Greenwood County Democratic Party

In this Newsletter:

Message from the Chair

In a recent discussion, someone mentioned how overwhelming it is to keep up with ALL of the issues that affect our nation. Informational and emotional overload can understandably cause someone to withdraw into a shell and not get engaged.

My recommendation? Pick just ONE issue that you’re passionate about and get involved in that. Get educated. Educate others. Discuss possible solutions with likeminded people. Lobby our elected officials to act. 

A great way to launch yourself in the process is to join a South Carolina Democratic Party Caucus. You will find a welcoming community of people from all over the state who are just as interested as you in any of the specific topics you see below.

Last month, I conducted an informal survey and saw that we had NO Greenwood Democrats active in any of the 16 caucuses that have been established. At our next Breakfast Meeting, we will have two SCDP Caucus chairs join us to talk about how to get involved in one and why it’s important to do so. We need to do more than just talk about these critical issues. We need to be part of the solution!

GWCDP News

Breakfast Meeting on Sat Aug 7
Last month’s meeting was nothing short of astounding and we’re looking to do even better with the amazing lineup of speakers who will be joining us on Saturday, Aug 7 from 9 am – 11 am.

Please RSVP here to help us prepare with an accurate headcount. There’s no charge to show up but if you wish to bring some breakfast items to share (muffins, donuts, etc), please coordinate with Cathie Swindell (cats.dems@gmail.com or 864-992-2182). It would be greatly appreciated!

We will also have Floyd’s Fish Fry & Cookout tickets available for sale (see below) so come prepared to get yours!

Greenwood Democrats featured on Finding Me Podcast
On Tuesday, GWCDP Chair Bill Kimler was interviewed on Cheryl Morton’s “Finding Me” Podcast. Lady Morton and co-host Rev Natasha Gresham conducted a discussion covering politics on a national and local scale. From voting rights to Critical Race Theory – it was an hour full of information, humor, and important topics of which we all need to be aware. You can catch a recording of the broadcast online!

In this Newsletter:

Message from the Chair

Crazy. Just crazy.

Recently, Rep. John McCravy stirred up passions about how critical race theory “must not be allowed to pollute the minds of our children in school”. 

I really wish I could trace backwards how this became the Crisis Du Jour (“crisis of the day”) because Critical Race Theory has been around for 40 years as an advanced subject taught in law and graduate schools. I commented on Rep McCravy’s thread as such and assured all that our children were safe from this invented social concern.

Well, that certainly didn’t go over so well.

I was immediately called a communist, a socialist, and a Marxist by strangers on the internet. I really wish they would get together and make up their minds! But honestly, those attacks are so predictable and boring at this point. None of them know the anything about those terms they tried to insult me with, let alone the first thing about Critical Race Theory. But what it does expose is “white fragility” about coming to honest terms with our country’s past and how it continues to impact the present.

A letter-to-the-editor in the Index Journal recently shows how far we collectively have to go. In this letter, the author made the argument that the replacement of the plaque on the Greenwood War Memorial with one that did not segregate the soldiers names by race was criminal: 

“…the sad part is that the significance of those listed as “colored” has been erased from history.”

The author then went on to decry how Critical Race Theory has been forced into our schools and is enslaving our children! Huh??? I guess history should only be taught through racist monuments and nowhere else.

Oh… did I mention that the letter writer happens to be on the Greenwood County Board of Assessment Appeals? Get involved and run for something! Otherwise, this craziness will continue to spread.

GWCDP News

Floyd’s Fish Fry & Cookout tickets on sale now!
You won’t want to miss this celebration of the legendary servant of Greenwood County, Floyd Nicholson. Tickets can be conveniently purchased online here or you can call the number on the poster below.

July Breakfast Meeting Recap
On the morning of Saturday, Jul 10, we held our first in-person Breakfast Meeting in over a year on the lawn of gracious hosts Robert and Ken Headley Downs. Exceeding all expectations, over 80 were in attendance to hear a slate of amazing speakers and to be informed on what’s happening with the GWCDP. The Index-Journal had a great writeup about it last week.

If you missed it, all of the segments were recorded so that you can watch at your leisure.