Dear @davidhogg111,
You have become a recognized leader in an important social movement at an incredibly important moment in time.
Such a vaulted position brings with it great opportunity, but it also brings real responsibility.
Leaders have good days and bad days.
1/
You have become a recognized leader in an important social movement at an incredibly important moment in time.
Such a vaulted position brings with it great opportunity, but it also brings real responsibility.
Leaders have good days and bad days.
1/
Today has been a terrible day for you. Terrible because you've allowed, and from what I have gathered from looking at your timeline a bit ago, are continuing to allow your own pride to step all over your message, your goals, and your personal integrity.
2/
2/
Have you ever watched someone self-immolate via social media? A moment when a person seems to close their ears and minds and doubles down on an expressed opinion even after being told by many, many others that the opinion is wrong or dangerous or based on incorrect data?
3/
3/
I have.
And it's not pleasant to watch.
Especially when you want the person to be and do better, because you support them, and you support their ideas.
Buddy you are doing that today.
Right now even.
You are exposing some pretty unflattering personal shortcomings.
4/
And it's not pleasant to watch.
Especially when you want the person to be and do better, because you support them, and you support their ideas.
Buddy you are doing that today.
Right now even.
You are exposing some pretty unflattering personal shortcomings.
4/
But you're compounding your problem because you're not doing battle with your actual foes, but instead you're fighting your own allies. You're fighting the people who've been most loudly cheering you on. You're fighting your base.
Today you said a stupid thing, at a bad time.
5/
Today you said a stupid thing, at a bad time.
5/
There are only 75 days till midterms & you have just amplified an argument that's been seeded by Russian bots and Right Wing Nut Jobs for the purpose of sowing discord among Democrats.
That's irresponsible. You're not being the kind of leader you're asking others to be.
6/
That's irresponsible. You're not being the kind of leader you're asking others to be.
6/
You're refusing to listen to advice or criticism, even from the people whose support has given you the extensive social reach you currently enjoy.
Worse, you've committed a cardinal sin. You've attacked an ally not for their ideas, but b/c of their identity.
And, oh, irony.
7/
Worse, you've committed a cardinal sin. You've attacked an ally not for their ideas, but b/c of their identity.
And, oh, irony.
7/
For a person who is frustrated by the limitations of your own age to turn around and try to limit another person for theirs is not a good look.
Do you know how many of us have come to your defense when the arsonists from the right tried to silence you because of your age?
8/
Do you know how many of us have come to your defense when the arsonists from the right tried to silence you because of your age?
8/
Many.
If you choose to fight an ally you don't use the same tools your enemies use(d) against you.
@NancyPelosi deserves your respect. Most of the criticism you hear comes from the right, and what comes from the left comes mostly from purists w/ no understanding of politics.
9/
If you choose to fight an ally you don't use the same tools your enemies use(d) against you.
@NancyPelosi deserves your respect. Most of the criticism you hear comes from the right, and what comes from the left comes mostly from purists w/ no understanding of politics.
9/
Step away from your devices or at least decide to stop responding for now.
Instead, breathe. Read through the many thousands of comments and see if it's possible that you have not given this idea enough thought.
10/
Instead, breathe. Read through the many thousands of comments and see if it's possible that you have not given this idea enough thought.
10/
No one is infallible.
I apologize for something at least once a day.
Being wrong is fine as long as you're able to recognize it & have the courage to admit it.
Think. Learn. Correct. Apologize. Grow.
That's the kind of leader the world needs, and I think you want to be.
Pax
I apologize for something at least once a day.
Being wrong is fine as long as you're able to recognize it & have the courage to admit it.
Think. Learn. Correct. Apologize. Grow.
That's the kind of leader the world needs, and I think you want to be.
Pax
PS: @davidhogg111
One of the harder lessons everyone must learn while leading is that words often have unintended consequences; that they can and will be used against you.
Behold:
12/
redbluedivide.com/david-hogg-sud…
One of the harder lessons everyone must learn while leading is that words often have unintended consequences; that they can and will be used against you.
Behold:
12/
redbluedivide.com/david-hogg-sud…
This site exists to piss on the Democratic Party, it's leaders, and the movements we support.
Notice the photo they chose to use for Speaker Pelosi. Notice how they write rather glowingly of you.
Then look at the rest of the site.
Fake news and propaganda.
13/
Notice the photo they chose to use for Speaker Pelosi. Notice how they write rather glowingly of you.
Then look at the rest of the site.
Fake news and propaganda.
13/
They are using a rookie error to divide the party, make it look weak, and to distract from the larger issues.
You have given Republicans ammunition to use against the party that is on your side.
This is what they do @davidhogg111.
Don't let them.
You have given Republicans ammunition to use against the party that is on your side.
This is what they do @davidhogg111.
Don't let them.
PSS @davidhogg111,
I note here that I wrote the above thread before reading the entire interview.
That's lucky for both of me, because if I had known then that you had demanded that a woman like Nancy Pelosi "get the fuck off the plate," I would probably be suspended right now.
I note here that I wrote the above thread before reading the entire interview.
That's lucky for both of me, because if I had known then that you had demanded that a woman like Nancy Pelosi "get the fuck off the plate," I would probably be suspended right now.
That was meant to read: that was lucky for both of us, especially me.
I wrote it while trying to feed three dogs and a cat.
I wrote it while trying to feed three dogs and a cat.
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