Author: Chase Clemons

Note: In our observance of Christmas and the holiday season, we’re publishing President John F. Kennedy’s speech from the lighting of the National Community Christmas Tree at the Pageant of Peace ceremonies on the Ellipse. On that cold winter day in December 1962, President Kennedy reminded us of the Christmas message that has been the guiding star of our nation’s endeavors.

With the lighting of this tree, which is an old ceremony in Washington and one which has been among the most important responsibilities of a good many Presidents of the United States, we initiate, in a formal way, the Christmas Season.

We mark the festival of Christmas which is the most sacred and hopeful day in our civilization. For nearly 2,000 years the message of Christmas, the message of peace and good will towards all men, has been the guiding star of our endeavors.

This morning I had a meeting at the White House which included some of our representatives from far off countries in Africa and Asia. They were returning to their posts for the Christmas holidays. Talking with them afterwards, I was struck by the fact that in the far off continents Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, as well as Christians, pause from their labors on the 25th day of December to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace.

There could be no more striking proof that Christmas is truly the universal holiday of all men. It is the day when all of us dedicate our thoughts to others; when all are reminded that mercy and compassion are the enduring virtues; when all show, by small deeds and large and by acts, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

It is the day when we remind ourselves that man can and must live in peace with his neighbors and that it is the peacemakers who are truly blessed.

In this year of 1962 we greet each other at Christmas with some special sense of the blessings of peace. This has been a year of peril when the peace has been sorely threatened. But it has been a year when peril was faced and when reason ruled.

As a result, we may talk, at this Christmas, just a little bit more confidently of peace on earth, good will to men. As a result, the hopes of the American people are perhaps a little higher. We have much yet to do. We still need to ask that God bless everyone. But yet I think we can enter this season of good will with more than usual joy in our hearts.

And I think all of us extend a special word of gratitude and appreciation to those who serve the United States abroad; to the one million men in uniform who will celebrate this Christmas away from their homes; to those hundreds of young men and women and some older men and women who serve in far off countries in our Peace Corps; to the members of the Foreign Service; to those who work in the various information services, AID agencies, and others who work for us abroad who will celebrate this December 25th thousands of miles from us at sea, on land, and in the air, but with us.

It is to them that we offer the best of Christmases and to all of you I send my very best wishes for a blessed and happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

In our observance of Thanksgiving, we’re publishing President John F. Kennedy’s proclamation from November 1963.

Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and in Massachusetts, far from home in a lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving. On the appointed day, they gave reverent thanks for their safety, for the health of their children, for the fertility of their fields, for the love which bound them together and for the faith which united them with their God.

So too when the colonies achieved their independence, our first President in the first year of his first Administration proclaimed November 26, 1789, as “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty god” and called upon the people of the new republic to “beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions… to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue… and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.”

And so too, in the midst of America’s tragic civil war, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November 1863 as a day to renew our gratitude for America’s “fruitful fields,” for our “national strength and vigor,” and for all our “singular deliverances and blessings.”

Much time has passed since the first colonists came to rocky shores and dark forests of an unknown continent, much time since President Washington led a young people into the experience of nationhood, much time since President Lincoln saw the American nation through the ordeal of fraternal war – and in these years our population, our plenty and our power have all grown apace. Today we are a nation of nearly two hundred million souls, stretching from coast to coast, on into the Pacific and north toward the Arctic, a nation enjoying the fruits of an ever-expanding agriculture and industry and achieving standards of living unknown in previous history. We give our humble thanks for this.

Yet, as our power has grown, so has our peril. Today we give our thanks, most of all, for the ideals of honor and faith we inherit from our forefathers – for the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they possessed and which we must seek every day to emulate. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.

Let us therefore proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessings – let us be humbly thankful for inherited ideals – and let us resolve to share those blessings and those ideals with our fellow human beings throughout the world.

Statement from the LCPD Chair – Chase Clemons

Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris!

It’s been a long election and even longer campaign for all of our Democratic candidates and their teams. This election proves that when we unite and organize, we can do the hard things.

For everyone that worked campaigns – national, state, and local – thank you. Make sure to take time now to recharge after this grueling election. There’s still work to be done. Our community need you at your best for the work ahead.

Remarks from our Chair on this Labor Day.

Thank you to all of the working men and women who fought and organized to secure so much of what we have today. The 40 hour work week, family leave, the minimum wage, overtime pay, and the right to organize for better benefits – we have these because time after time, American workers showed up and fought for them.

This pandemic has shown us just how vitally essential our workers are. From farmers to grocery store workers, nurses to teachers, we all owe a debt of gratitude to those in our community hard at work keeping our community going.

On this Labor Day, as we celebrate our working men and women, let’s recommit ourselves to the fight for every working family. Workers right are human rights. And we have to fight for those rights every day. 

It starts with voting this fall. Organize with your friends, families, and neighbors. Show up for your community. Put in the work now to help build a better Tennessee that works for us all.

With all the confusing information around absentee ballots, we want to set the record straight. 

Tennessee voters cannot drop absentee ballots off to county election commissions. Absentee ballots must be mailed only through USPS, Fedex, or UPS.

If you know you’re going to vote absentee by mail, request your ballot ASAP. Once you receive it, fill it out and mail it back immediately.

How to Vote Absentee

1. Review the absentee ballot application and confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements for voting absentee. You can find those here.
2. Fill out the application completely.
3. Submit the request to our local election office. You should request your ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
4. When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it immediately.

If you have questions, let us know!

With the August 6th election just days away, we’re focused on just one action this week. Get People To The Polls Check in with all of the voters you know and make sure they’ve either voted early/absentee or have a plan to vote Thursday. For voters that are voting Thursday, a good practice is to check these three things with them: 

1. When will you vote on August 6th? Set aside a specific time on Thursday to head over to your polling place.
2. Where will you vote? If you don’t know your polling place, call our local Election Commission or go to GoVoteTN.com on your phone/computer.
3. How will you get there? Make sure you’ve got a way to get to your polling place. If you need a ride, let us know!

 Statewide, Democratic turnout was only up 2% compared to the 2018 primary. Here in Lincoln County, Dems were up 17% but the GOP was up 21%. That means we’ve got to get a lot of people to the polls on Thursday. Take time now – go through your contact list – and check-in with every voter that you know. It’s the best way to make sure they’re voting in this August election. Let’s do this.

Usually during this time of the year, candidates are visiting our community to introduce themselves and talk with us. This year, the pandemic has forced us to move those types of events online. 

Through these online town halls, you’ll get to know the candidates you’ll be voting for in the Democratic Primary on August 6th. 

Here’s all the ones we’ve hosted so far:

Click on any of the images above to view the town hall video.