"Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November!"
The true story behind that record breaking day as told by the originator of the idea and creator of the first youtube video to promote it, James Sugra:
The message started on Oct 11th, 2007. I just got home from work and did my normal routine, logged on to my favorite websites and checked out what was the good message for the day for Ron Paul. I have been an avid supporter for the last 7 months supporting him in many ways from donating to being active online. I’ve been a lifelong Republican since the first time I was able to vote. Please note: I did not vote for Bush the second time, but I did support his original message which Dr. Paul proclaims as good policy.I got my inspiration from someone saying we need a day where we can all do a mass donation. I immediately thought of November 5th as being a great day to do this but I figured someone had already thought of it. I searched the web for an hour typing in key words and nothing came up. There was an energy that came over me. To this day I still do not understand it.
I started posting a viral message all over the web under different aliases to get the word out on the streets. I tried contacting some of the most popular authors of Ron Paul YouTube videos. I thought to myself it was time to take action. On Oct 15th, I launched the initial video. I spent 4 hours making November 5th for Ron Paul. Immediately I was faced with the question: how many donors were feasible? So I went to the spots where Ron Paul supporters gather: MySpace, Face book, YouTube and Meet Up to figure out what a good number would be...
The message was never about ”V for Vendetta” or Guy Fawkes, although my first video was inspired by that idea. I figured it was a good hook that could inspire people to participate in a mass donation...
This was never about a violent revolution it was about fighting fire with fire. The media had down played almost all Ron Paul’s success. I created a message that made people stop, think and put their money where it counted; in Dr. Paul’s campaign for undisputed validity...
Comments (10)
Erica
I'm so grateful for what you (Justin Ptak) did. My interest and faith in politics is renewed because of Ron Paul . . . is it possible to love someone you've never met???? I can't believe I actually have faith in a politician. Could the tides really be turning in my lifetime like I swore would never happen? Something IS in the air. It's revolution.
Published: December 20, 2007 6:03 AM
Alex
Ron Paul is better than the alternatives, but has no chance of getting elected. He is too honest for a politician.
In a world where he could win, however, once in office Paul would respond to the perverse incentives of power just like anyone else.
Published: December 20, 2007 7:49 AM
Jeffrey G
Not a new idea, I suppose. Just ask Silence Dogood, Polly Baker, and Richard Saunders.
Published: December 20, 2007 9:15 AM
grisser
remember the alamo?
Published: December 20, 2007 5:57 PM
Michael Covel
The V speech is so good:
Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives."
Published: December 21, 2007 4:14 PM
Gerard Bendiks
ALEX:
Ron Paul is better than the alternatives, but has no chance of getting elected. He is too honest for a politician.
In a world where he could win, however, once in office Paul would respond to the perverse incentives of power just like anyone else.
REPLY:
Maybe. But it'd be good to have a guy in there with a name that's easy to spell.
On the other hand...if he is too honest for a politician...then he'd probably not respond that well to the normal politician's perverse incentives for power. And then it needs to be pointed out that even if he did make it into the White House there'd be 535 (536? 534?) men & women who'd do all they could to laugh and call him names. And they wouldn't let him play in all their politician games.
Are ya all fired up about Ron Paul? Good! Are ya scared of Ron Paul? Good! Either way...what's he going to do once he's in there? Nothing. What's wrong with nothing? Nothing. But there'd be a lot of talk. Talk about real stuff would be great.
Published: December 22, 2007 10:47 PM
Bob
Ron Paul inspired me 20 years ago when I saw him on c-span when he ran for president. It is almost dream like to see him on mainstream t.v. speaking of liberty the way he does. He has a very good chance of winning this thing. Just remember back in 94 when the so called republican revolution happened, how all of the t.v. commentators couldn't accept what was happening. Talk radio may have been partially responsible. Today the internet may be more powerful than the talkers on t.v. and radio.
Published: December 25, 2007 4:47 AM
D. Saul Weiner
This story tells me that sometimes, when we feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders, we just need to do our part. In this case, James Sugra saw an opportunity and just ran with it. And then Trevor Lyman and many others did their parts. After, of course, Ron Paul has done his part. The free market at work, a thing of beauty, no?
Published: December 25, 2007 11:55 PM
Jerry
I am FAR from convinced that taking the White House would lead Ron Paul to compromise his principles. On the contrary, he has served for decades as a congressman and earned the nickname "Dr. No" precisely because of his maverick (for DC) mindset. Ron Paul gives me some measure of insurance that not all politicians are cut from the same cloth... thank goodness!
Jerry
www.leads4insurance.com
Published: December 27, 2007 9:41 PM
Wolf DeVoon
What happens when Ron Paul is shoved aside and ignored? see my comment at Objectivist Living
Published: December 30, 2007 10:52 AM