By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
Sometimes your worst fears are realized. The nightmare doesn’t end, and your sleep is interrupted. You are tossing and turning with your eyes wide open.
This painful scenario depicts the Republican Party. They have hit rock bottom and are in the sub-basement. The keys to getting out have been mis-placed and can’t be located.
The Republican National Convention held recently had no seasoning as it was really a Trump convention. Traditional Republicans like the Bush family and the Dole family were missing.
It was filled with marginal characters who spewed out innuendo, falsehoods and mean- ness. Those nouns describe the contents of Project 2025.
Did you get tired of hearing about it?
The Democratic National Convention held in Chicago was an event of hope, plans and joy. It was an all-inclusive and diverse convention. The DNC was about our America and our long-held values.
The eclectic blend of speakers was a rallying cry for everyone to get involved. The gravity and significance of this election were highlighted by every speaker and performer.
One of the speakers was Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors and the Gold Medal winning USA Olympic basketball team. He said, “I can see the shut up and whistle tweets being fired off as we speak. But I also knew as soon as I was asked that it was too important as an American citizen not to speak up in an election of this magnitude.”
He ended his speech by saying, “In the words of the great Steph Curry, we can tell Donald Trump ‘night night.’”
Staunch critics of the Democratic Party are saying that the DNC was wonderfully staged. It had a variety of high-profile politicians from both sides.
Former Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger (IL) urged fellow Republicans to get onboard the Harris-Walz ticket.
I believe the DNC changed a lot of minds about Vice President Kamala Harris.
Consistent themes resonated throughout the convention such as creating a middle-class tax cut, creating more affordable housing and lowering the price of prescription drugs.
Personal stories were given about how the Biden-Harris administration helped them in their daily lives with the challenges they were facing. Dele-gates were in the audience nodding their agreement as to how they were helped as well.
Prior to Vice President Harris and Governor Walz getting in the race, North Carolina was not in play for the Democrats. Now it is.
Governor Roy Cooper of the Tar Heel state said, “Kamala will be for you. Are we going to vote? Are we going to win?” A resounding “yes” erupted from the crowd when asked those questions.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will have work to do to heal the brokenness in the land. Suffering may endure for the night, but joy will come in the morning. This Biblical reference was made by both Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY) and Senator Raphael Warnock (GA).
The work to put Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz in the White House will not be easy. While there are polls that say the Democrats are ahead, we can not rely on the polls.
Vice President Harris said, “Trump is an un-serious man, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in White House are very serious.”
The nation wanted to see how Vice President Harris would be on this national stage. America, we saw that she passed the test with knowledge, boldness and empathy.
We the people cannot fall for the tricks and traps of the other side.
The next 70 days must be filled with activism, determination and energy. Every vote will matter in November. If your friends have not registered to vote, take them.
If they need motivation to register, motivate them. Vice President Harris said, “This election is for our children and grandchildren.”
The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ring true here. He said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. is a longtime educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
