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Elections cannot stop unity
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Also by Claire Rydell:
- Decline in youth turnout an American embarassment (September 26, 2008)
- Climate change implications too dire to ignore (September 12, 2008)
- Editorial Editors' claims insulting (September 10, 2008)
- Elections cannot stop unity (April 17, 2008)
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Last Thursday marked the beginning of a new period of leadership for the College Democrats of the University of Wisconsin when the membership elected an executive board for the 2008-09 school year. As a group representing many Democratic voices on this overwhelmingly liberal campus, it is tempting for the College Democrats to sit back complacently and watch the presidential election unfold. While this mindset of “what will be, will be” might be easier for a group like ours, the other route, though more difficult, is a far better one.
The new leadership of the College Democrats, therefore, has set out to accomplish what the national party as whole is struggling to achieve: a willingness and desire to cooperate and negotiate — liberal with liberal, Democrat with Democrat.
Going into the early summer months without a nominee behind whom to unite places the Democrats in an unusual situation — a situation that could in fact give our party — starting on this campus — a much-needed opportunity to begin focusing on the issues themselves rather than on the candidates. Perhaps a focus on the issues and challenges facing the nation, the state and the university will bring our party one step closer to unity.
If all liberal-leaning students at UW were to pause and reflect on the set of ideals, values, visions and goals that cause them to identify with other liberals or Democrats, they would realize our similarities in opinion greatly outweigh our differences. This sense of unity does not imply agreement across the board on issues, and it is imperative that we feel comfortable disagreeing and debating with one another. A more unified group of Democrats does, however, imply a willingness to cooperate to defeat the Republicans in the fall. Cooperation and compromise are the most powerful tools at our disposal for the great challenge ahead — a challenge solidified by recent national polls that show Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in a near dead heat against both Democratic candidates, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Clearly, if divided, the Democrats have little chance of defeating Mr. McCain next November. Therefore, we must start unifying today. Not next October, not after a new president is elected, but right now.
As the new chair of the College Democrats, I sincerely hope the students on the UW campus will set an example for the rest of the Democratic Party and the nation. There is no reason for Democrats, or those who share similar liberal values, to attack one another simply for the sake of making the headlines or inciting a scandal.
Yes, we will never agree 100 percent of the time, and I would never pretend to believe I share the exact opinions of every other liberal at UW. Slight differences in opinion, however, are no reason for complete disillusion, alienation or hostility among Democrats. Our nation has come to a crossroads. We, as College Democrats, must ask ourselves how we will ensure a Democratic victory in November. Will we be complacent? Or, will we set aside past disagreements and animosities by extending a hand to all Democrats, liberals, independents and Republicans across campus and the surrounding community to create a more diverse, stronger organization? The College Democrats wants to show the university, the Democratic Party and our nation how powerful a unified group of students can be in electing a Democrat to the White House.
I invite you to join the College Democrats at our final meeting of the year, tonight at 7:30 pm in 1221 Humanities for a discussion with representatives from the Chancellor’s Office about the relationship of our university, our state and the political arena as a whole.
Claire Rydell (Claire.Rydell@wiscollegedems.org) is chair of the College Democrats of Madison.
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Bring Suchita back!
This is a terrible editorial: what the hell are you talking about? Learn to write better. Jesus.
I feel sorry for the College Democrats and their upcoming year of this complete lack of intelligent leadership.
Then correct the College Democrats of Wisconsin election that was rigged.