Have you ever felt you couldn’t voice your conservative values? Have you ever hidden your pollical views for fear of how it might affect your business, your colleague friendships, your neighborhood cordiality?
We live in Asheville. If you are a Conservative or a Republican, you live in a very left leaning environment. But you are NOT a victim. Refuse to think of your situation as a victim.
As a fellow Republican or conservative-minded individual, I see what you see. County Commissioners are all Democrats. City Council and Mayor are all Democrats. The DA and sheriff are all Democrats. The school boards are all left leaning. And the Press - more often than not - favors the Left’s point of view. As lop-sided as it is, we are not victims. We have free agency to cope, respond, innovate, and even bridge differences to survive and even thrive. How so?
Consider lifelong Democrat Tricia Cotham who made the brave and conscious decision to switch to the Republican Party. That wasn’t easy. She stood strong in the face of criticism and her story inspires many.
You may make unpopular decisions daily - about your children’s bedtime, about your employee’s attire, about choosing to study instead of going out with friends. We take responsibility for these decisions. We are not victims, but rather see the benefits of acting in a way that enhances our well-being, our customer service, or our personal development.
Since the time of Galileo, standing up for what you believe in and for what you know is right hasn’t been popular or easy. Our party’s founding father, Abraham Lincoln, boldly stood by his beliefs that the United States must remain a united country and that slavery must end. At times he was unpopular with Southerners - and also unpopular with the Northerners, including Frederick Douglass for being too lenient on the slave issue. It is easier to conform and fit in.
But change happens (like Galileo and Lincoln proved) when we stand for our principles. And if they are sound, just, and fair – based on the Biblical principles upon which our forefather’s built our Constitution - those principles stand the test of time. They are worth standing up for, no matter the size of the opposition (think British Army) or the criticism they espouse (think today’s trends in journalism).
As Zig Ziglar says: “Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.”
So, if you are conservative minded or a Republican, resist feeling unheard or irrelevant. Although we will not join the trends of criticism and polarization, we can set a local tone of respect and of finding common ground. The BCGOP has taken the opportunity to get in the arena even after losing a commissioner seat last year.
For example, of the 15 counties that make up our district or in Western Carolina, did you know that 9 of those counties completely replaced their previous Republican Boards during the county conventions held in March of this year? Buncombe County was one of them. The wave of change indicates vibrant, active, new players who are eager to carry forward actions in ways untried before. More examples:
9 counties have formed a coalition to share information, resources, and events to be more efficient and impactful. We are one of those coalition members.
4 counties are co-sponsoring a first-ever Hispanic Outreach event in August. We are one of those sponsors. (Click here www.buncombegop.com/hispanic-republicans-event).
2 counties are co-hosting a Lt. Governor candidate fire-side chat in February 2024. We are one of the hosts.
Several counties have updated and revamped their websites. We are one of those counties. (Click here www.buncombegop.com).
And, your BCGOP will have a presence at local fairs, festivals, and farmer’s markets. Look for our tent and banners - manned with a trained staff of friendly volunteers! If you are motivated to be one of our tent volunteers, please sign up on our website! (Click here www.buncombegop.com/volunteer).
These are opportunities we can take part in. We are not victims. We are masters of our own destinies as it has been said. Let’s take the reins. Each of us can be action oriented, working together, bringing positive change. We are needed to lead respectfully with actions and enthusiasm that embrace our community and serve our neighbors as we would want to be served.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” -- Edmund Burke
