In July of 2016 as I began serving as Director of Toastmasters District 57, I was struck by the fact that I was involved in the largest communication and leadership organization in the world and while serving as an officer, we were in the midst of the most uncivilized presidential campaign in memory. Part of my message that year was to encourage fellow members to work to find common ground while understanding there would be differences of opinion.
Now, two years removed from that presidential campaign, the communication in our nation has deteriorated to the point where angry people are sending pipe bombs to leaders they disagree with and killing people they don’t know, who are engaging in peacefully worship. The time has come when it’s no longer effective to blame “the other side” for our troubles. Now is the time where good people from all political persuasions need to demand that the violence stops.
As our nation has been working through the devastation and pain from the shooting at the Pittsburgh Synagogue, I decided to issue a challenge to my two senators and representative in Congress. The challenge goes beyond partisan politics and any policy dispute the democrats and republicans are having on any given day. If you like the challenge, I encourage you to issue it to your representatives.
On Monday I sent an email to Representative Barbara Lee, Senators Feinstein, and Harris challenging them to encourage the House and Senate to do two things.
-
As a show of unity and respect to the deceased members of the Synagogue, everyone involved in a campaign for the November 6th election should take one day off. All candidates should suspend campaigning of any kind for one day.
-
Representatives Ryan & Pelosi and Senators McConnell & Schumer come together in one room. I challenge them so speak as one, encouraging Americans to vote their conscience on November 6 and whichever way the election turns out, come together in respect as citizens who share our our beautiful country.
For many years, many have held the false belief that our countries problems were caused by the “other side.” The time has come to look within ourselves. Let’s take the examples of Gandhi and Martin Luther King and embrace non-violence.
Please have a peaceful week and look for common ground. It begins with us.
Home | Let's Talk it Over 