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Waiting to be Wooed - Part Deux
A couple months ago, I talked a bit about how I wish cadidates (especially presidential candidates) who talk about progressive ideas would sound at least a little passionate about it. I talked about how tired I am of choosing the lesser of two evils.
I don't know that I feel any differently about any of the current candidates, but the second convening of the 2007 Front Line Leaders Academy definately gave me hope for passionate candidates in the near future.
The FLLA convening this weekend really drove home for me that we (young people) aren't the future of the progressive movement; we're the present. The people I had the privilage of spending my weekend with are the candidates I've been waiting to find: passionate, articulate, smart, and ready to lead.
While FLLA can't make current presidential and other candidates better, I think knowing that there are viable, progressive, passionate candidates out there makes me feel a little less frustrated about the current state of things, because I know that settling on a candidate I don't really love is only for now.
- Angie Buhl's blog
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Sounds great! What struck you?
Can you give an example or two of what the leaders at the FLLA were passionate about, or what you found inspiring?
Of course! :)
At our convening in Atlanta in June, I was greatly inspired by people like Nekpen Osuan, who is incredibly passionate about her social justice work in her community (she attends school in Waco, TX). My fellow fellows Jenna Lowenstein and Daniel Balke care very much about education policy, and both have worked directly within school sytems in different communities, and spoke about their firsthand experiences there. Other fellows like Julianna Bradley, Dustin Cox, Edwin Zambrano, Morgan Lucas and Simeon Talley have spoken very passionately about wanting to engage more people in our democratic process, and they've all done that in some capacity in their respective communities.
This past weekend in DC, I realized not only how passionate each of these people are, but how smart they are as well. This weekened was all about how to be an effective campaign manager, and I became convinced that these people not only have the passion and drive to run for elected office, they know how to win.
Very cool.
Thanks!