The 2024 Democratic convention began with a flourish of celebration, continued with elation and concluded with jubilation. Its message was about the nature of freedom cast in bold type and expressed there by fresh Democratic voices: New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Florida’s Maxwell Frost, Michigan’s Mallory McMorrow, and Jasmine Crockett of Texas.
Present-day Democrats who spoke included the Obamas, the Clintons and Nancy Pelosi ,as well as older democratic lions like Leon Panetta. Rising notables such as Illinois Governor J.B Pritzker addressed the crowd, and veteran activist Jesse Jackson was honored for his many years of service for the cause. The evening also included the surprise of a Republican, Adam Kinzinger, who addressed the shame of those in his party who continue to deny both the peaceful transition of power and the challenge of pursuing gun safety issues.
David Hogg, survivor of a Florida mass shooting, reminded us that, “Hope is not an illusion,” and called upon those gathered to remember to ‘pay attention’ to:
“…what Republicans do, not just what they say.”
Michele Obama pointedly called on Democrats to “Do something”, and to be involved, while Barack urged the audience to remember the accomplishments of Joe Biden, noting what a challenge it is to dare to speak right after Michelle’s stirring speech. He went on to remind the audience of the administration’s delivery of 15 million jobs, higher wages, lower healthcare costs, and of the way the other party had turned into a cult of personality. He referred to President Joe Biden as a steady leader who brought people together, and was selfless enough to do the rarest thing there is in politics, “…putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country. “
The agile camera took us seamlessly from the stage into the sea of American faces; every age, gender and ethnicity had gathered there as a powerful image of what America stands for. The event also brought us a tender moment when the nieces of Kamala Harris taught us how to properly pronounce her name.
A stark reminder of how deeply the arch of history bends occurred when Yousef Salaam, one of the “Central Park Five, spoke. ” He had recently won a Democratic primary for a seat on the New York City Council. Reverend Al
Sharpton was there to speak and brought with him Salaam and most of the others of that group of wrongfully convicted and incarcerated teenagers.
Other highlights included the memories of a Flint Michigan police officer telling how he and his fellow officers joined protestors. Also, the appearance of assassination survivor Gaby Gifford and her candidate husband Mark Kelly. Oprah called upon the audience to remember, “the future is worth fighting for.”
Other speakers at the convention called on those assembled to remember the lives lost in the tragedy of Gaza, as well as the undoing of America as outlined in Project 2025. These included Sheldon Whitehouse, Jamie Raskin, James Clyburn and Gretchen Whitmer.
The convention concluded with a rousing call from Candidate Kamala Harris for all of us to remember:
“….the voices of our country’s founders, of the wisdom of her own immigrant mother, of her love of family and of our country, to which she referred as “our beloved community”.
She proclaimed that, “We are called upon to be inspired by a new generation of leadership, pushing us to realize the ideals of our nation, pushing us to live the values we share, of decency and fairness, justice and love.”
She further called upon her countrymen to, “…be patriots” reminding them that , “Loving our country means fighting for the ideals of our country, that being patriots who love our country means to fight for the ideals of our country. In concluding, she reminded us all of the awesome responsibility and of the awesome privilege we have “… before us to choose what our country may be when the results of this election are before us”.
May it be so.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Elaine Madsen
- Image courtesy
- the Democratic National Convention
