I Found a Way Forward

How 50+ Years Of Political Awareness Brought Me To Action

My first political memory was voting for McGovern in 1972. I was in the 4th grade and it was a mock election. I was the only one who voted for McGovern – it was a Nixon landslide. In my father’s house, you did not vote for Nixon.

Photo by Joshua Sukoff on Unsplash

My father was an ironworker and a dedicated Union member. Union membership was political. My mother was a secretary. My father was a Democrat and he was always fearful my mother would cancel his vote. I do not know if she ever did, but I knew not to cancel his vote, even if it was a 4th grade mock election. Back then, when all television programming was pre-empted and nothing else was on, I watched the Watergate hearings and remember John Dean testifying, with his wife nearby. When Nixon resigned, I felt vindicated in my first vote for President.

Throughout my life, I always knew who was President. As a senior in high school, I paid attention to President Carter, whom I have always deeply respected. As an adult, I have always voted. The world moved on, but back then, there weren’t lots of signs in the yards and when the election was over, you still talked to your neighbor.

Then everything seemed to change - 1990’s talk radio blared on the airwaves. Talk radio started to spew what I felt was poison. G. Gordon Liddy of Watergate fame urged listeners to shoot ATF agents recommending a “head-shot” to make sure they did not tread on them.

I remember the horribleness and shock when two domestic terrorists bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City. No one will forget the picture of the rescue worker with that injured baby in his arms. I fully believe all of this brought us to the tribalism we live with today.

I’ve been angry throughout the years with many who didn’t agree with me. I was just as guilty as anyone else who thought the other side was not on their team in the 2000’s. The 2016 election has been the epitome of poisonous politics at work. It has destroyed families and friendships.

“Politics” seeped into the COVID crisis killing so many, breaking up families and shattering friendships. I firmly believe that the majority of Americans are sick of living like this –I know that I am.

In joining The Union, I work with the entire spectrum - progressives, center left, center, independent, ex-Republicans and Republicans who want a party not hijacked by extremism.

The Union’s sole focus is the pro-democracy mission. That mission keeps us focused on preserving democracy – other issues go by the wayside for now. We all know that our differences about those issues will not be hashed out if we do not have save the republic from extremism.

I chose The Union because I believe that this is the way forward – working with others who may not share my politics, but reject extremism. I am working with wonderful, dedicated people who are willing to give their time to elect candidates who want to preserve the rule of law and who will stand up for democracy. There are many that likely disagree with one another’s views on the underlying issues, but it doesn’t matter. We move forward in a different way.

I belong to the Union because I learned in the 4th grade that your vote matters – even in a mock election. I believe in democracy, and I reach out my hand to everyone there without regard to any label. I feel hopeful whenever a Zoom meeting opens and I see everyone who cares enough to show up for this fight. I hope you will join us or join another group with a supportive mission.

The Union motto is “It Will Take All Of Us” - it definitely will.

Post submitted by Theressa Harrigan, a volunteer with The Union

Note: The views and opinions expressed by volunteer contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Union, a single-issue organization that welcomes all and is dedicated to protecting democracy.

If you’d like to help defend democracy in the US, we invite you to join The Union.