#LoveArmy on the March

           NOTE: To endorse the #LoveArmy, click here.

On Dec. 16, I received the following email:

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SUBJECT: #LoveArmy on the March

Wade --

Thanks for being one of the first people to join the #LoveArmy!  Since we launched last week more than 60,000 people have signed up!

We’d like to start the New Year 100,000 strong. Can you help spread the word?

The #LoveArmy is a platform for legions of people to come together to fight for an inclusive country where everyone counts and everyone matters.  We are committed to standing with the vulnerable and to acting out of love, not fear or hate.

Our love is strong, not weak.  It is the strongest force in the universe. A mama bear loves her cubs, and you better not mess with ‘em.  It is this fierce, powerful love of the people, the planet, and our democracy that propels this movement.

What you can do now:

1. Tell us about what you want to see the #LoveArmy do.  
2. Start your own #LoveArmy Circle.
3. Pledge to support groups that are fighting back and defending the most vulnerable.
4. Pledge to have a #MessyTruth conversation with someone you know.
5. Donate to support this growing movement.

Next Steps:

We are gathering input from #LoveArmy members to plan for the New Year. Together we will hold teach-ins across the country, come together in large gatherings, and coordinate national days of engagement.  

We are working hard to help connect #LoveArmy members to each other. Working together we will generate beautiful and powerful ideas and actions.  

We’d love to hear from you. You can email us here, or contact us on Facebook or Twitter.

Thanks for all you do!

Van Jones
Founder and President
The Dream Corps

P.S. Please consider making a donation to support the #LoveArmy. Thanks!

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

Wade -- Thanks for being one of the first people to join the #LoveArmy!  Since we launched last week more than 60,000 people have signed up! We’d like to start the New Year 100,000 strong. Can you help spread the word? The #LoveArmy is a platform for legions of people to come together to fight for an inclusive country where everyone counts and everyone matters.  We are committed to standing with the vulnerable and to acting out of love, not fear or hate. Our love is strong, not weak.  It is the strongest force in the universe. A mama bear loves her cubs, and you better not mess with ‘em.  It is this fierce, powerful love of the people, the planet, and our democracy that propels this movement. What you can do now: Tell us about what you want to see the #LoveArmy do.   Start your own #LoveArmy Circle. Pledge to support groups that are fighting back and defending the most vulnerable. Pledge to have a #MessyTruth conversation with someone you know. Donate to support this growing movement. Next Steps: We are gathering input from #LoveArmy members to plan for the New Year. Together we will hold teach-ins across the country, come together in large gatherings, and coordinate national days of engagement.   We are working hard to help connect #LoveArmy members to each other. Working together we will generate beautiful and powerful ideas and actions.   We’d love to hear from you. You can email us here, or contact us on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for all you do! Van Jones Founder and President The Dream Corps P.S. Please consider making a donation to support the #LoveArmy. Thanks! “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1967 Speech, “Where Do We Go From Here?”)

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Later that day, I sent the following reply:

Dear Van, Dream Corps, and the #LoveArmy

Thanks much for today’s report. I’m glad to hear that 60,000 people have already signed up for the #LoveArmy.

In reply to your request, I would like to see the #LoveArmy:

1. Organize Congressional Action Teams. Based in each Congressional district, #LoveArmy teams engage regularly with their Congressperson’s staff, develop relationships with them, brainstorm possibilities together, and communicate #LoveArmy recommendations to them when the #LoveArmy develops such recommendations.
2. Convene Community Dialogues with Elected Officials. Persuade elected officials and/or their chiefs of staff to convene open-ended monthly Community Dialogues to receive input from and report to constituents. Structure those forums to insure that the official does not dominate them. Use an outside moderator.
3. Unlearn negative conditioning. The #LoveArmy needs to encourage its members to engage in critical self-examination and support one another in efforts to overcome tendencies that undermine effectiveness. As you said years ago at an Alternet.org book release party, Van, “We need to be less pro-fessional and more confessional.”
4. Develop a positive vision for systemic reform. Interest in “the system” is increasing. But when most people talk about the system, they usually only talk about the economy and the government. My colleagues and I are developing a more comprehensive analysis that sees the System as consisting of all of our major institutions, our culture, and ourselves as individuals. From that perspective, we present a path to systemic transformation. We welcome help with writing our statement of principles, “Transform the System: A Call to Action.” The latest draft will always be at https://goo.gl/fSX9Cc.

Those are some suggestions for your consideration off the top of my head.

I look forward to contributing to the #LoveArmy as best I can. Next Tuesday I’m hoping a Circle of like-minded people comes together with me as a participant.

Please let me know if you have other ideas concerning how I might help.

Yours,

Wade Hudson

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The next day, I sent the following:

SUBJECT: Controlling ExxonMobil

Dear Van and the #LoveArmy;

Considering that "anti-American" ExxonMobil has operated contrary to U.S. foreign policy in Chad (and elsewhere?) and has lobbied to change U.S. foreign policy concerning Russia contrary to the national consensus, can the #LoveArmy push to assure that ExxonMobil is loyal to the U.S.? If so, how? A shareholder resolution directing the Board to operate consistent with U.S. foreign policy and to refrain from lobbying to change U.S. foreign policy? Demonstrations at ExxonMobil gas stations and at the corporate HQ in Irving, TX near Dallas/Fort Worth?

Just some food for thought.

Yours,
Wade Hudson