Late Thursday night, July 28, Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the Democratic National Convention.
Her daughter Chelsea gave a beautiful introductory speech. She not only spoke to Hillary’s love for her own family, but her commitment to everyone’s families. How she made promises to help improve the lives of children at home and around the world, to give them the health care and educational opportunities they deserved.
This testimony was touching to hear from her daughter, but also inspiring. To listen to Chelsea talk about how her mother had so much passion to work for everyone that needed her was inspiring. It made me realize that it is time for not only our first female president, but a president who is ready to take on the care of every generation in the United States. She stands for families, for kids, for women, for the LGBT community, for 9/11 first responders, for every race and sexual orientation and occupation.
As she says often, women’s rights are human rights. And LGBT rights are human rights.
“She’s got this wonderful infectious laugh, that carries quite far,” President Barack Obama comments in her introductory video. Various commentators remark on her big heart and her love for others. “Her commitment to making people’s lives better… that comes through in everything she does.”
“She carries the hope and rage of the entire nation,” video narrator Morgan Freeman says of the picture of Hillary Clinton in the situation room during the search for terrorist Bin Laden. Her drive and passion are not selfish feelings. They are pulled from the collective feelings of the nation. She is the voice of her people, and would be an incredible commander-in-chief for the United States to have.
“I am going to stand up and fight for every American,” presidential hopeful Hillary says strongly in her video. It is the passion in her voice that urges me to believe in the words she speaks.
As the video ends, Hillary walks out to her podium (looking gorgeous as ever in her white pantsuit) to the tune of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song.”
She attempts to begin her speech with thank yous when the crowd erupts with a loud chant of her name over and over, filling the convention with joy and excitement before Hillary can even really get her speech going.
Hillary addresses the audience by thanking Bernie Sanders for running. She praises his campaign for bringing forth awareness to social issues across the country. To his supporters and those who campaigned for him, she thanks them for bringing such a tremendous turnout to all the primaries.
“When representatives from 13 unruly colonies met just down the road from here, some wanted to stick with the king and some wanted to stick it to the king,” she comments on the beginning of our nation. “Compromising, finding common purpose. By the time they left Philadelphia, they began to see themselves as one nation… Our founders embraced the enduring truth that we are stronger together.”
“Bonds of trust and respect are fraying. And just as with our founders, there are no guarantees. It truly is up to us, we have to decide whether we will all work together so that we can all rise together,” Hillary rallies the crowd.
After commenting on Donald Trump’s hateful campaign and desire to break apart the nation with fear, she says, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” A well-known quote from former Democratic president Franklin D. Roosevelt.
“We know there is a lot to do.” She says of the social and economic issues facing the nation. “There’s too much inequality, too little social mobility, too much paralysis in Washington. Too many threats at home and abroad… [But] we have the most dynamic and diverse people in the world. We have the most tolerant and generous young people we’ve ever had.”
“Don’t let anyone tell you our country is weak. We’re not. Don’t let anyone tell you we don’t have what it takes. We do. Also don’t believe anyone who says “I alone can fix it." Hillary says, discussing how Trump’s comments in Cleveland spoke to how he alone could fix our nation. “He’s forgetting every last one of us. Americans don’t say I alone can fix it. We say we’ll fix it together.”
“And remember, remember, our founders fought a revolution and wrote a constitution so America would never be a nation where one person had all the power. Two hundred and forty years later, we still put our faith in each other.” She says before discussing the murders of five police officers in Dallas. After asking for help in the community, the police chief in Dallas got 500 new applicants for the police department in just 12 days, exemplifying the strength of the community when they come together to protect one another.
“It is with humility, determination, and boundless confidence in America’s promise that I accept your nomination for president of the United States!” She finishes, leaving the crowd to erupt in cheers. It is a defining moment of her speech where you can feel the energy in the room, even through the screen of your TV or laptop.
This election year, I choose to stand with her. Because she is a fighter. For her family and families around the United States. She stands with first responders and their need for health care after their rapid response on 9/11. She stands with each and every community that needs not only her help, but its country's help. She wishes to build better lives and better futures.
Come Nov. 8, I will vote for Hillary Clinton. I will vote for a future where we are stronger together. I hope you will consider doing so, too.
