A good friend sent me a video entitled I Fought for You. I highly recommend that you watch it but be sure to have a tissue nearby! This video made me think long and hard about our Four Pillars of Self-Governance , specifically Pillar #4: Engaged Citizens. The conservative grassroots and self-governance movement continues to work hard to engage citizens, but our focus always seems to be on voting citizens. We provide information and other resources to like-minded people. We work to enable the private sector citizens to engage effectively in the political process. We nourish networks of like-minded citizens and organizations that can support and leverage each other’s efforts. All this is good in the short-term, but we must begin thinking long-term. Our opposition has been growing its grassroots since the early 1900’s and they have passed down a long-term plan with many strategies and tactics associated with it. We, the conservative grassroots, need to do the same. We must get out of the reactive mode and plant seeds for the future. Our future is in our youth and that is with whom we must connect! That responsibility falls squarely on parents but that does not mean that grandparents, favorite aunts and uncles or even acquaintances can’t support the effort. If we do not reach out and touch the youth in a way that “connects” with them, we are spinning our wheels and will never get this country back on the right path. My challenge to you today is: Share with our members how you have “connected” and mentored youth towards your principles. For instance, comment and share with us if you do such things as tutor underprivileged children, teach Sunday School, spend special days with your children or grandchildren at history museums. Connecting with the youth of today isn’t an easy thing to do, so we must learn from each other! What has worked for you?
