[Paul Penta]

This started as a private messge to Franz, but I decided to go public with my thoughts.

I think there is an alarming trend in the Save The Delta Queen threads, especially with regard to the recent postings on the Trust. The focus is drifting from the DQ to the personal agendae of the folks involved.

The devotion to our little boat is making people forget that this whole issue revolves around something that the general population doesn't even know about, much less care about. Unless we recognize that fact, unless we start to inject a little humility into our approach, the movers and shakers who could help us will start to view us as just a lunatic fringe not to be taken seriously. And that, I think, is counterproductive. Our goal is to get the exemption.

With all that is going on the world, with all the life and death issues being addressed especially in the intense crucible that is a Presidential Election, we have to listen to ourselves with the ears of those who matter in our fight.

It's as if there has been a reawakening of long dormant revolutionary passions from the 1960's, using the DQ as a rallying point. Attend meetings and disrupt the proceedings? Do we really think that will help the cause?

Let's keep our eye on the ball, people. That's all I ask.


Paul