Wonderful op-ed - two New Hampshire primaries - by John Kerry

[karynnj]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/01/19/john-kerry-two-new-hampshire-primaries-never-forget/kFEurZREKNQLUjNTv04H4H/story.html

This is a breath of sunshine compared to the nastiness of this years primary. Kerry speaks of NH 1968 and (of course) 2004.

One gray and misty day we held an event on the banks of the Merrimack River, a short hike through the trees off the main road. Not more than 20 feet away, I could hear the Boston television wise acre recording his promo for what would be the latest political obituary: “Live from Manchester — Howard Dean surging in the polls and we’re lost in the woods with John Kerry.”

So it was that New Hampshire taught me that no matter what polls and pundits say, no matter how often I was written off, as long as I believed in what I was doing and I just kept my head down and my formidable chin up, I could push through the noise, power through what was right in front of me, and come out stronger for the experience.


People really listen in New Hampshire. They give you a lot of chances to prove yourself. They let you fall down a lot, and they challenge you to get back up. And they’re tough judges. They bring those notebooks and they write down their questions and they write down your answers. They care. They really care about their country. It’s a wonderfully idealistic responsibility they carry on their shoulders. They let you find your voice.
<snip>
I remember the firefighters who opened up their firehouses for chili feed after chili feed because, no matter how low I sank in the polls, firefighters were loyal. They played those bagpipes outside debates and stood in the snow, holding those signs, pundits be damned. Loyalty doesn’t fit in an activist’s 10-point plan, but it turns out it’s worth a lot more than tomorrow’s white paper.

His writing is - as usual beautiful, but, most importantly, this sounds like a memoir from someone who remembers and treasure the good and does not dwell on the negative, though he clerly learns from it.

[YvonneCa]

1. Excellent! Thanks for sharing...

...this.