By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - What a difference a week makes! Two weeks ago, compelled by a need to know, I tuned in daily to the harsh, war-mongering, mean-spirited, hate-filled, and angry, untruthful rhetoric of the Republican Convention in Tampa, Florida. As I listened, I wondered if the folks at that Convention cared for anyone else or were happy with anything. Their nostalgia was stifling as they took us back to a day to which many of us have no intention of returning.
A week later, I went to Charlotte, NC where the Democratic Party met. People there were actually glad to see each other. We embraced each other. We had genuine smiles—never laughing at anybody’s losses or misery, but we sure did a lot of applauding! I was finally with my kind of people. The positive energy was electric! I don’t know who these people are who aren’t as excited about 2012 as we were in 2008! Everybody in Charlotte seemed to be looking forward to November 6, 2012 and everybody in Time Warner Arena appeared to be smelling victory. As a matter of fact, the enthusiasm seemed to be leading toward a big victory - not only in the Presidential race, but in numerous others.
First Lady Michelle Obama opened up the first night of the Convention with a breathtaking description of the President, sealing the deal on the President’s character, his role as a father, a spouse, a friend and President. In addition to looking absolutely gorgeous, she did a brilliant job at the podium.
She followed a line of the most diverse speakers I have ever seen at any Convention. San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro was a great fresh new voice that should go a long way in turning his city completely blue. Instead of bashing him about anything, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick described Mitt Romney’s leadership as positive in the passage of the Massachusetts health care plan. I can’t understand why Mr. Romney continues to back away from something that might be called one of his greatest achievements while governor; but now threatens to repeal the Affordable Care Act on day one!
On the second night of the Convention, the master campaigner, former President Bill Clinton was in the house and performed masterfully as he made the case for why President Barack Obama deserves four more years. He weaved together President Obama’s accomplishments in a way that my grandmother would understand to describe what a great success the President has been.
James Taylor helped to keep the positive momentum flowing on the final night of the Convention with his rendition of “Carolina on My Mind”. He brought the house down when he said, “I’ve been watching the coverage. I don’t get it. I mean: I’m an old white guy and I love Barack Obama. They must have got that one wrong”. He had obviously been listening to the haters who talked about the lack of enthusiasm for this campaign. He ended his show with “You’ve Got a Friend.” Enthusiasm really "is in the eye of the beholder" as was well-expressed by the atmosphere created in Charlotte by Mr. Taylor.
I know there’s a lot of work yet to be done to insure victory for the Obama team, but Charlotte sure was a confidence builder! If anybody plans not to vote, I would remind them that many of our ancestors died to gain that right for us, and we don’t have the right to destroy their dream. Can you imagine what Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or Rosa Parks would say if they knew we cared so little for the price they paid to gain our right to vote on November 6, 2012?
(Dr. E. Faye Williams is Chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. www.nationalcongressbw.org. 202/678-6788.)