What is Unity? It seems that the theme within the convention is “from many one.” And yet do some in both the leadership and the rank and file of the Democratic Party find an uneasiness seeking to place us behind a candidate that embraces the diversity of opinion and strategies that is characteristic of a progressive and dynamic constituency? Do we deep down in our hearts believe the pundits and naysayers that see this cacophony of voices as a failure to stay on message and that we are fool hearty to have the audacity to speak of unity at the foot of the Tower of Babel?
Denver must come to symbolize the big tent and yes, we must learn to fight together toward many goals. Does the Democratic Party contradict itself to claim America to be “One Nation.” I think the answer is “Yes” and it should be as Walt Whitman put, “Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)”
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I think the Democratic Party, indeed this country needs to become more
comfortable with the simple fact—that we don’t always agree—that its
not always pretty, but we must keep it together enough in the face of a
common enemy to prevail in the name of our common good.
Monday night Michelle Obama said it this way . . .
He’ll achieve these goals the same way he always has – by bringing us
together and reminding us how much we share and how alike we really
are. You see, Barack doesn’t care where you’re from, or what your
background is, or what party – if any – you belong to. That’s not how
he sees the world. He knows that thread that connects us – our belief
in America’s promise, our commitment to our children’s future – is
strong enough to hold us together as one nation even when we disagree.
Democrats must not allow McCain to use our strength against us. I’m
grateful that everyone appears to be down-playing the “rift” between
Obama and Clinton delegates and supporters (everyone but the media),
but that means now more than ever Hillary has got to be convincing;
even more convincing than Michelle Obama—whose shares the ambivalent
Patriotism that many African –Americans know all too well. So while an
unfortunate gaff for some—I think it was just that it is hard to convey
the complexity of her relationship to this country. But she did her
job and she did it very well.
“Ah Michelle, Michelle, ma belle. Sont les mots qui vont très bien
ensemble, Très bien ensemble.I love you, I love you, I love you.
That’s all I want to say.”
Until next time,
Mary
Dr. Mary
Washington is a former candidate for delegate in Maryland. Dr.
Washington received her Ph.D. is sociology from the Johns Hopkins
University. She lives in Baltimore City and works as an Assistant
Director for a Baltimore-based environmental education, stewardship and
community revitalization organization She also helps people buy and
sell their home as an agent for City Life Realty (www.cityliferealty.net).
