A new day for MN CD8?

a fog-bound sunrise

Photo by J. Harrington

Today began with a spectacular sunrise. Later, I spent much of the morning at a "meet and greet" with a recently announced candidate for Congress, Gaylene Sporlarich. She reminds me of one of my few political heroes, Bobby Kennedy. Here's an excerpt from her website:

"I’m a working mother who has spent her career advocating for those who are most vulnerable to economic exploitation, social division, and economic injustice.

"I will work to make sure that economic and community development decisions are fair for all the people of our region.

"We need good jobs and economic opportunities in Northeastern Minnesota—but these opportunities should uplift and connect our communities, preparing us for the future.

"As workers in the 8th District, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what a fair and sustainable economic future looks like in our communities."

Here's part of a speech Kennedy delivered at the University of Kansas on March 18, 1968.

"...I run for the presidency because I have seen proud men in the hills of Appalachia, who wish only to work in dignity, but they cannot, for the mines are closed and their jobs are gone and no one - neither industry, nor labor, nor government - has cared enough to help.

"I think we here in this country, with the unselfish spirit that exists in the United States of America, I think we can do better here also.

"I have seen the people of the black ghetto, listening to ever greater promises of equality and of justice, as they sit in the same decaying schools and huddled in the same filthy rooms - without heat - warding off the cold and warding off the rats.

"If we believe that we, as Americans, are bound together by a common concern for each other, then an urgent national priority is upon us.  We must begin to end the disgrace of this other America."

The issues we face today are too much the same as those Kennedy mentioned in his speech of more than 50 years ago, but he also used a word in that speech that I've not heard often enough in political discourse since then, the word hope. ("From the beginning our proudest boast has been the promise of Jefferson, that we, here in this country would be the best hope of mankind.") This morning I heard Gaylene Sporlarich use that same word and it gave me encouragement, that, working together, we may be able to create a future worth having in CD8, the rest of Minnesota, and the rest of the world. To accomplish that, it's necessary that those of us who care make sure we're registered, that we're active participants in our democracy, and that we vote. Active participation may require some of us to attend our local caucuses and conventions etc. I had hoped this year to be disgusted enough with the whole DFL process that I could skip it all and just vote in the general election. This morning I met someone who changed all that. Once again it's time to respond to Peter Drucker's guidance: "The best way to predict your future is to create it."

Once the World Was Perfect

Joy Harjo - 1951-

Once the world was perfect, and we were happy in that world.
Then we took it for granted.
Discontent began a small rumble in the earthly mind.
Then Doubt pushed through with its spiked head.
And once Doubt ruptured the web,
All manner of demon thoughts
Jumped through—
We destroyed the world we had been given
For inspiration, for life—
Each stone of jealousy, each stone
Of fear, greed, envy, and hatred, put out the light.
No one was without a stone in his or her hand.
There we were,
Right back where we had started.
We were bumping into each other
In the dark.
And now we had no place to live, since we didn’t know
How to live with each other.
Then one of the stumbling ones took pity on another
And shared a blanket.
A spark of kindness made a light.
The light made an opening in the darkness.
Everyone worked together to make a ladder.
A Wind Clan person climbed out first into the next world,
And then the other clans, the children of those clans, their children,
And their children, all the way through time—
To now, into this morning light to you.

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Please be kind to each other while you can.