Read Reno Domenico’s blogs about the Democratic and Republican national conventions here
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Our delegation from Democrats Abroad is starting to scatter to the four corners of the globe. Since we are the only truly global delegation among the 57 state delegations to the Democratic National Convention, we do in fact represent a unique perspective on the events that took place during this historic convention in Philadelphia.
Trying to summarize everything that has transpired both inside and outside the convention during these last two weeks isn’t easy. For both Democrats and Republicans it has been a historic, tumultuous, and unusual American political season.
First, to be fair to the readers of the Kyiv Post, nearly all of whom have a deep interest in what happens in and to Ukraine, this had to be a jarring couple of weeks.
In what started out as a international story of intrigue with the Russian Security Services ostensibly penetrating the email servers and the database of the Democratic National Committee, turned into a political debacle for the erstwhile new American Caesar, Donald Trump.
Trump’s initial mistake, encouraging the Russian security services to go even deeper into Hillary Clinton’s emails and the Democratic National Committee servers. turned into a foreign policy fiasco when on Sunday on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Trump seem to forget that there was direct Russian participation in the annexation of Crimea, and indicated that Russian involvement within Ukraine was either benign or minimal.
This follows on several comments by Trump that reinforced his belief that NATO is obsolete, and that before he would honor American defense commitments, he would check to see if the member states effected had paid their dues.
Incredible. But, I digress.
One of the final and most powerful speakers at the convention was the father of Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in action in Iraq and buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Khizr Khan, and his wife Ghazala, rebuked Trump for his anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant stance, even in the face of the fact that their son was an American hero, who was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously.
Trump attacked Mr. Khan and his wife as being stooges of the Clinton campaign, and having had their comments written for them.
It’s amazing to believe that one man could manage to embroil himself in so many international and personal controversies in such a short time. But, Trump was able to do that. (I have written previously that based on my 40 plus years as a professional educator, I believe that Donald Trump is clinically emotionally disturbed)
In the space of a week and a half, Trump has managed to marginalize Ukraine, immigrants serving in the US military, Gold Star mothers and fathers, and of course, our NATO allies. (Did I forget to mention four-star General John Allen, who Trump has indicated he knows more than when it comes to fighting ISIS?)
I am not your classic Russian detractor. Politics aside, I have had many good clients and many good friends in Russia. In reality, Russian people are very similar to Ukrainian people in culture, language, religion and temperament.
However in this election, the prospects of a Trump presidency should be very alarming to Ukrainians, and to Ukrainian-Americans.
Should Trump win somehow, Ukraine is under the bus.
As I and others of our international delegation now depart the Delaware Valley, we all are leaving with great satisfaction that we were able to be a part of history. We were there and voted when the first woman candidate of any major political party in the United States was nominated to run for president. It’s a big deal.
However, I think we all feel very strongly that this election isn’t just about shattering the glass ceiling, and making history by opening the door for women to all levels of leadership in America.
I think I can speak for everyone in our delegation when I say that we feel that this election is a watershed for the United States of America. Either we will continue on our march toward “a more perfect union,” or we may step back to a period when America was not so great. A dark time when America was segregated, immigrants were feared, change was the enemy, and we didn’t trust ourselves.
The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia had an overwhelming theme and arc of optimism, with a positive forward looking vision of the future. A new era of American patriotism and exceptionalism that does not need to be talked about, but rather needs to be demonstrated.
Talking about making America great doesn’t accomplish a thing. It takes action. Not just by our leaders, but also by each individual citizen to make America be what it can be. America’s great when it looks to the future; when it’s confident, when it’s right, and doing the right thing.
As I told our Democrats Abroad Convention in Berlin when I was running for delegate, Hillary Clinton is a fighter. That’s what I want in the White House. I want someone who will fight. Hillary will fight for me, Hillary will fight for you, and Hillary will fight for the American people.
Barack Obama knows that, Michelle Obama knows that, Bernie Sanders knows that, Joe Biden knows that. And, you should know that.
So, let’s roll up our sleeves and let’s fight. Let’s fight to keep America the greatest country on Earth. The country that we can be proud of. The country that looks to its future. The country that the whole world wants to follow because we are the ultimate example of democracy at work, and a people free to pursue our Liberty.
Making America great is not a slogan. It is the result of the hard work and dedication of all our citizens gathered from the four corners of the globe – like our Democrats Abroad DNC delegation.
Like the sacrifice of Captain Humayun Khan.
Like the deep forever pain of Captain Khan’s parents.
“E Pluribus Unum” – “Out of Many, One.”
