I was born in 1963. Where I grew up I was taught by family,
teachers, and books. I knew prejudice existed but I learned that people
perpetuate it. I can remember right outside a college campus not being served
because our family wanted to enjoy a meal together in honor of our first family
member entering college. We were however, still black. Yes it was illegal and
yes the family member, a student was with us. We watched as others were seated
after we had been waiting patiently. My mother insisted we be seated. When told
to wait until something came available in a very offensive tone, she quietly
showed her badge. The tone changed but the intent to harm was still there. We
were seated and then left as it seemed evident we could not trust that we would
get a quality meal. Yes this occurred in a very affluent area in NJ.
One would have to know my family to understand what drives
me. You see, in a quiet way my family
has managed to be first in a great many things.
I always wanted to be first at something. I learned that to even have a
shot at being first you had to be good. Good at what you did but better as a
person. You had to understand that people examine you. Your actions could ruin
everything for the next person.
My mom was one of the first black females to enter the
Camden County Sheriff Department. Her brother was the first Black licensed
polygraph examiner for the state of NJ.
While I can go on and on concerning their public service and
achievements, the point is they taught
me to be good not first. I saw them and wanted to be like them.
Wanting to be the first must be for the right reasons. I
hoped I could be the first someone of color or the first human to accomplish
something. I hoped there would be an instant where my color would not matter to
those who held the opportunity in their hands. I hoped that at some time and
place my character would be considered. That is Martin’s real dream. That it
does not matter what any of us are, but what matters most is that we were the
best choice. I say this to wake people up to the fact that there is a shift
that has occurred.
The shift is that we allow celebrity or popularity to
influence us. Voting is not a horse race where you pick the winner. It is where
you pick who you want to win. Not knowing the difference can result in a life
time of shoveling the crap they leave behind.
We see publically that the first is always heralded. It is
seen as a triumph that we are moving forward. Do we really see where we are? Do
we see that it is time, long overdue time to have the best and not just the first? It is time we embrace character above all.
People may be blinded by the opportunity to have the first
person of gender, color, or religion to reach a level that has not yet been attained.
Where are we when it relates to being the first person of honor to serve having
not yet arrived?
I look at candidates to see if they have kept their promises
and used ethical practices to encourage support. No one is perfect but I am not
blinded by their crafted messages and stances. As being the first Black man
elected to office in my town I did not make that the reason I should be
elected. It was not part of my platform. I simply wanted to be the best choice.
No one agrees on everything that an official does. It is the
fact that they are entrusted to represent those who voted for them and those
who did not. All the constituents are to be heard and considered equally. I
encourage debate because it gives officials information regarding what is important
to each person, adult and child affected by the choices those in office make.
It is my intention to learn the truth and spread the truth.
It is to educate voters. I believe that education is the singularly most
important factor of life. Poverty can be overcome by what we learn. Poverty can
be avoided by what we learn. Fitness and nutrition can be determined by what we
learn. Learning is not just words it is applying what we believe. Learning does
not take place without a teacher, even if it is we that teach our selves.
Being first remains something to be honored not expected or
something to which one is entitled. For those who say it’s about time, I am
willing to wait for the best. Many times we delay the arrival of the best
because we stay in our places too long or treat our place as a possession
instead of a moment when we are responsible. The responsibility is to be passed
on to those taught and prepared.
Responsibly is nothing without accountability. Laws are what establish
boundaries. These boundaries are a matter of choice. The choice to remain in
the boundaries is a matter of honor. Enforcing law without bias is among the
highest of responsibilities.
November is months away and 2016 is a little while away. We have time to
see if we are experiencing a well-crafted message or the real heart of a
person. We see opposition mounting but must remember that just because an
opponent brings things to light it does not mean it is untrue.
Those who have place themselves above the law still want and
need your votes. If you do not believe you could have avoided prosecution if
you were them do not give them your vote. Celebrity does not make one above the
law. Years of service are easily tarnished by bad choices. Some do whatever they want because they have
never been caught. Many have been jailed for far less that those who have
stolen billions while in office. When those next to them cannot say a word
because they have done the same thing justice does not apply and law is not
enforced.
I take little stock in those who play at being regular when
on the average day there is nothing regular about their lives, their friends,
or their crimes. We live in a world
where the superficial gets media saturation and lives of celebrities matter
more to some than the policies created impacting our lives.
We The People must wake up. We still have the power of the
vote for now. We must understand that education is what is being voted on by
those who are not regular. Their kids are not regular. They and their kids are
not affected by the legislation they pass. Saying we have a problem with
police, public education, and what amounts to modern day bribery is not
enough. We must elect those who will do
something beyond talking or making our woes a political point. Actions speak
louder than words and until someone goes to jail for the billions they took, is
charged with lying to the public or using their influence solely for the
benefit of campaign contribution we must look for other candidates. I hope we all find someone with honor.
I think being first is still an honor. Being a
representative of another human being is a responsibility that comes with high
ethical and moral standards. It has fallen to us, the voters to ensure the
standard is established and maintained. Pleading guilty and resigning takes
qualities that would have prevented the charges in the first place. Those are honor, courage, and discipline. It
takes more courage to admit when one is wrong as one must face the possible
loss caused by poor choices.
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