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Laird Fetzer Hamblin _ LairdSenate.Us _ Convention Speech
When my grandfather was dying of cancer, he asked to be taken to vote one last time in a presidential election of our United States.
He knew that his vote would not make a difference in his life.
But he knew his vote would make a difference!
Years ago, my mother and I sat together as poll workers, assisting everyone who came to vote.
Most of the people probably did not vote how I would vote.
But if they voted Carefully, I am glad they voted!
With 329.5 million of us in our United States, (I don’t know who the half is?), we could never agree on anything.
That is why we have a representative democracy.
All any of us want is to awaken each morning knowing that we can apply our God-given gifts in our families, in our neighborhoods and in our chosen occupations;
to know that our children can happily learn and play each day;
to have access to the fruits, grains other things God designed for our bodies to thrive;
to have pure water and clean air;
to know that we and our families can safely sleep each night.
God sends us each to Earth with specific assignments and God gives us each unique gifts to accomplish our assignments.
As with all gifts, we are free to apply them or not; to use them as we will or won’t!
As we apply each gift, we either pull down or uplift!
Many are applying their gifts to hurt us or have us hurt each other.
Hate sells well!
But only if we are willing to buy their lie!
Many are becoming wealthy by telling us each morning who to hate today!
We need to turn off our devices for a moment;
and turn off our divisiveness forever!
We need to turn around and find our families;
hold them and enfold them;
walk with them and talk with them;
meet with them and eat with them;
laugh and cry with them;
live and die with them!
We need to go outside and meet our neighbors.
Those people shouting on the radio and television, on the internet from their golden towers and basement dungeons, claiming to know our neighbor, Do Not Know Our Neighbor.
When they tell us to hate our neighbor, we must refuse to let their lies tell us who to despise!
If we don’t know our neighbor, today is a good day to meet our neighbor!
to sing with them the songs they sing;
to dance with them in joy each spring;
to hold their worn hands in ours;
to mend their torn hearts with ours;
to understand their latent fears;
to catch their falling tears;
Today is the day to apply God’s gift to uplift.
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This train of life is on a one way track.
There’s no way to take it back!
There are things I’ve done there are things I’ve not!
Today is the only day I’ve got!
It’s the day to laugh!
It’s the day to sing!
I’ll make the most of what this day may bring!
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Your Neighbor–Your Senator
Laird
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Laird Fetzer Hamblin _ LairdSenate.Us _ Convention Speech _ spaced to read as poetry
When my grandfather – was dying of cancer, –
he asked to be taken – to vote one last time – in a presidential election – of our United States.
He knew – his vote would not – make a difference – in his life.
But he knew – his vote would – make a difference!
Years ago, – my mother and I – sat together – as poll workers, – assisting everyone – who came to vote.
Most of the people – probably did not vote – how I would vote.
But – if they voted Carefully!, – I am glad they voted!
With 329.5 million of us – in our United States, – (I don’t know who the “.5” half person is?), –
we could never agree – on anything.
That is why – we have – a representative democracy.
All any of us want – is to awaken – each morning – knowing that we – can apply – our God-given gifts –
in our families, – in our neighborhoods – in our chosen occupations;
to know – that our children – can happily learn – and play each day;
that we – have access to – the fruits, grains – and other things – God designed – for our bodies – to thrive;
to have pure water – and clean air;
to know that we – and our families – can safely sleep – each night.
God sends – us each to Earth – with specific assignments –
God gives – us each gifts – to accomplish our assignments.
As with all gifts, – we are free – to apply them – or not!; – to use them as we will – or won’t!
As we – apply each gift, – we either pull down – or uplift!
Many – are applying their gifts – to hurt us – or have us hurt – each other.
Hate – sells well!
But only if – we are willing – to buy – their lie!
Many – are becoming wealthy – by telling us – each morning – who to hate – today!
We need to – turn off our devices – for a moment;
and turn off – our divisiveness – forever!
We need to – turn around – and find our families;
hold – and enfold – them;
talk – and walk – with them;
eat – and meet – with them;
laugh – and cry – with them; –
live – and die! – with them!
We need to – go outside – and meet our neighbors.
Those people shouting – on the radio – television, – and internet –
from their golden towers – and basement dungeons,
claiming! – to know our neighbor, – Do Not! – Know Our Neighbor.!
When they tell us – to hate our neighbor, –
we must refuse – to let their lies – tell us who – to despise!
If we don’t – know our neighbor, – today – is a good day – to meet our neighbor!
to sing! – with them – the songs – they sing;
to dance! – with them – in joy – each spring;
to hold – their worn! – hands – in ours;
to mend – their torn! – hearts – with ours;
to understand – their latent! – fears;
to catch! – their falling – tears;
Today! – is the day – to apply God’s gift – to uplift!
— —
This train of life – is on a one way track.
There’s no way – to take it back!
There are things I’ve done – there are things I’ve not!
Today – is the only day – I’ve got!
It’s the day – to laugh!
It’s the day – to sing!
I’ll make the most – of what this day – may bring!
— —
Your Neighbor – Your Senator – Laird