Just when I felt there was no hope on the political horizon, I had a most magnificent, serendipitous moment, one of inspiration and awe. I happened upon the website of Gilda Reed, "an opinionated Louisiana Democrat" running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District. Gilda’s unwavering passion and strong-willed determination to represent all her people inspired me to write this, my first diary. So, now we have another kossack running for Congress!
Her qualifications – "Hard-headed determination: If I can manage seven children, 11 grandchildren, a polio disability, earn my Ph.D., and teach more classes per semester than any of my university colleagues, then I can manage anything." Her reasons for running are "to make a powerful difference in the quality of life for the working middle class and the poor, to put an end to the War in Iraq and bring our troops home safely, and to work on environmental issues which are vital to the health and well being of all of our citizens."
Gilda Reed represents all that is good in the Democratic Party. Her goals of improving the quality of life for our hard-working citizens, providing affordable health care for all, ending this dreadful occupation of Iraq, restoring health to our environment and, in all, standing for the common good. We "need more sensitive leaders paying attention to the problems facing everyday Americans --elderly, disabled, gay, working-but-not-making-ends-meet folk." We, this most extraordinary community, can "spread the word that an honest, kick-butt Democrat is running for Congress."
It would be a true honor if I were able to cast my vote in her name.
Diary upon diary, I have read and shared the enormous frustration and anger toward Democrats who, once we put them in office, do not represent our voice. Well, that is about to change, at least with this candidate, for this district. Please, take a moment to peruse the comments in one of her recent diaries and get a sense of the incredible down-to-earth camaraderie. Her passion for the well-being of the people in her district, her strong determination to represent their voice, comes through with crystal clarity. Of all the diaries I've read, about and by candidates, not one had such a complete outpouring of support, respect and, yes, hope.
Her beloved District, where she has lived for her entire life, was ravaged by Katrina. On Sept. 3, 2005, out of "frustrated anger," she submitted a letter to a national newspaper:
America, we still have people trapped in attics! We still have people dying like flies! Why has FEMA not done more? We have buildings burning to the ground, and yet Homeland Security will not let experienced pilots of planes from a neighboring state, who have volunteered to fight the flames, do so. Why has Homeland Security not done more?
About the time Gilda sent in this letter, all across the country we watched in absolute horror as our people were abandoned by a smirking, guitar-strumming Bush. We all painfully recall the soul-wrenching images captured in this 8 minute video, "When the Levees Broke -video montage of Spike Lee's film:"
(Hat Tip to Tigana)
Gilda remembers the precise moment, 15 months after Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast region, when she decided to throw her life into the chaos, known as Louisiana politics. (from email, with permission)
I remember exactly the moment that I made the life-altering decision to become a non-traditional politician. We were traveling back from our decimated non-home in Pass Christian, MS. (We still have to pay the taxes and maintain the lot.) All of a sudden the broken area of New Orleans East with the remains of trees grotesquely pointing anywhere but skyward moved me. I had witnessed this time and again because this was 15 months after Katrina, and yet the devastated landscape was as if the storm had passed through yesterday. I was suddenly and powerfully moved to DO something. Every semester, I teach my students that if they are not satisfied with something, then they need to get off their duff and act. My decision to join the political fray was only me deciding to practice what I teach. I jumped in without allowing the obstacles that loomed to deter me--much like having 7 babies on purpose, the last 3 of whom were in diapers at once. Had I allowed my common sense to rule, I would be comfortably enjoying my good life of mama, grammy and teacher.
Gilda went from the hell of Katrina to the netherworld of Bush's Iraq occupation. Unlike me, and many folks here, Bush’s illegal, unending assault and occupation of Iraq has stormed into her home:
I have a vested interest in this war. My firstborn son is a Navy pilot. He has already served in the Mid-East several times, and I do not want him to go back. My young nephew at the tender age of 18, scraped body parts off of streets outside of Baghdad for a year. He signed up for the Army National Guard after high school, erroneously thinking that he was joining a homeland defense team in exchange for college tuition. He was promised he would not be sent to Iraq. Before the ink was dry, he learned otherwise. Somehow, he came home alive but a return trip to Iraq is more probable than medical help for his PTSD.
Imagine the horrific consequences to her nephew – a mere 18 years old, a child in my eyes – who "scraped body parts off of streets outside of Baghdad for a year."
Gilda’s stance on Iraq, as stated in her diary, Awaken, America!:
The preemptive War in Iraq should never have been started, and thousands of more troops are not going to end it. It distracted us from our original mission in Afghanistan. Whatever it takes to safely remove our soldiers and marines from the raging Iraqi civil insurgency, we must begin NOW--- a real plan. It is ludicrous to expect centuries of ethnic in-fighting to disappear because we will it so.
On July 9, 2007, The Times-Picayune ran an editorial in regard to the five potential Republicans who may enter the race. The Republican incumbent, Bobby Jindal, has his eyes on the Governor’s mansion. There is not one sentence, not one word, about the only registered candidate – you guessed it, our very own kossack, Gilda Reed.
Her thoughts on being snubbed by the local press:
Let the political professional sharks devour themselves. I will be left standing head and shoulders above them with no commitment to anything or anyone except my people and my conscience.
The next three months are critical to her campaign to "seek name recognition while unopposed. Incumbent Jindal is busy running for governor and his replacement is as yet unnamed. Sheer grassroots muscle and determination on my part need donated funds on your part to beat the very wealthy Republican opposition."
I do not work for Gilda, nor do I live in Louisiana, I just know integrity when I see it. This diary is my humble way of thanking her for showing me there is hope for our country on the political horizon. Let us help her, help her people. Our people.
LET US TAKE ACTION
Money is tight in this Katrina-burdened district – her campaign will, by necessity, have to rely heavily on contributions from outside of her area - if you want to help dethrone a Republican:
Please Contribute with ActBlue (Don’t forget to add a penny to your contribution, so she knows who loves her!)
WE NEED REED.
If we help put Gilda Reed in the House, we can show the people of Louisiana that we have not forgotten. Their voice will, at long last, be heard.
Thank you, Gilda, for hope!