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

Celebrating Our Future

Saturday evening we gathered to Celebrate our Future. We heard from community leaders why they are inspired by the opportunities before us. The road we will travel is up to us. The challenges we will face on this journey will be determined by how quickly we move from believing our voices don't matter and nothing will change to realizing we are interconnected and interdependent and by working together, one by one, we will build a sustainable and unstoppable movement that creates the change we desire to see that benefits the collective good throughout society.

The power driving the current policies or lack thereof regarding immigration, education, renewable energy, the environment and our economy - is fear. The politics of fear is and has been driving the traditionalist and political machines of our broken two party system for too long.

I intend to inspire you to speak out and have your voice heard, and to stand with us.
What can we do today for a better tomorrow? How can we inspire our friends and family?

I view our current climate as ripe ground, ready for the planting of seeds of innovation, ingenuity. It is perfect for political entrepreneurs. I want us to reach for our highest principles. I encourage you all to consider what talents you have that you can share with your community, and in turn, others to do the same through witnessing your actions.

I ask for your support in this campaign for humanity - This campaign to bring about the necessary inspiration required to bring hundreds of people out of their depression and awaken to the reality that their voice matter. All our voices make a difference. We are pieces of thread all woven together to create a beautiful tapestry.

I choose creativity, collaboration and cooperation.

I choose to stand in the truth.

I choose to inspire those around me.

I choose to identify the gifts that I have and seek to discover how best to contribute to my community to my country.

What will you choose?

Thinking beyond our immediate needs and considering the seven generations that will come after us keeps all we do today in perspective. Its not about me, it's about what's best for all of to reach our highest principles.

grateful for the opportunity to serve,
annie loyd, independent candidate US Congress District 3 Arizona