The progressive movement in the age of the internet keeps bringing us new experiences: forming partnerships with allies we never meet face-to-face; celebrating a marriage of a new friend you only know online; and mourning the loss of those whose presence in our lives may have been virtual but was still very real.
The Drinking Liberally community learned last week of the passing of Mike Oxley, our chapter leader in Laramie, Wyoming. We knew Mike as an enthusiastic force for progressive politics who brought that passion to the homestate of Dick Cheney. We knew him as a dedicated organizer and an optimist, which couldn't have been easy in that conservative region. And we knew him only through email.
Others in his life knew him as a volunteer firefighter, a member of the local planning commission, a devoted peace activist and as a future husband. (You can read more in his full obituary and the testimonial from Stand Up For Peace Wyoming.)
This loss makes me realize two intertwined ideas about where we are politically: one about our movement, another about our community.
First, our movement: there are talented people all over it. This man sounds remarkable and it's my sadness I didn't know him better. But across the grassroots organizations around this country there are countless volunteers and leaders who embody the energy and commitment we need to create a more progressive America.
And it's not just in these small gatherings: online, we're realizing more and more how much talent surrounds us. For the Bush Dog project, Matt Stoller has relied on volunteer researchers/writers; during last year's Use It or Lose It campaign, Chris Bowers turned to a virtual support staff that materialized at a moment's notice.
Many of these activists will never be known nationally, but are instrumental -- and their impact is felt when they are not acting alone. When we create public spaces -- online, on blogs; in the real world, at town halls, in church basements or in bar booths -- we give remarkable people a chance to find each other and create real change.
They also create real community, and that's the second realization: the bonds forming around our politics are authentic and powerful. Testimonials to Mike make clear how integral the progressive movement was to his life and his friendships, and how intimate his relationship was with those with whom he organized. Politics wasn't his profession -- but it was very much his life.
If we can continue to grow these strong bonds among activists, bloggers and all progressives, that sense of belonging will become one of the most important strengths of our movement down the road...because then we truly won't be acting for ourselves alone -- we'll be acting for our community.
This movement is still young, and we'll experience more losses -- politically and personally...but even these moments of sorrow can make us feel an increased commitment if we share them with one another, as the members of Laramie's Stand Up For Peace Wyoming did, when they wrote in memory of Mike:
While we will raise our glasses the first time in sorrow at his passing, we will drink the next round in honor of his life and all the joy he brought into this world. And while we will shed many tears, we will also laugh because that is what Mike would have wanted us to do. If there was one thing that Mike well understood, it was how to live liberally, how to laugh liberally, and how to love liberally.
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