Thanksgiving Day may be over, but I still want to give thanks. Democracy needed your help, and you answered the call. Your commitment to progress is inspiring and necessary, and we will certainly need to keep up the hard work in the months and years to come to make sure America lives up to its promise. If what I saw on Election Day is any indication, we are well on our way to filling that promise.

Last night, volunteers in DC responded to my call that democracy still needs your help.  They gathered to do People For the American Way Foundation's part in a project that will touch hundreds of thousands nationwide.

In the past I've asked you to work for democracy.  With only a month left before November 4, that call to action is more important than ever.  You can still help!

Earlier this summer I joined Matt Popek in calling upon all of you to use the knowledge you gain in preparing yourself to vote to help others exercise that right.  Now is the time for you to put that call into action.

A few Sunday nights ago, my Dad and I were watching a program on channel 13 about Iwo Jima which, presumably as intended, sparked me to think about war. The aged military man in his button shirt and typical old man khakis recalled how he had, more than once, seen a dead Japanese soldier on the ground at Iwo Jima. Looking for a souvenir of sorts on this particular occasion, the younger version of this man approached the body and upon seeing the soldier's wallet falling out of his pocket, bent down and opened it. He immediately found a photo of this now dead man with his wife and two boys. The American soldier says he paused, prayed and then proceeded to close the wallet, putting it back deep inside the other's pocket.

I say again, war is so f stupid. And here's a few reasons why.

The weather`s hot already meaning that it`s summer time! You woke up late and your hand's permanently glued to the remote control. It works for a couple of days, but now that's over....and you're bored. What are you going to do between now and that amazing vacation of yours? How do you stay active in the progressive movement when the summer sun is just telling you to go out there and have fun? These are the questions that I have asked myself as well. No worries though, here's a couple of things you can do to stay in the game:

1. Think small. - Do you have an overwhelmingly big vision that you want to get started but don't know how to? Do you want to have results by the end of the year or the start of next but simply don't know where to begin? Think small and start now. Make a few phone calls to organizations or people that you think share your dream. Make a list of groups you can collaborate with so that once the summer is over and everybody else is ready to work, you'll have people that are ready to work with you. A couple of phone calls or letters a day can really make all the difference.