OPINION: Who we are as Democrats

Our values define who we are. When all is said and done, human beings have nothing but our values to rely on.

Democrats have to keep that in mind these days.

The outcome of the recent election left many of us feeling confused, depressed and afraid.

We knew all along that our chances of a victory at the polls were small. But we were saddened anyway by the swiftness and the margin of the bad outcome. 

Can Americans really be so opposed to voting for a mixed race female president when the alternative is a bigoted convicted felon?

Can Kootenai County voters really prefer a state senator who does not even live in his district, or a state legislator who wraps herself in the Confederate flag?

Following the election, we watched in dismay the hasty introductions of deeply unqualified Presidential Cabinet nominees. We grew fearful for the impact they would have on non-citizens, the poor and the marginalized. National defense, foreign affairs and the nation’s health will all suffer under these cabinet members. We fear most for women of child bearing age.

Following the election, Democrats could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel and giving up, but they did not.

We wasted no time before showing up in large numbers for our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls food banks.

The food drive was held in the Ramsey Park parking lot this past Saturday. In just one day, we collected three full SUV carloads of food and household dry goods. 

The counting and weighing are still underway, but we believe our total will amount to far more than in previous years.

At least 40 of the cars that drove through were filled with people we had not seen at previous food drives or Democratic events. That’s a good indication that we are building on this annual charitable event.

Thanks go out to all who chipped in with their time, their money, and their donations.

Caring for those who are less fortunate is who we are as Democrats, and is the essence of a participatory democracy.

No matter the outcome at the ballot box, our values remain constant. 

It is no exaggeration to say, as former President Barack Obama did: “We are reminded that, in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame, but rather how well we have loved and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better.”

Democrats are determined to elevate and help others. It’s who we are, and it’s how we will continue to build a more perfect union.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.