Transpartisan Note #60
by A. Lawrence Chickering and James S. Turner
With 79 member groups from across the political spectrum and scattered around the political Matrix, the Bridge Alliance speaks with one of the strongest Transpartisan voices in contemporary American politics. The Transpartisan Review is pleased to support and join the Bridge Alliance in the following statement:
August 17, 2017
The Bridge Alliance’s 79 organizations work on multiple fronts to revitalize our democracy and bridge partisan divides. As members of this coalition and as Americans we stand together and reaffirm basic human values of love, respect, and inclusion. Our mission statement compels us to put country before self-interest and political party. We ask our friends, neighbors, colleagues, elected officials, and other leaders of varied political beliefs and backgrounds to do the same.
Today, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are united in condemning the elevation of overtly racist, bigoted and anti-Semitic individuals and groups; there is NOT equal responsibility ”on both sides”. Neo-Nazis, the KKK, and White Supremacists have no legitimate place in our society. There can be no hope for common or even higher ground when leaders support intolerance, bigotry or hatred.
Two Republican leaders have succinctly expressed our outrage. Paul Ryan, (R-WI) Speaker of the House, stated, “We must be clear. White Supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for. There can be no moral ambiguity.” Senator Marco Rubio, (R-FL) said, “Mr. President, you can’t allow white supremacists to share only part of the blame.”
The Bridge Alliance works hard to stay above every-day politics. What we are witnessing is not politics. It is time to make our voices heard. This moment strikes to the essence of who we are as Americans. We, the leaders and members of the Bridge Alliance, ask you to raise your voices in bringing our country together. Hate has no place in America. True patriotism requires us to stand united at this crucial time in our history.
The Bridge Alliance is dedicated to solutions through dialogue, deliberation, and collaboration. The work of citizens from across the country to change the political process of governance is just beginning. The task is not an easy one. Our nation’s Founders, though flawed, were idealists who imagined a nation “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” More than 240 years later, we stand behind our Constitution and our democratic ideals.
Now more than ever we can and must build upon their brilliant and exemplary framework to finish what they collectively intended, but never managed to complete. We The People can fulfill the dream that “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
We are asking you to make your voices heard by writing us a short paragraph saying how you believe we can come together at this time as a country. We will be posting citizen responses on Facebook and our website.
If you want to be more involved and we can be of any assistance contact us directly at info@BridgeAlliance.us or contact any of the Bridge Alliance members.
We the People can and will make a difference. Join us.
— The Bridge Alliance (www.bridgealliance.us)
Of course KKK, White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis should be arrested when they commit violence. Rule of Law does not allow double standards. By the same token, ANTIFA, Black Lives Matter and other extremists on the Left should receive the same treatment for the same violent acts. I see no mention of the Leftist thugs in black masks, carrying weapons and shields beating up people at all the recent protests all over the country. These Leftist criminals far out-number the KKK Neo-Nazi morons.