Help DKG Solidarity Group celebrate Valentine's Day! This story is part of a series of “I ❤️ DK Guild” posts written by Community members to show their support for the writing, activism, and site services work of DK Guild members. All of us together make Daily Kos the most vibrant progressive community on the net. Let's do everything we can to keep it that way!
As an old punk rocker I always looked a bit cynically at the “Love Inc.” frenzy of Valentine’s Day that was first introduced to my native Germany by American military personnel in the 1950s and ‘60s. Now that I’ve been living in the States over half of my life, I’ve become a bit less cantankerous about the occasion: if it takes a marketing gimmick to inspire people to be nice to each other, who am I to throw sand on that in a world that can use all the love and romance it can get? And in contrast to the mountain of waste left in the wake of the annual Christmas shopping spree, I like the circular economy aspect of flowers (compost) and chocolate (tummy… okay, there’s some packaging).
What’s even better than to grouse about a hallmark holiday that everybody loves is to roll with the positive energy and broaden its scope and meaning. Whoever said the love in our heart can only be directed at one special person with the purchase of a particular product? Why cede the occasion to hawkers of wares when we can gift each other something much more precious—our values, time, and care?
So this Valentine’s Day I’m opening my heart to pen a little love note to the Daily Kos Guild, who have been fighting an epic battle for a bittersweet agreement in the unfortunate downsizing negotiations with DK Management. Having been around this place for 14 years (gulp!), I know how hard every one of these folks has worked to make this site what it is today. A bunch of intrepid change makers with huge hearts, committed to bringing about social and environmental change from the bottom up, with or without that loveless orange foil to boost ratings.
In Germany, being part of a union is a bit like eating a Lebkuchenherz (gingerbread heart) at the Oktoberfest (or as it is called in my home town of Stuttgart, the Volksfest): everyone is into it, no matter their political leanings, because valuing work by valuing the worker tastes sweet to all palates. My brother has been part of an electrician’s union for almost 40 years, and it has enabled him to keep his benefits and retirement plans intact even as his employer (Mercedes Benz) restructured multiple times over the years.
So here’s a big sweet heart to all you fabulous writers and journalists as well as all the incredible staff holding down the back end to produce such prolific and high quality content day in and day out. Love you more than words can tell!
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