It Starts with You!

Dear Friends,

Last week, I heard an interview on CNN, asking "Is the country ready to elect a black man or a white woman?"

The time is now to ask more probing questions regarding leadership. Let us ask the question, "Are we ready to support conscious leaders, speak the truth, strive for the highest principles and stand for the collective good?" That question goes to the heart of the matter; the other, a distraction intended to separate us by the use of labels and continue the politics of fear.

Last week marked the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a true hero with a dream for our future, I listened to Juan Williams, author, national commentator on NPR and FOX news. We were gathered at ASU's Downtown campus for the Civil Rights Forum. Juan questioned how we would explain to Dr King the progress of civil rights, working people, the poor, our children - today. I wonder - have we allowed fear to dim our dreams?

I participated in a radio interview that discussed the environment of fear we live in. People questioned why our elected officials and community leaders are not being more outspoken about the unconstitutional actions of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. My response, taken from a Hopi prayer that I have repeated for many years, was, "We are the leaders we have been waiting for." It is up to us.

On Thursday night the elected leaders in Guadalupe, Arizona took a courageous stand. They spoke out and had their voices heard - in their community and in the mainstream media. The change is taking place - keep looking for these miracles - these changes in perspective.

The answer is simple and clear - it takes work to be part of the solution. It takes a willingness to break the code of silence and stand and speak the truth. It takes a willingness to focus our energy around creating the opportunities for people to become empowered, to find their voices - to find others they can stand with - delivering the message that YOU/WE are not alone.

Immigration is not a Hispanic issue, it is a humanities issue. It is time for all people of reason to call for an end to racial profiling and the politics of fear and intimidation by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office under the leadership of Sheriff Arpaio. He says he doesn't have to answer to anyone. But he is accountable - to you, to me, to the taxpayers, to the voters. It is up to us to hold all of our elected representatives accountable.

The economy, renewable energy, education, health care, and immigration are all related - we have not progressed forward because our voices have been silenced by the "dis - ease" produced by a political culture of fear. We feel as though our voices don't matter, or won't be heard. Yet, one by one when we speak out, each voice builds an unstoppable energy that will drive the change and produce policies and solutions for the collective good.

Biology teaches us that everything evolves - our political system will evolve. It is not a matter of if, it is when and how. So at what point will you stand for the truth and join us?

It starts with you.

I choose to serve,
annie loyd independent candidate US Congress District 3 Arizona