I want to thank you Marion, for your inspiration. Your call of Hope is the one I hear today. Because to tell you the truth i was a bit blue; I began to think about it, really meditate deeply, because lately, I have needed some Hope myself. What is hope? I am sincerely asking myself. But I must apologise Marion I can not reflect upon hope with out also awknowledging the bitterness of what is going on in this country on every strata of our social governance.
I began to browse my journal. Here is a letter to the Hillary camp I wrote in my political journal, mid-March, when things got nasty (sometimes when I am really pissed off I write a direct letter to my source of anger even if I never intend to send it); this letter is key in expressing how I have evolved as an active grassroots voter. Please, bear with me, it's only a little long. My feelings on HOPE and YES WE CAN have evolved over the intense weeks of late; maybe the slogan should change….change to: OH yes We Can!
Letter to the Hillary Camp, and To the DNC CC. Obama camp, March 12, 2008 Revised March28, 2008 edited May 1
Hello. My name is Leigh Burman. That’s Leigh Burman not Leiberman! Please let me serve you and this Country as Democrat, receive what I must address to these ‘camps’ of our party; I will be as brief as possible. I am a voter, from Longmont, Colorado. I am a Woman, a Mother, a Latina, (born 78); even a ‘churchy’ type; Yep, smack-dab, right in the middle of one of your ‘precious’ target demographics. And fortunately for myself, I have a lot of contacts in other parts of the country.
I also am experienced in the National healthcare system, as a recipient; (One of my children was born with multiple heart-problems and other issues, due to a random DNA mutation, he lived 9 months and his costly medical care, covered was by Medicade (as he spent easily ½ his life at Children’s Hospital in Denver). Needless to say it has been an extremely tring and intense year for myself and my family. However unique (and unfortunately not so unique) my paticular story may be, i know i have a lot in common with other Americans around me, who are going thourgh diverse arry of situations which require relationship with the body of governance that we all are paying taxes to.
My husband and I caucused in the Colorado Caucus. my husband volunteered to be a back-up delegate, even though our life with our very medically fragile infant at the time, was unpredictable and complicated; we wanted to see to it that people like ourselves were represented in a tangible way at the Denver Convention. I remember, marking the box on my ballot card, indicating: "I will vote for the democratic Candidate in the general election regardless of who wins the nomination.” Although the statement may likely be true, there have been many moments lately that I regret marking that box on my caucus ballot; thus giving the Democratic party a false security that as a voter, I am apathetic, about who the candidate is and what I want out of a President this year. (Don’t worry it’s not Nader)
I am not the same Democrat this year that I have been in previous elections, I have evolved. I am engaged this election year. As a voter, now involved in my own investment of representative- voice, and as constituent of this Party; I am concerned that current campaign tactics seen in the media are weakening our chances of securing a Democratic presidency:
Myself, and most Americans have serious concerns regarding Healthcare, The War, The Environment, Voting Accountability, Our Damaged Foreign Relationships, Civil Liberties, The Economy, The War (i know i said ‘War ‘ again) and the list could go on further as everyone knows. All of these issues are almost all equal in importance, in having a direct relationship to the quality of life for Americans. …. The Dems should not be exhausting important “grass-root-fuel” dividing itself in combat. ...I am even disheartened, by the ‘kitchen sink’ routine, which I see as damaging to the true maturation of Democratic ideals, that I hope to see take place in November. By the way, I also consider a Campaign that gives more clout to millionaires and not regular Americans, as a campaign floundering in the ‘kitchensink.’
Would Hillary’s Administration progress, with intended policy-measures, to raise this country back to acceptable standards, if she secured the Democratic nomination in a ‘kitchen sink ‘-way? The elected administration must be progressive enough to take-back slipping standards on all sides of government and also make moves to gain ground, after the slack of the Bush administration. That is a LOT of work, work that can only be achieved by a fresh political paradigm. A Paradigm, I might add that seems to currently be embodied by the Obama campaign; which is why I am currently supporting that Obama.
Now I hear that the Hillary Campaign wants Superdelegates ‘votes to count more than the people’s popular vote. The surge of movement with in the Democratic-grass-roots is base that has risen up, recently to effectively over through Republicans. It seems from some perspective, that the Clinton campaign is more interested in winning the nomination than, The General Election. This is the question, who can win the General?
I challenge the Hillary Campaign to take into serious account their campaign tactics and not use negativity in an attempt to secure nomination at the expense of diminishing Democratic ties to Grass Root orgs., Individuals, and Party-supporting -Independents. These voters are demographic essentials in securing the Presidency. I am a voter who is note alone that is concerned with the issues of National interest mentioned earlier, not the vapid gossip and punditry of so-called political insider’s, campaign advisors, and TV-show hosts, preachers and or Millionaire Superdelegates or any entity that considers their entitlement to representative democracy to be greater than those Americans not privileged with a media audience or affluent spheres of influence.
The Important Issues of our Great Country is what I charge the Obama supporters and The Democratic Party to attend to. I am aligned to select and support the candidate that most represents , active, passionate, concern for the Issues facing this country; I hope to God this candidate is a Democrat that is running now in November. -----Viva America!! Viva Voter’s Voice!!! Viva Democracy!!! Viva the Democrats too!
Concerned Democratic Voter,
Leigh Burman
PS. as I have entrusted some of my personal info as part of this letter, I take responsibility for that; Yet I request respect for my privacy please use digression as to the circulation of this letter which is addressed to the the DNC; CC and a few couple of my voter-friends/family. The intension of this letter is to voice concerns as a voter, not to further damage Democratic vigor.
Here is my definition of hope as it has evolved since the writing the letter above. Hope is a form of inspiration, a call to action that you both hear, and are inspired to act upon. This is indeed what the Obama campaign and my grass- root involvement with Moveon.Org has done for me, it has inspired me to volunteer my action, and to network to become involved in the process that sets policy in the country where I live; where my surviving daughter, Alexis (6), is being raised.
There is a lot a steak this year, maybe even the entire premise in which this country is found; liberty, equality, opportunity. The Obama Campaign has ABSOLUTELY, IRRIVERSIBLY, ALREADY CHANGED AMERICAN POLITICS and it has already changed the way I personally interface actively in Politics. As my message of concern above indicates to the Dems, is that I am investing myself in the Party with my I vote and my voice and my $$$, and most formidable of all, my time and inspiration; This is what I continue to be inspired to do as a ordinary citizen.
And will I give up on the Dems if they squander the great opportunity of nominating an incredible leader capable of truly altering the political paradigm? Well, although it is tempting, to my inner brat, I say no; although the bitterness would be present; I say no. Knowing also that I am not alone in this huge movement , this movement of action for change, to serve the common people and catalyzed by the Obama campaign; I have the courage to empower myself, to continue to raise my voice (and vote for that matter) until my voice and those who resonate with progressive ideals will be heard where policy is made! And Furthermore as it was a main subject of discussion on the progressive radio yesterday; that whether Barak wins or not (Of course I believe he is capable and will) we all, must start infiltrating the Democratic Party with progressive ideals, become active in our precincts, blogging/and acting in spheres of influence, as diverse as one can imagine, to ‘be the change you want to see’. I will start going to the local Dem-meetings; I wall speak my mind within my own party and know that my voice, my action, my own call to Hope will be heard; I say swallow that bitterness if you still got it and chase it with a healthy dose of Oh YES WE CAN, SO TALK TO THE HAND! (PC police, please chill!) And thank’s again to Marion for inspiring me to act on a call of Hope by writing waaaay too ooooo looong! Let’s keep calling on Hope and take political action in our local communities! VIVA VOTER’S VOICE!!! VIVA OUR COMMUNITIES!!!
