by Elissa Yount
On the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the television was full of great movies and documentaries about the valiant and heroic actions of our courageous veterans.
My great-grandmother sent a son and grandson, and her daughter, my grandmother on my mother’s side, sent three sons, while my grandmother on my father’s side sent two sons. They all also sent daughters to Washington, D.C. to work in the War Department and to Raleigh to work at the draft board and to Pennsylvania to secretly work in a torpedo factory.
Because of all that these, and legions of others have done, most of us have lived and enjoyed peace and prosperity. For that I am extremely grateful. If I were to try to repay the debt of all the sacrifices that went into securing that peace and prosperity, how would I go about it? How could any of us repay those who did far more than any of us have been called to do?
Honoring democracy and your citizenship is one way.
When I started writing these weekly opinions, my purpose was to begin a conversation about what we require, what we deserve, and what we need in local leadership. As the time draws near for filing for local elections, here is one thing you as an individual can do. You can judge what is motivating our elected officials and candidates, and then you can honestly decide if this is what is best for us all in Henderson.
Most of us have gone about our lives doing what we thought we should do to be good citizens. We’ve paid our taxes, we’ve paid our debts, we did not make our money off of the misfortunes of others, we followed the law, we voted, we were aware of what was going on, we voiced opinions, and some even ran for office. Somehow that does not seem to be enough. Henderson is suffering, and we need leaders who can come to the rescue. Where do we turn? How do we know who will make a good leader?
Judge their motivations! This is what my great-grandmother always advised.
Which does Henderson need, leaders who are there to serve our good, or people who are lulled by enough money to pay their grocery bill, or the lure of health insurance? Do we need leaders who are motivated to make Henderson the best it can be, or do we want people who seek personal attention and prestige? Does Henderson need leaders who can prioritize what is important for our city, or people who are motivated by self-importance? Do we need leaders who can spend our money wisely, or people who are motivated to protect their pocketbooks, their friends’ pocketbooks, and their ways of doing business?
All over town, people tell me that the true motivations of our local elected officials are self-serving. If that is true, the more’s the pity. However, if you believe this and if you don’t like it, you can correct it.
Many people have also told me that they have given up on Henderson. Many had been motivated to help Henderson only to be lied to, lied about, and maligned. In discouragement, they have given up. That is tragic. How would we be living today if the spirit of “giving-up” surrounded D-Day? I, for one, believe we would be speaking German. Certainly we were not called to fight at D-Day, but we are called to fight for the same principles of fairness and freedom. We surely need just a smidgen of the same stamina, and intellect, and guts, and fortitude to win the fight for a better Henderson.
What can you do? First, seek out and encourage people to run for office who have no personal agenda, no fragile finances, and no reason to run for office other than to use their good minds to make our city a better place for all of us. You know them, and I know them. Tell them how much Henderson needs them.
Many people have talked to me about the “bought election.” I can think of nothing more dishonorable than to cast a vote out of obligation rather than conviction. I would hope that no election or vote is “bought.” That would be a grave insult to all who endured D-Day. But, I am not naïve. Money talks, and that talk can be very loud, but together we can shout it down.
Many people around town have told me that they could not take the heat that an election would bring. But I know differently. Henderson is full of people who are motivated by the good of all. Henderson is full of people who do not think that just because you are different means that you are inferior. Henderson is full of people whose character and ethics cannot be impugned. Henderson is full of people who understand what D-Day stands for and are willing to do their part to carry on with the same conviction and dedication.
Encourage these people to step up. To do any less is to besmirch the sacrifice of all who did so much to give us our peace and prosperity. And, if you want to give up on something, give up on the back-stabbing, spite, gossip, lies, and inflated sense of self-importance that goes along with politics.
Just don’t give up on Henderson.