Too many conversations

Too many conversations

By Congressman Alcee L. Hastings

    A few months ago I had lunch with a daughter of Broward County pioneers.  Her concerns are the same as mine, “Why do we experience so much division in the (BlackAfroNegroColored) community?” she asked.  She went on to answer her own question saying, “There are too many conversations.”  I agreed.

    We talked about people and places, civic organizations and churches, old and young, nationals and immigrants, progress and lack of progress, and how politics (National and local), and politicians impact positively and negatively “our community.” Of course we did not solve our problems.  But I committed to at least try to do something to steer some of the conversation toward communitarian solidarity.

    The Westside Gazette, my friend Bobby Henry and the staff have provided me an outlet for this conversation with this Op-Ed. Depending upon reader response, this one will be followed by a few more with specifics.

    When this Op-Ed is published, the August 14, 2012 elections will have concluded.

  My hope is that the winners and losers will congratulate each other and commit to work together to make all of their positive slogans a reality.  I so commit right here and now.

Further, the winners and the losers must bury the negatives quickly. Simply put, we cannot rise up, if we keep putting each other down.  A good renewal starting place could be an Inter-Faith, Ecumenical, inter-denominational prayer breakfast to be attended by all candidates for office from our community.

    Second, as Bobby Henry suggested, let’s establish “a regular, real community forum.” All of our leadership should participate. The organizing and sustaining principle should be centered in providing solutions in education, employment, business development, and housing as well as doing what we can to reduce crime in Broward County and especially in African American spaces.

    I conclude this piece by asking you to respond to the above suggestions to my attention at the Westside Gazette or at your Congressional Office at 2701 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Ste. 200, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311. Certainly, we can and must have one conversation about our communitarian future.

    Too many conversations here, too many conversations there, too many conversations

everywhere will lead us nowhere fast!  History attests to that.

    One final thought regarding the November 6, 2012 elections. Stop agonizing and start organizing. We must do all we can to re-elect President Barack Obama. The other choice is not an option.

    A concerted effort is being made to suppress our vote. The other side knows how important our vote is. That’s why so much time and money is being spent to suppress it.  Suppression leads to oppression.  We did not come this far to turn back now!

    More on this later. . . .