Season’s Greetings

            I hope this holiday season that you’re finding comfort and joy in the company of loved ones. It’s a time for family, and I hope yours is close-knit. Families are complicated though, and not everyone finds that feeling of support and togetherness there. In these days of political polarization, we all hear stories of families torn apart by political differences.

            For some, this makes the holiday season a tough time. Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General during the Biden administration, called attention to an “epidemic of loneliness” in our society. I can relate. By the time I moved to Moorhead almost forty years ago, my family was scattered all over the country. Over time, though, I became connected to my neighborhood and to the larger community.

            One thing that helped was attending my first precinct caucus. In a group of like-minded Democrats, I began to find my people. I don’t want to hold up political involvement as a substitute for family; that would be promising too much. But getting even a little active at a time of grave political danger can be good for both the country and your own mental health.

            I’ve seen it everywhere this past year. The local Indivisible chapter has organized the huge No Kings rallies and the weekly Fired Up Fridays that have brought people together to stand in opposition to authoritarianism. There’s new energy too in Detroit Lakes and Becker County, and what a great turn-out we had from Senate District 9 for our joint event with them last month! Next month I’m planning to meet with a group of Like-Minded Women of Hawley to talk about how they can get involved.

            So once the holiday season is over, we’re going to transition very quickly into election season. Your precinct caucus will happen on the evening of February 3. It’s the beginning of the process that will hopefully yield strong candidates and a winning platform ahead of the elections in November. We have a lot of work to do, but you can start small by showing up for caucus night. For more information, you can visit our website at https://www.claycountydfl.org/caucus.

            The ultimate goal is winning elections, but as part of that we are trying to build a progressive community. To that end, we started Here to Help, a group of volunteers who are looking for good works to do in the community. It offers both a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging to those who get involved, and you’re invited. We’ve also met a couple of times for Coffee & Conversation, and next month we’re going to hold an evening get-together.

            We aren’t looking for martyrs. Political engagement is about being a positive force for good, and it should be a positive experience. That means finding your own comfort level and taking part. You will be welcomed.

Paul Harris