In the Shadows of Giants

With the passing of Civil Rights Icons, John Lewis and C.T. Vivian, it is an appropriate time to reflect on a major aspect of their legacy, expanding the vote.Despite the physical beatings, despite verbal abuse and despite jailings these extraordinary leaders distinguished themselves by their hope, their optimism that our country, our citizens and our government was capable of positive change in the expansion of the vote. They believed in the best when they had every reason to despair. They are an example that is worthy of emulation by all who call themselves leaders.
Given the stature of John Lewis or C.T. Vivian it would be a giant task for our local leaders to fill those shoes. It is not unreasonable though to expect that they would try. But in the case of State Representative Fishbein, instead of expanding the vote, he was a cosponsor of an amendment that would limit the expansion of absentee ballots for the November election. Instead of belief in people, he and his colleagues dream small and act pessimistic.
In Wallingford we have Mayor Dickinson, who given an opportunity to expand his constituents' voting options has chosen a much darker vision. His belief is that his citizens would choose vandalism, choose fraud rather than enfranchisement. He is joined in this negative vision by State Senator Fasano whose emphasis is to have citizens fear each other.
The contrast is wide, the vision of who we are is stark. Are we the people that John Lewis believed in or are we doomed to fear our neighbor as Dickinson, Fasano and Fishbein would have us do? As far as I am concerned I will take my chances crossing the Edmund Pettis bridge with John Lewis believing that things will be better on the other side. Whose vision will you embrace?