As we get ready to cast our ballots in Tuesday’s election, we reflect on our Candidates Night meeting of October 10th.
Because our civic association is a non-political community homeowners and businessmen’s group, we are prohibited from endorsing ANY candidate (incumbent or challenger) for ANY political office. The only times we have gotten involved in the electoral process is in the non-partisan judicial races when it was made known to us that a particular Judge rendered decisions that were detrimental to our community, or when we have employed the Dram Shop Act to vote two precincts dry to rid our community of a nuisance bar and liquor store.
However, with a certain individual running in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November, 6th who espouses such an extreme, incredibly fanatical position of hate of both non-white persons and Jewish individuals, it is impossible to remain silent. In fact, pursuant to our bylaws, we are to “help one another when in need of information and action regarding activities affecting the community”. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to speak out when individuals or a group of individuals are confronted with hate, discrimination and injustice. And when we refer to “the community”, we mean ALL of our community, regardless of race, religion, creed, nationality or color.
Those of you that attended our October 10th general membership Candidates Night meeting know that the Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District – Arthur Jones, a self described former leader of the American Nazi Party who denies the existence of The Holocaust – conveyed his platform to our membership. Having heard him speak before, some of our members knew ahead of time what to expect. However, several members attending had only read of Mr. Jones; but had never actually heard him speak in person.
Needless to say, when he started talking, many of our members sat there in stunned silence and utter disbelief as to what was being said. Despite the composition of our members attending, he ratcheted up his anti-Latino rhetoric, incredibly calling for building a wall on the southern border of our country to keep “these people out”. His Holocaust denial is also a grave insult to the millions of Jews, mostly Polish, who perished under the Nazi Germany regime. It’s not possible to recap the entire Candidates Night meeting, but in this particular instance, you should be able get the picture.
Thankfully, members David & Maria Herrara (Maria recently became a U.S. citizen – Congratulations) were one of several of our Latino members in the audience, and at the end of Mr. Jones presentation, David had the courage to stand up and confront Jones about his positions (kudos to you David) . We wished more people would have stood up and flooded the question and answer comment section of the candidates allotted time.
After the meeting, David admitted he did not know much about Mr. Jones; but he SURE NOW DID. And with that, our civic association has achieved success, in that now not only will both David and Maria be informed voters, but also will the other members in attendance who heard such vitriol. Furthermore, in the days after our meeting while being out and about in our community, I was stopped by several people who told me they were aghast at what Mr. Jones said and were now convinced of who they should NOT vote for. So as for Candidates Night – mission accomplished. More people can now make a well informed decision as a voter. Hopefully, it will be the right decision.
In closing, it is MOST IMPORTANT that you DO vote on Tuesday, November 6th. If you don’t vote, candidates such as Jones will get elected.