Normally when I sit to write a blog, the sitting to do so is preceded by much thought, sometimes over a period of days or weeks. Today's blog is not the case. (I am well aware that I started a series about 4-word sentences and have published nothing other than the introduction, but this is indeed an emergency.)
So, what's the emergency? As usual, I'm glad you asked. One of my Facebook friends actually invited me to become a fan of person I have many years considered unfit for duty!
And, what's the big deal about that? Again, I'm glad you asked. Complacency is the big deal. Complacency is what has had a stranglehold on the 18th Congressional District ("the 18th") since 1995. Complacency, and its first cousin, apathy have allowed the 18th Congressional District to be inhabited by a person, who like one of her, probably, most well-known predecessors, Barbara Jordan, is an American woman of African descent. I dare say that is where the comparison stops. Anything beyond that would have to be considered contrast.
Unlike Barbara Jordan, who left the office too soon, according to most folks who remember her, the current 18th Congressional Representative has far outlived her usefulness in that capacity. It appears that she needs to be reminded that the boundaries of her district do not extend to Jasper, Texas or the sunny state of California. While the murder of Mr. Byrd via dragging was a most horrific event, and the demise of pop star Michael Jackson touched the hearts of many, these are just two of untold escapades of Mrs. Lee that have nothing to do with her work for the folks of the 18th. If these extracurricular activities were not so commonplace, the common folks of the 18th might hear something other than lame excuses when they call their Representative for assistance. This is not what I heard; this is what I know. Of course, it is understandable that a Representative who does 99% of the talking and only 1% of the listening, would not have a clue.
While our current Representative may be a fine person, a good wife, mother, or whatever, she has far outlived her usefulness in the 18th. It is time for the 18th to give Mrs. Lee a performance evaluation. Other than making quickie appearances at church, community and sorority banquets, picking up plaques to commemorate God only knows what kind of award, honing in on press conferences that have absolutely nothing to do with the business of the 18th, and maintaining a staff who first checks to see if a caller is on the voter registration rolls before announcing that they have so many hundreds of thousands of constituents (which means they don't have time for the caller), one can only wonder what tasks regarding, relating or pertaining to the concerns of 18th ever get accomplished.
For years I have dutifully showed up at the polls to cast my vote against Mrs. Lee, all the while wondering why my fellow 18th'ers cannot see the big picture. Unfortunately, there had been no candidate that even she considered viable competition -- until now. I have known of Jarvis Johnson for years. He has worked in the 18th before being elected to City Council. He is a well respected man whose values are reflected in the way he lives. People don't just know of him; they know him because he is visible and involved in the community where he has helped to bring viable improvements to its infrastructure and quality of life. Leading by example is his mantra, and leading by example is what he does.
Now is the time for the 18th Congressional District to fire its representative. They can only do that by going to the polls and VOTING! There is NO TIME for COMPLACENCY, nor for its cousin, APATHY. Believe and know that your vote is important enough to matter. Make sure your vote is counted!
For these reasons and more, I SUPPORT JARVIS JOHNSON FOR CONGRESS.
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