That should be an easy question to answer but it's actually not that easy to convey the multitude of factors that contributed towards me seeking election as a local councillor.
I have always been interested in social justice but not so much politics and never imagined that little old me could make a difference. I was always passionate about movies and wrote a dissertation on the British Film Industry while I was at College. I'll never forget the feedback I got from a senior lecturer - she said, "You will never change the world so don't bother trying." Well this was like a red rag to a bull for me. If someone tells me I can't do something I will fight hard to prove that I can.
On several occasions I heard speakers talk about being the person who makes a difference and standing up and being counted and it stirred in me a burning desire to do whatever I can to help others.
My son (Joshua) died in 2006 and since that point I have wanted to make my life count for something far bigger than myself.
So, in 2010, on the day that Gordon Brown left Number 10 and he said, "it is by the strength of our common endeavour that we achieve more than we do alone", I joined the Labour party with tears streaming down my face. I knew that the country was going to suffer under the Conservative led government and that we all had a part to play to create an environment where the people of the Bradford District that I love so much would be able to survive the government and hopefully still flourish. Here's a link to my first post about joining the Labour party http://isthisasmileoragrimace.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/politics-and-me.html
Bradford District has not benefited from the inward investment and vision of other cities and Districts nearby but what we have got are amazing people drawn from an amazingly wide range of backgrounds. There are many strengths in our District if we have the vision and the desire to work together to utilise these strengths. There are also many challenges which I won't gloss over but I truly believe that we can make life better at an individual and a District wide level.
Each time, I help an individual with some casework that matters deeply to them, I know that it isn't going to make waves or headlines but I don't care about that because all that really matters is that it will help that person.
Each time I go to a school governors meeting or go and hear a young person read or talk about the work they are doing in school, it's not going to get me a vote but it may help that young person to achieve a renewed sense of achievement or confidence in their abilities.
Each time I go to a council meeting or committee meeting and raise issues that are of concern to the people in the District and in my ward, I am helping to give them a voice.
It's not easy though - there's a lot of sacrifices to make in terms of personal time and finances too. If I put all of this effort into a business, I'm sure I could make a heck of a lot of money but I honestly don't care about the money (or lack thereof). It would be nice to have a little more sleep but since I was elected I feel like I am constantly thinking about what I can do to contribute more to the betterment of our District and to create more opportunities for all people while also concerning myself about how we as a community look after our most vulnerable citizens.
Politics is something that has the potential to be brilliant if everyone involved in it gives their all to serve the community. It is my hope that when I am no longer involved in politics, whether people remember me or not, that I will have left a legacy that benefits other people for many years after I have gone.
No comments:
Post a Comment