I came home from work the other night and was stunned into wakefulness. The fight this year is one we all need to get involved in. I can't be passive any longer.
I recently moved back to Virginia from New York. My wife and I loved New York, but Virginia is home. I have been an interested but passive Democrat since we moved. I feel good about the recent politics of my state, I try to change the minds of friends and co-workers. I've meant to go volunteer for
Judy Feder, but traffic sucks here and I don't feel like driving to her HQ.
And then I read a story in my local paper. My community. My county.
My problem.
Heyward Drummond stepped out of his house on Laceys Tavern Court southeast of Gilberts Corner Saturday morning, eager to pick up the daily newspaper. Unfortunately, the news that greeted him was a landscaping disaster in his yard.
Someone had cut down 70 saplings and pulled 100 boxwood bushes from the ground of the home he shares with his partner, John Ellis. The couple moved into the house nearly two years ago.
Officials are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
The perpetrators had torn up the front yard and part of the back yard without waking Ellis, Drummond, their four dogs and three visiting members of Drummond's family, including a 9-year-old girl.
This should never happen. Period. If you read the whole story, about the gentlemen having their home vandalized and their safety violated for simply living their lives and being concerned about the quality of life in their community, you, too may feel the shame I do. I do not live in Aldie, but I live in Loudoun County. These people are my neighbors, both the perpetrators an the victims.
I cannot understand the feeling that would drive someone to do these things. I cannot wrap my head around that kind of disrespect and stupidity. I thought decency was something that was understood, and honorable conduct meant something, at least here in Virginia.
I was disillusioned.
But this makes me have hope in my home. My party, my state party, in in a Southern State, unanimously opposes the stupid marriage amendment, which only gives aid and comfort to the ignorant bigots who vandalized my neighbors' home. And Virginia is trending Blue. My party has the guts to stand up against the majority opinion of the state, in hopes of changing that opinion. Starting with changing the news about it.
(If you want to Contribute to the fight against hate, please do!)
We stand for inclusion and community, against fear and hate. And that is something to be proud of. That is something we all need to act on.
That is why we need to win.