Things to consider as we go to our Senatorial District and County Conventions

Much concern and anxiety exists about how the senatorial distirct and county conventions will go this weekend. The extremely high number of new participants expected and the tensions between the presidential campaigns present new procedural challenges for those charged with the duties of conducting the conventions.

But we must remember those are challenges we should be thrilled to face. This level of voter participation and attention from national campaigns is what we have been hoping and praying for for years. Our party is growing and we are experiencing growing pains. We will be stronger for having gone through these experiences.

We must remember to be patient with the newcomers. They are full of enthusiasm and questions. And they need to be patient with those encharged with administering the process.

And those passionately involved in the Hillary/Obama battle must put aside their differences when the time comes to work together for real changes in our national government.

Below are some words of wisdom from persons who spent their lives embroiled in the political process to consider as we participate in our conventions.

The stakes are too high for government to be a spectator sport. Barbara Jordan 

We are never strong enough that you don't need help.  Cesar Chavez

We must learn to live together as brothers or we are going to perish together as fools. Martin Luther King Jr.

You can't do it unless you organize. Samuel Gompers

Activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet.  Alice Walker

The people united will never be defeated. Cesar Chavez

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. George Jean Nathan

We come to reason, not to dominate. We do not seek to have our way, but to find a common way. Lyndon B. Johnson

I hope the two wings of the Democratic Party may flap together.  William Jennings Bryan

The future of this nation is in the hands of the American voter. Dwight D. Eisenhower

      

Comments

[K Allen]

I wish I had printed this out and read it aloud at our convention -- it should have been a mandatory read upon opening conventions statewide.