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Sights and sounds of the DNC
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- Posted September 3, 2012 by
- justhefaxGA Follow
Location
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Assignment
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Place of Conventions in Modern Day Politics
In 2008 my company was blessed enough to be able to participate in the 2008 convention as a subcontractor. This allowed me access in the convention hall during the week and at the stadium for Barack Obama's acceptance speech. A long time independent, I was not intending on being at all impressed by, what I anticipated, would be a circus. However, through the week and culminating with that speech, I was overtaken by a sense that we could be electing an individual who actually cared more about the country than himself and who, would by example, lead each of us to be better. Then the absolute awe at being alive to witness a human with African heritage be elected president in America allowed this feeling of hope and fullness to continue well into 2010.
However, admittedly, I lost touch with that inspiration. Although I continued to do the same things that the convention and the speech initially inspired me to do, some of the things became annoying, painful tasks; tasks which I believed would never amount to anything and were really a waste of time. In spite of this, when I heard that the DNC would be in Charlotte, just four hours from my home, I immediately signed up to volunteer.
Today, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the DNC at the airport. I did not really do anything quite special. I pointed delegates to their luggage carousels and shuttle buses. I escorted a couple of VIPs to their dedicated drivers. I answered questions at the hospitality desk. However, at the end of the day that feeling from 2008/2009 returned.
A convention’s role as a place to determine party platforms may be minimized due to the way party platforms are formed in modern day politics. However, the role to inspire is still there.
It is a reminder of how great we are, not only as Americans, certainly not only as Democrats but as humans. Today I met people with all different backgrounds. Auditors, public relations personnel, consultants, teachers, unemployed. Jewish, Black, White. New Yorkers, North Carolinians, Pennsylvanians, Puerto Ricans. I was able to help them, laugh with them, commiserate with them and I was reminded that, in the end, we are all just people who want the best.
This is what is going to keep American through tough times. This is what will help us to be better tomorrow than we are today. Neither of these candidates has a magic wand. I didn't believe that four years ago and I don't believe it now. But I do believe that if we individually do our best and collectively assume and expect the best out of one another; together we can. We can believe in America and we can move forward and realize the dreams we believe in. If conventions can be utilized to provide this type of perspective, then they certainly still have a place in our world.
However, admittedly, I lost touch with that inspiration. Although I continued to do the same things that the convention and the speech initially inspired me to do, some of the things became annoying, painful tasks; tasks which I believed would never amount to anything and were really a waste of time. In spite of this, when I heard that the DNC would be in Charlotte, just four hours from my home, I immediately signed up to volunteer.
Today, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the DNC at the airport. I did not really do anything quite special. I pointed delegates to their luggage carousels and shuttle buses. I escorted a couple of VIPs to their dedicated drivers. I answered questions at the hospitality desk. However, at the end of the day that feeling from 2008/2009 returned.
A convention’s role as a place to determine party platforms may be minimized due to the way party platforms are formed in modern day politics. However, the role to inspire is still there.
It is a reminder of how great we are, not only as Americans, certainly not only as Democrats but as humans. Today I met people with all different backgrounds. Auditors, public relations personnel, consultants, teachers, unemployed. Jewish, Black, White. New Yorkers, North Carolinians, Pennsylvanians, Puerto Ricans. I was able to help them, laugh with them, commiserate with them and I was reminded that, in the end, we are all just people who want the best.
This is what is going to keep American through tough times. This is what will help us to be better tomorrow than we are today. Neither of these candidates has a magic wand. I didn't believe that four years ago and I don't believe it now. But I do believe that if we individually do our best and collectively assume and expect the best out of one another; together we can. We can believe in America and we can move forward and realize the dreams we believe in. If conventions can be utilized to provide this type of perspective, then they certainly still have a place in our world.
- TAGS:
- dnc,
- inspiration,
- charlotte,
- politics,
- speech,
- acceptance,
- airport
- GROUPS:
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