Democrats can’t give up
I am sad. I am scared. I am angry. I pray that our new president-elect will be a good and thoughtful leader; for the sake of our country. We are Americans first, and if our president does well so do we.
Yet, I fear that what we saw and heard during the campaign is what we will get in this presidency. I ask how long does this man really want to serve? Will he really try to implement ideas that seem unworkable? Like building a wall across our southern border?
I am sad because I feel that I am a stranger in my own country. I don’t understand the mindset of our people. Have we really gotten to the point where we think electing a president is like winning the “Survivor” TV show.
I am scared and frightened because so many people voted not only against their own best interest, but they also seemed to ignore the racist, homophobic, anti-women and anti-immigrant rhetoric. It was as if they were angry and wanted to punish all of us, and I fear they may have accomplished just that.
All of our lives will be more difficult if the new president shuts down the programs upon which so many people depend; or if he begins scrapping our health care, creating higher unemployment by trying to slow down international trade, or giving greater tax cuts to those who don’t need it. It’s possible that the people who supported the new president in this election may be the ones who lose out long-term.
One of my granddaughters, 12 year-old Molly, woke up Wednesday morning in tears; dressed in black and mourning Hillary’s loss. I tried to reassure her that by the time she is an adult we will have broken the glass ceiling and, that if she wants, she can reach as high as she is capable. But in the meantime, I have no good answers for her questions, nor the questions from any of my 10 grandchildren; except to say that I will fight, as long as I am alive, for their dreams and aspirations – so that they can each achieve as much as they are capable of and work hard to accomplish.
I often question why I do what I do as chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. It is extremely time consuming – and when we experience results which are not what we want – the job can be unenjoyable. However, I remain guided by the knowledge that when good people quit, the void is often filled by those less worthy. History has shown us this time and time again.
After the Republicans were destroyed by Lyndon Johnson, a professor told me that the political pendulum always swings back. I didn’t believe him at the time, but four years later Richard Nixon became president, and I experienced the pendulum in motion. While we all hope the president-elect is not what he seemed to be during this election cycle we must continue to fight for our ideals.
We must also tip our hat to Hillary. She deserved a fate much better than she received, and I believe that had she won we would all be better for it. In time, I hope she will come to know that she inspired millions of Americans and many others throughout the world; especially young women. Perhaps, that may become her biggest accomplishment; one which can never be taken away from her, and which will never be forgotten by history.
I believe in this country; its goodness and the strength of its governmental processes. As long as we are vigilant, and willing to fight for what we believe, we will prevail.
I hope you will join me in the continuing fight: http://act.padems.com/onward
Marcel Groen is chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party