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POLK NC Dems
small county - Big Tent
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by Andy Millard
A longtime Polk Dem just called me with the news that his neighbor, a lifelong Republican, had finally gotten fed up and switched over to our side. And he was pleasantly surprised at the warm welcome he had received from Democrats. People all over America are suddenly going through this same process. It’s been a long time coming, and it's got a name: Trump Fatigue. One of our jobs as Democrats is to turn opponents into supporters. But that's an impossible task. Each person must have their own change of heart. Their mind—and their vote—will surely follow. That's where Trump Fatigue comes in. The sheer volume of self-serving, law-breaking, nausea-inducing behavior coming out of the White House over the last three-and-a-half years has opened the eyes of many GOP voters. At the same time, a continual stream of videos showing Black citizens suffering abuse at the hands of law enforcement has exposed a brutal truth that can no longer be ignored. Slowly, imperceptibly, people of goodwill tire of the shenanigans. Then comes the last straw—one more heartbreaking video or sad MAGA rally—and it tips the scale. Suddenly the viewer sees things in a whole new light. What looks like a snap decision is just the inevitable end of a long road. Hearts and minds are changing in our favor every day, and we need to greet converts with open arms. I always say there are more of us than you think; that’s getting more true every day. by Andy Millard
For many of us, Juneteenth is a day that has hovered near the back of our awareness for years. Recent events have combined with serendipitous timing to propel it to the forefront of national attention. That's a good thing. And although our current president played a major part in bringing this about, he deserves no credit for, as he claims, making Juneteenth "famous." In a very real way, current events are simply an extension of the story of the day. It was two and a half years between Lincoln's signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and June 19, 1865, the date that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and relayed the news to the formerly enslaved persons of Texas. Similarly, we are now in the midst of an even longer-delayed reckoning surrounding the the meaning of that first Juneteenth and our country's original sin that made it necessary. The Polk County Democratic Party recognizes that long delay, and we are committed to participating with open minds and hearts in the long process of healing. President Barack Obama said it best: "Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. It's an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible––and there is still so much work to do." The Polk County Democratic Party has watched in anguish and anger as events continue to unfold following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Recent actions by the President of the United States have exacerbated the situation, threatened the liberties of Americans, and sought to divide us neighbor from neighbor.
We wish to make our position clear: We recognize the centuries-old pestilence of systemic racism and are committed to rectifying it through constructive change. We support Americans’ First Amendment rights to assemble and petition the government peacefully. We reject the use of violence and destruction, either as a means of protest or as a cudgel against peaceful demonstrators. We stand in disbelief and fury at the president’s deployment of our military against peaceful protesters. We are enraged by the president’s unjustified forceful clearing of lawfully assembled citizens from Lafayette Park in Washington, DC. We deplore the president’s use of a church and a Bible as a backdrop and prop for a self-aggrandizing photo opportunity. We denounce as dangerous and absurd the Defense Secretary’s characterization of protest areas as battle spaces to be dominated. We endorse former Vice President Joe Biden’s statement that we are facing formidable enemies which include not only the coronavirus and the terrible impacts on Americans’ lives and livelihoods, but also the selfishness and fear that have loomed over our national life for the last three years. We do indeed find ourselves in a battle for the soul of America. Each person must search their heart and soul for their own response. Will we give in to the forces of anger, hatred, fear and division? Or will we reject those forces, reach out to those who are different from us, and commit to move forward together as a nation? Those of us in the Polk County Democratic Party have made our decision. We will continue to embrace diversity, address the wrongs of the past, seek to understand one another, support constructive change, and do our part to form a more perfect union. If you feel the same way, we invite you to join us. |
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Live our values Embrace diversity Work to elect Dems Support one another Look ahead, not back We fight for:
Integrity in politics Human dignity Affordable healthcare Climate stewardship Public education Equitable justice Economic fairness Voting rights Women's rights Minority rights |
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