“Patriotism based on the common good does not pander to divisiveness. True patriots don’t fuel racist or religious or ethnic divisions. They aren’t homophobic or sexist or racist. To the contrary, true patriots confirm the good that we have in common. They seek to strengthen and celebrate the “We” in “We the people.” ~ Robert B. Reich ‘The Common Good’
Patriots protest children being kept in cages. Patriots follow through with bold actions when their government no longer represents the common good for everyone. Patriots stand up for people who are unable to stand up for themselves.
To work to dismantle hate and oppression is an act of patriotism.
To work to ensure equal rights for everyone is an act of patriotism.
To vote is an act of patriotism.
To run for office is an act of patriotism. To serve on your school board, your city council, your board of supervisors. To participate in the system that decides the common good of your community is an act of patriotism. Your voice within our government will ensure that we will be represented in a meaningful and necessary way. For far too long we have left our leadership and governance to a specific demographic. No more. We do not deserve to be overburdened and underserved. We deserve to be involved and represented by our government.
Record numbers of women and minorities are running for office and winning. Our “Blue Waves” and “Blue Tsunamis” all boil down to one thing - Patriotism.
It is time to take back the word ‘patriot’ and make sure everyone is clear that patriotism and nationalism have never been and never will be synonymous.
Rural America is full of patriots who are ready to rise up and return focus to the common good. To return our government to one of, for, and by the people. We are ready to be prioritized in a meaningful and substantial way.
This year the entirety of the Virginia General Assembly is up for election yet the focus of the country is on 2020. We have the opportunity to do the work in rural Virginia to prove to the rest of America that we are committed to people, not special interests and corporations. In the next session of the General Assembly, we could have the opportunity to pass the ERA, pass the Bank of Virginia Act, pass common-sense gun safety legislation, and pass legislation to return power to local governments. One of the most agreed upon reasons for how we ended up where we are in a divided America is the consistent disregard for rural America. We have to go and get the people we left behind. We have to earn back the trust of people we have systematically exploited and disenfranchised.
It is our responsibility to listen to how these communities have been affected by the issues we have helped create and work every day we are in office to prioritize the return of industry and innovation. As a community organizer, I have been having important conversations with people in my community for 3 years about how they don’t feel heard or represented by their elected officials. People are tired of living paycheck to paycheck and not being able to afford basic healthcare costs while partisan politics are played in Richmond. As the Delegate for district 25, I will work every day I am in office to ensure the rural voice is heard.
Jennifer Kitchen for Delegate — www.electjenniferkitchen.com