In Memoriam: Stephanie Tubbs Jones (1949-2008)
Being a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, Stephanie Tubbs Jones is a political celebrity for me. Not only was she an excellent Congresswoman, she was an enthusiastic supporter of the Democratic Party. She made it fun to be a Democrat, especially when the thought of being one was frowned upon by mainstream political culture. It was nice growing up to someone so passionate and so proud to be in America's party.
The first chance I actually got a chance to see her in person was at a John Kerry rally in 2004 in downtown Cleveland's Mall C, a garden space next to City Hall. I've seen her before, from on the news and at previous Democratic National Conventions for which her speeches were one to look forward to and rely on to raise you up. I was at that age when I was inspecting politicians closely to see if they are for real and all, especially because the 2000 election made me feel bum rapped. Seeing her friendly face and her assertive passion as a keynote speaker before John Kerry and John Edwards arrived will always be in my memory. The way she enthused the rally's audience of people who got their early enough not to be completely awake just by addressing talking points we all agreed on was just inspiring.
The second time I actually met her was at the recent Cleveland State University's Debate between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. Being a volunteer, I was able to meet her and got her autograph. I told her about the John Kerry rally I saw her at and she was glad that I was still participating in making our country better.
Her vivacity makes it impossible for me to believe that she's gone from us, especially because I know she was slated to speak at this year's Convention and was going to host a dinner along with Hillary Clinton in Denver. Her death is just so sudden, so unexpected. But, then again, she lived her political career being unexpected. Being the first African-American Congresswoman to have an important committee position on the Ways & Means Committee is totally what people didn't expect to see out of her. She is a living example of being met with what looks like a difficult challenge, that no one expects to be accomplished, but saying " yes I can!" and accomplishing it.
The lesson I easily learn from her life in politics is that pride is something everybody with a political conviction should have. Pride fuels passion, passion fuels action, action fuels change. She makes me proud to be a Democrat and I will hopefully live to instill the same values her political life has given us not only in me but in future generations of Democrats.
Rest In Peace, Stephanie.
The first chance I actually got a chance to see her in person was at a John Kerry rally in 2004 in downtown Cleveland's Mall C, a garden space next to City Hall. I've seen her before, from on the news and at previous Democratic National Conventions for which her speeches were one to look forward to and rely on to raise you up. I was at that age when I was inspecting politicians closely to see if they are for real and all, especially because the 2000 election made me feel bum rapped. Seeing her friendly face and her assertive passion as a keynote speaker before John Kerry and John Edwards arrived will always be in my memory. The way she enthused the rally's audience of people who got their early enough not to be completely awake just by addressing talking points we all agreed on was just inspiring.
The second time I actually met her was at the recent Cleveland State University's Debate between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. Being a volunteer, I was able to meet her and got her autograph. I told her about the John Kerry rally I saw her at and she was glad that I was still participating in making our country better.
Her vivacity makes it impossible for me to believe that she's gone from us, especially because I know she was slated to speak at this year's Convention and was going to host a dinner along with Hillary Clinton in Denver. Her death is just so sudden, so unexpected. But, then again, she lived her political career being unexpected. Being the first African-American Congresswoman to have an important committee position on the Ways & Means Committee is totally what people didn't expect to see out of her. She is a living example of being met with what looks like a difficult challenge, that no one expects to be accomplished, but saying " yes I can!" and accomplishing it.
The lesson I easily learn from her life in politics is that pride is something everybody with a political conviction should have. Pride fuels passion, passion fuels action, action fuels change. She makes me proud to be a Democrat and I will hopefully live to instill the same values her political life has given us not only in me but in future generations of Democrats.
Rest In Peace, Stephanie.
