BRODY FOR COLORADO HOUSE DISTRICT 39

“Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”

– Martin Luther King Jr., April 3, 1968

In his final speech, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exhorted his audience in a Memphis church to participate in a forthcoming march in support of striking sanitation workers. He understood the wariness that listeners might feel, considering that at a march two months earlier for this same cause police attacked peaceful demonstrators with clubs and tear gas. All the same he appealed to them, “Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness.”

I take the opportunity this eve of the Martin Luther King Day Holiday to say a bit more about that speech and how it relates to the following announcement: I am running to represent House District 39 in the Colorado General Assembly.  

In elaborating on his call for “dangerous unselfishness,” Dr. King recounted the parable of the Good Samaritan. Two travelers, perhaps scared of lurking danger, each looked away from a man apparently left for dead by the side of a road and pressed on with his journey. The Good Samaritan, who encountered the fallen man later, set aside potential risk to himself and saved the man’s life.

One can readily see parallels in our current times. I admire those who, in Minneapolis and elsewhere, are exemplifying the kind of “dangerous unselfishness” of which Dr. King spoke. I also recognize that many others have a different understanding of what is happening. I do not assume anything bad about them simply because they hold a contrary view. My goal, especially in controversial matters, is to better understand the other person’s position and to help the other person to better understand mine. One, the other, or both of us may change our view, if only a little.

This attitude and approach of mine is consistent with my role as a local leader of Braver Angels, which is a national organization that emerged in the aftermath of the 2016 election with the purpose of healing the partisan rift that was already proving so harmful to our country. Last September, a post on the Braver Angels website that spoke to the sense of powerlessness many felt in the aftermath of the assassinations of Charlie Kirk and Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman very appropriately referenced Dr. King (emphasis added):

Sometimes we fight against this feeling through anger, outrage, and a fear which can lead to retaliation. These are emotions that can feel empowering, and indeed there is a place for righteous anger in political life. But real power is found in the bonds of community rooted in goodwill. As Martin Luther King Jr. taught, ‘power without love is reckless and abusive.’ At Braver Angels, we are cultivating a power that comes from courageous connection, and empowered citizenship to ensure today’s tragedy does not become tomorrow’s normal. Whatever your politics, you are not powerless. Whatever side of the aisle you are on, you will find power in this community. And in community we have the power to heal our nation for all of us.

Each of us can make such courageous connection. Although the requisite unselfishness in this is not quite so dangerous as that which Dr. King displayed and encouraged, such conduct is very much in his spirit and does call upon a bit of bravery. 

The incumbent representative of House District 39 has demonstrated an uneven connection with these values – and she is not alone! The tendency to see in people with different outlooks and affiliations not just rivals but enemies can be found in every corner of our society, in every family, and in every community.

The communities of House District 39 in Douglas County face real challenges when it comes to water scarcity, wildfire risk, and housing affordability. As a member of the General Assembly, I will work with all parties, public and private, to achieve solutions. I likewise will strive together with all, as Dr. King enjoined in that fateful speech, to “stand with a greater determination” to help “make America what it ought to be [and take the] opportunity to make America a better nation.”

Please join me not only in this campaign but also in the larger mission that inspires it. To learn more and to help, please follow the links below:

Learn More: 

• https://brodyforcoloradohd39.com/

• https://www.facebook.com/BrodyForColoradoHD39 

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