~a column by Colleen O’Brien
The calm between the storms – the Democratic convention over, the Republican convention coming up. I write this on the weekend in between, praising what I’ve seen, dumbly hopeful about what I shall see. By the time this is published, we’ll all know if the upcoming contest will be played fairly.
From what I hear – all anecdotal; not so much what I read in the press, for they are often cynical and picky and what-iffing too much – Demoocrats liked their virtual convention. They enjoyed the wide range of passionate, well-spoken, language-driven people asking us to save a democracy on the brink. We might be heading toward something we don’t want and are not ready for, if it comes. There was mention of a long-spoken fear that this oldest functioning democracy is either disappearing entirely or sliding into part-oligarchy, part-autocracy, complete deregulation. This country’s been on the brink before; hope springs.
The Ds paraded speakers of oratory stirring the patriotic to action, plus a fellow with ALS, Lou Gehrigs’ Disease, who couldn’t speak at all but whose written speech was read, moving us to humble admiration for his courage. There were plenty of ordinary people of no fame and certainly no fortune, voices from across the country that were savvy, opinionated, hurting financially and still hanging onto hope.
There were good tunes, nostalgic scenes of the U.S., families, children, black cows in the field and calamari on the plate. I felt my heart expand as I watched, and I came away with assurances of intent to work together across the aisle (meaning Democrats working on bills with Republicans and vice versa) on healthcare for all as opposed to insurance-company-run, for-profit healthcare only for those who have the money.
I felt good about the future of DACAs (deferred action for childhood arrivals, the babies and kids brought into the country by parents without papers), and I felt assured to hear sincere talk about preschools abounding, childcare also, grade schools and high schools with equal advantages to all the kids in their halls, and no more college debt. I believe that finally there will be a plan for tackling the coronavirus, a push for jobs in sustainable energy and solid backing for small businesses, the backbone of strength in the neighborhoods of our towns and cities.
After four years of a decline in all these decencies, it sounded like Utopia and sent me into four nights of good sleep.
So, I’m getting out the vote, sending postcards, calling people, emailing my two Republican Senators and Republican Congressman to do right by me, their employer. I’m energized to attend rallies at the local post office and march with people of all shades, ages and genders.
I study a different history than the one I was taught that left out a few things: people of color are often in danger every day of their lives – where have we been to not know this? I’m learning how not to feel guilt but to step up and do something – insist that the advantage we have because we are white be assured to people of color because they are human.
I am hopeful. Hopeful that the media – left-wing, right-wing, mainstream, alternative – will report honestly who is telling lies, whatever side is telling them. I want the media to continue looking into government graft and corporate greed, to do their duty according to the Constitution’s gift to them of freedom of the press. I am sure my leader will not be calling media the enemy. Annoying as the press can be, we need them because they are annoying, prying, snooping, investigating question-askers who keep us informed about liars, cheaters, criminals and no-goodniks who will harm us if not exposed.
I am hopeful for this Democratic party that has high ideals, like our Constitution. The first step toward true equality is the acknowledgment that equality and the declaration of, by and for the people are the important ideals to strive for – this is what humankind has striven for since our beginnings.
It has been a slow and tortured path – mostly torturing each other – but we keep learning, getting better, allowing one another more equality, more respect, more simple allowance for being human, whatever anyone’s color, creed, age, gender. Not all people figure out that cooperation serves the common good. The Ds are not perfect, but they are working at it. My hope is for the Rs to work at it, too.
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On Monday, I watched an hour of the Republican convention – it was when the Republican candidate for office made a surprise visit to the small party rally in Charlotte, NC, and said over and over that Democrats are trying to rig the election by using mail-in ballots: “The only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election.”
This is not true. It is divisive, a ploy to set the country up for chaos when he loses. So much for my hope.
