East Aurora Advertiser

Letter to the Editor: Happy to See a More Diverse Congress


Dear Editor,

What a wonderful sight it was Jan. 3 to see pictures of the 116th Congress and observe that the majority Democratic portion of it looked almost like America really looks for a change. As a result of the election last November the Democrats added more people of color than any other Congress has ever had as well as more Latinos, Muslim, first and second generation immigrants, younger people and many, many more women. In fact, the new Congress boasts more female members than ever before at 24 percent. That’s certainly good, but since the female population in the U.S. is over 50 percent, we still have a ways to go before Congress actually looks like our nation today, but we’re getting there.

Under the leadership of the incredible new Speaker of the House, the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, great things are in the offing. Speaker Pelosi is one tough, intelligent, clever politician and seeing her surrounded by the children in the audience during the opening ceremony was heartening. By including them in this prestigious rite the Speaker displayed a not-so-subtle reminder to the incoming membership that what these kids represent – the future – should be the aim and extent of their efforts. The president’s sad attempt to steal Pelosi’s thunder on the first day of the new Congress by holding a “press briefing” where he spouted nonsense for 20 minutes was pathetic at best.

Over thirty years ago the Arcade Herald asked two politicians in Holland – a Democrat and a Republican – to write brief articles on why they belonged to their respective political parties. The Democratic writer was my late uncle, World War II veteran and businessman Bill Geer, who was chair of the Holland Democratic Committee for many years and was also chair of the Erie County Democratic Town Chairs for a spell. I just want to quote a bit from his article, because I think it’s particularly revealing as to why the majority of those Americans who belong to a political party are Democrats.

“The Democratic Party, with its impressive record of leadership in programs that foster the concept of good for the greatest number of people, is a diverse party, a people-oriented party under whose umbrella Americans from every walk of life find a system of political ideals that exemplify the best this great country has to offer.”

How proud my uncle would be to see this new House of Representatives!

After the spirited election of 2018, the results of which produced a clear repudiation of the chaotic and incompetent federal administration of the past two years, it was fitting that Americans chose Barack and Michelle Obama as the 2018 most admired man and woman in the country. Our nation is back on the right track again!

Judith Geer

Holland

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