Thursday, July 21, 2016

An Open Letter to the DNC

I would like to preface this letter by stating I was a Reagan Republican.  A few of his quotes that reflect some of my views;

“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.”

“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.”

“I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.”

The current party no longer values the above statements or us ALL.  It values those who agree with the party leaders.  Now that the party has swayed so far to the right and spews vitriol, I walked away and joined the party that accepts all humans as equals. 

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July 21, 2016

To the DNC,

I have been watching the RNC all week trying to learn something about their message and platform.  It has been very hard to watch.  The speeches mostly have bashed and dehumanized Hillary Clinton.  They collectively spread fear and hate toward the “other” and there is LOTS of other because the attendees are 95% plus white people.  I don’t know the average age of their attendees but it appears to be 50+.  The speeches are primarily fiction and opinions.  Heartfelt opinions but still, opinions….  The vitriol aimed at the other is offensive.  As someone who disagrees with almost everything I have heard at the RNC I feel that I am seen as un-American by the right wing.

The RNC has dehumanized Hillary Clinton so that when she is elected, anyone from the GOP that reaches across the isle will be a traitor and an outcast.  You can’t work with someone who is that dehumanized.  It is what they have done to Barack Obama when they demanded his birth certificate, when they call him names and when they refuse to work with him. 

Why is it that the GOP rails on the private server of Hillary Clinton yet no one mentions that both Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell did exactly the same thing?  And there were fewer lives lost under Secretary Clinton’s time as the Secretary of State than most of those before her for both Democrats and Republicans.  Yet the GOP has railed against her even though they found nothing illegal or wrong about how she handled her job thus dehumanizing her further. 

As the DNC approaches I hope that you are paying attention.  We need to come together, we need to see the good, we need humor and we need to value all human beings.  We are stronger together. I want to know what you are going to do to make things better.  I want to hear about how coming together can create a stronger America that still has open doors.  I want to hear about room for more diversity and inclusion.   Our country is 95%+ immigrants.  All but the native people are immigrants.  I don’t want to be surrounded by people that look, act and think like me.  I want to hear about the experiences of others, learn about their values and traditions and live in a richer world and country.  

Please do not spew hate.  I don’t want to hear how bad the other guy is and dehumanize him.  He is pretty good at doing that himself.  Let him and the GOP implode on their own.  We do not need to stoop to that level because we have strength in our diversity.  A test; picture a standard Republican.  That becomes much more difficult on the Democratic side of the isle. 

To that end, be kind and accepting.  Speak for things and not against.  Call out what is good and denounce things that drive hate.  Cross the line in the sand to reach for your opponent’s hand.  As Ronald Reagan once said, “I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” The RNC would be wise to listen to its elders living or dead.  Since they have completely ignored the value in all of us it is the responsibility of the Democrats to be the leaders and stand up for what is right.  In the end, it will prevail.

I/we have high expectations for next week.  Please do not disappoint us.  We all want the same thing, a better place for our selves and our children.  When you know better you do better. We implore you to start us on that path at the DNC.

Heather C Leek
Mom of three
Wife of one (only one ever)
Community Activist
PTA member and leader
Hopeful member of the human race

Proud American