Eighteen months ago Gilda Reed started her journey to lend voice to the unheard, to represent the people of Louisiana's 1st congressional district. Fifteen months after Hurricane Katrina stormed through her district, fifteen months after the man-made damage of the Army Corps left the greater New Orleans area in shambles, fifteen months after we witnessed our citizens abandoned on rooftops, Gilda took a quantum leap forward and entered the political fray.
Gilda had a most fulfilling life as mother of seven, grandmother of soon-to-be fourteen, teacher of thousands at the University of New Orleans, friend to many, until her world was shattered by prior decades of sheer political negligence, until her world was ravaged by the decision to protect her family, her neighbors, her district as if they were cattle.
Now, the Special Election is but 2 days away.
Let us be the gentle wind at her back!
As Chief Seattle so eloquently stated:
Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.
I believe and share the spiritual words of Chief Seattle. [I am not of Native American ancestry, I simply am more in harmony with their spirituality.] We ~ people, earth, all creatures, and those that came before us, are all connected; we are bound to each other. We influence our world not just through our actions, but, through the wisdom and strength of our thoughts, as well.
I believe Gilda is a most majestic thread spun of passion, integrity, loyalty, humor, forthright honesty and steadfast, strong-willed determination ~ she is forever connected and bound to those so long forgotten. She is forever connected and bound to us all.
Our beloved possum believes:
[From email, with permission]
Gilda exemplifies the sort of person I'd like to follow in this life. Her dedication to family, friends, society, and nation are remarkable. All my life I have chosen real leaders to emulate. Gilda is one of those fine people.
Along the campaign trail Gilda has supported me all the way. She is steadfast in her friendship and in her focus on winning this election for both of us. She has lent moral support at times when the world looked pretty dark. I look forward with great anticipation to coffee with Gilda in DC in '09.
I love Gilda as though she were a family member.
There is belief that dance is prayer, dance is power to heal the earth. Dance is not limited to the motion of body – it is heart, it is spirit. Dance flourishes within our actions. We dance when we stand against injustice, we dance with our love, we dance with our laughter, we dance with our compassion, we dance when we uplift those most burdened.
The rhythm of dance surrounds us, this dance of life. There is dance in the soft flutter of leaf, in birds on the wing, in water brushing against rock, in the whisper of wind. We dance as one with the tree, with the wind, with the rock, with the bird, with the rain, with each other. We dance with hope.
Gilda, my friends, is in a dance of determination to alter the path of despair. And when she dances, she dances to heal the earth!
Our dear blueintheface dances with passion:
[From email, with permission]
It's my interest in Gilda's campaign that has kept me going regardless of how many times I've failed in my political endeavors. Her enthusiasm and refusal to quit has kept me trying to figure out new ways to support her campaign, it has made me keep believing in the political process regardless of how many times my personal experiences tell me that things are hopeless. And trying to help Gilda has been the one thing that I have been able to do for Katrina victims, as I haven't had the money, skills or connections to do much else to help them rebuild.
From the moment that I saw her staying up until well past midnight to answer all who commented in a recommended diary about her campaign, to her personal letter with a handwritten comment thanking me for my support, Gilda has let me know that she appreciates even the smallest of gestures. And after feeling like I've been ignored or failing in so many other political efforts, it's good to feel like I matter to a campaign.
I believe in the influence of thought, of heart; let us from now through May 3rd, the day of election, dance joyfully with Gilda and our NOLA neighbors. We dance with our inspiration, our well-wishes, our celebratory words. Hope.
Go, Gilda, go!
From now through Saturday, take moments at home, at work, at play ~ dance with Gilda and NOLA with your jubilant spirit, your good will. Celebrate.
Go, Gilda, go!
We may whisper soft as the breeze, we may laugh as a bubbling brook, we may howl with the pride of coyote. Dance.
We Need Reed!
And I believe ~
We shall be the gentle wind at her back!
Go, Gilda, go!
Thank you, Gilda, for your inspirational dance of determination!
gab
We Need Reed!
ActBlue
More Gilda Believers:
Endorsements for Gilda Reed, US House, LA-01
• Greater New Orleans, AFL-CIO, President Robert Hammond
• St. Tammany, Tangipahoa & Washington Parishes Labor Council, Pres. Ronnie Rosser
• LA AFL-CIO, President Louis Reine
• Baton Rouge Building and Construction Trades Council, Pres. Joseph "T-Boy" Ardoin
• Maritime Council of Greater New Orleans and Vicinity, President Chris Westbrook
• American Federation of Teachers, Liz Smith, President
• Louisiana Federation of Teachers, President Steve Monaghan
• St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees Committee On Political Education (COPE)
• Louisiana American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
• Communication Workers of America, Local #3410, Sect/Treas. Wayne Trosclair
• United Steelworkers, District 13, Local #12, President Robert Landry
• United Steelworkers, District 13, Local #447, President Brent Petit
• United Transportation Union, LA State Director Gary Devall
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, LA State Board Chairman Arlin Todd
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW, Local 130, Business Manager Robert Hammond
• Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local #214, Business Manager Anthony Behan
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship-Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, District 5, Local #37; Business Manager David L. Hegeman
• International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #406, Pres. Donald Schiro
• Ironworkers, Local 58, President Donald Denese
• Louisiana Carpenter Regional Council, Local 1846, President John Edwards
• Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1560, President Joseph Prier
• Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 689, Deputy Trustee Darren Johnson, Barry Kaufman, Field Representative
• International Longshoresmen Association, Local 3000, James Campbell
• AFSCME, Council 17, Pres. Bonnie Fuller
• Teamsters Local Union #270, David Negrotto, President
• Plumbers & Steamfitters’ Local #60, Lance Albin, Business Manager
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage •Employees, Local 478, Phil LoCicero, President
• International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators & Asbestos Workers, Local #53, Leo Damaris, Business Manager
• Ponchatoula Times newspaper, Publisher/Owner Bryan McMahon (twice)
• KBZE 105.9FM, KFRA 1390AM, President Howard Castay
• Times-Picayune, Democratic Primary Election
• Jefferson Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee
• St. Tammany Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee
• Tangipahoa Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee
• Washington Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee
• Orleans Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee
• Plaquemines Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee
• Progressive Northshore Democrats
• Democracy 1st
• The National Feminism Political Party
• National Organization of Women
• Women’s Campaign Forum
• Class A rating from NRA