people want to experience politics together. Because New Orleans needs to be remembered. Because these campaigns have been so excessive, they are super fat...

So far there are over 27 parties scheduled in 19 states.

As for myself, this morning I schlepped over to the Municipal building in Downtown Brooklyn and cast my ballot for Sen. Obama. Tonight I'll probably stop by the Drinking Liberally party at the Tank in lower Manhattan before heading home to cover the results late into the night. Maybe I'll see some of you there.

My day job is hectic today, so I've just got some links to throw your way. Back tomorrow with a post that has a little more meat.

• Over at Real Clear Politics, Tom Bevan thinks that it's no big deal that the Republican brand has officially crashed among young voters. The reason? Bevan pulls out that old wives tale that young voters get more conservative as they age. News flash - partisanship is a habit (pdf). The Boomers swung liberal in the 60s and 70 and they stayed that way. Gen X swung conservative in the 80s and they stayed tthat way. If Millennials become progressives now, they too will stay that way. For all the visual folks out there, I'll pull up this oldy-but-goody:

• Over at Tech President, Greg Bloom, who sometimes blogs here at FM, has an excellent post that you should read about politician's profiles and FaceBook and the value of a digital handshake from the candidate.
• At Open Left, Matt Stoller has a post you should read about the value of humor in politics and in journalism.
• Working Assets reports that Hillary Clinton is the first presidential candidate to install their voter registration widget on her website. We should probably hook that up here.
• Finally, The New York Times Week in Review has an article about lowering the voting age. We got asked that uestion at Yearly Kos on the panel, and I stand by Adam Conner's answer - I have no objection to that. Though I do think there is a lot more worthwhile stuff we could be doing like lowering the barriers that 18-24 year olds already face in our voting process.