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July 24, 2004

From Sea To Shining Sea: Through An Elector's Eyes

By Ron Telsch

While the party and parties gather in Boston for the National Convention, I am preparing to leave for Hawaii. It is so far away from home here in Virginia and yet throughout our nation our community of like-minded friends is large and welcoming. Just this afternoon, we arranged to attend the Kerry House Party in Honolulu to watch John Kerry's acceptance speech "live" on Thursday afternoon sitting in a room full of fellow Democrats. Not Thursday evening, but the afternoon - it really is far from home.

On December 13th I will have the honor to cast an electoral vote on behalf of the people of the 6th District of Virginia, several hundred-thousand of them. The Constitution of the United States says we must vote on that day this year. In fact, it says very little else about the whole process of electing the President through the peoples' electors. We are not even required by the Constitution to vote a particular way, though those of you who attended our District Convention all heard Delegate Woodrum say he would affect my demise if I voted contrary to the Democratic Party (I will not forget Chip).

As the days continue to march toward the popular election in November I am confident that the excitement and momentum of this election year can do nothing but increase, and at times exponentially I am sure. There is nothing inherently wrong with people choosing their representatives in our democracy. And it seems very apropos that we do it with enthusiasm and happiness - after all, we are a social species. But it does seem to me that we could all be more accepting of others who happen to choose differently. Mine is a fundamentally simple philosophy toward life: the only "ism" we should strive for is humanism. As I prepare to vote in this election, I wish to be guided by those who are diplomatic rather than dilettante, kind rather than harsh, and deliberative rather than accusatory. Very few good decisions are made when people are shouting at each other.

When I return from the other side of America, I too will be active in this year's campaign. I spoke at the 6th Congressional District meeting on Tuesday night and invited the City/County chairs to contact me if they thought their Elector can help in some local activity (phone bank, Meet-up, et cetera.) The election is still several months from now, but December 13th is the final deadline. Ready or not, we need to secure the popular vote first in November.

To our fellow Virginians in Boston I am with you in spirit. I'll be joining hands and shouting for joy with you on Thursday because we will be stepping closer to providing our country with the leadership we need, for all of us, regardless our party inclinations. Change is coming to America, and I want that to be positive and fulfilling, and with a unity we can share with the world.

I've had a sign hanging on my office wall for twenty-five years, and all it says is, "Do Things Right." There is also a print of the signing of the Constitution, one of Betsy Ross sewing our nation's flag, and another of George Washington enjoying a peaceful moment at Mount Vernon. May we all find that peace, again. I for one believe we can by electing John Kerry. In my opinion, voting for Kerry is doing things right, because he will do right things.

Ron Telsch is from Lexington.

Posted by laura at July 24, 2004 11:50 PM

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