I believe it is time for MoveOn.org to change its name. Recently, with all things being equal, their name would really be more accurate if it were something like DwellAndHarp.org. The tables have been turned, and their name just doesn't fit anymore.
Years ago I was taken with an organization that called itself something that had really been in my head for some time. In the thick of the Lewinsky thing, an advocacy group sprung up that espoused the opinion that we'd all expensed way too much over this thing and it was time to move on.
Ah the good old days.
During the last election cycle I was forced to pull my name from their d-list as what had been a fairly specific group aligned against a fairly specific problem morphed into a full blown lobbying organization. They were still MoveOn, but I have no idea what they were encouraging me to move on from.
Now MoveOn is compiling petition signatures against a supreme court nominee. This may be a good idea. I don't know. I all know is it has nothing to do with moving on from anything.
Its too bad. As a society we often unfortunately dwell on one story or another far beyond its real valuable shelf life. With the Pakistani earthquake, the rebuilding in the gulf states, oh, and the WAR IN IRAQ - with all that, CNN ran a special report today about how girls feel pressure to be thin. Maybe their features editor needs to move on. We heard this morning that a potential crisis is looming! Its possible that Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, and Angelina Jolie might all turn up at the Golden Globes. Time to MoveOn from that issue?
There was a moment where MoveOn could have focused itself on whatever bit of newsCrack we'd found ourselves jonesing for and helped us get passed it to look at issues that really do matter. But it never happened. It never happened because MoveOn.org was never about moving on, it was about protecting their guys. Just like every other interest group.
And with that, I'm going to move on.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
MoveOn.org Would Rather You Didn't
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4 comments:
I ditched MoveOn after the election when they, uh, didn't Move On. They had a pretty good focus before this past election, but yeah-- they just got whiny after the election. *sigh*
i agree with you on this. i wish i would remember to take myself off their email list, but i forget every time i'm on the computer....should go do that now...
You know, I do too. As these things go, I think MoveOn.org falls into the same category as "Children of a Lesser God," the show that Frank Rich once called The Show You're Not Allowed To Hate. Both are essentially doing a good thing in their subject of focus, considering the overall lack of attention paid to their respective subjects, but they're not very good at it. Yet despite that, you're not really supposed to say negative or critical things.
Seen on a truck this week in the North Hills: Move It! Maybe this should be the new name.
gtkidjvu: get the kids jello, Vera uttered.
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