Democratic candidate for Utah's 3rd Congressional District, Christian Burridge has started his own campaign blog. I am providing a copy of Christian's inspiring convention speech on The Utah Amicus, or you can click here to go to his new blog and read it there.
I recommend that you add Christian's blog to your favorites list. He will have much to say, and by doing so you will quickly underwstand why Christian is Utah's best choice for the 3rd District.
Christian Burridge Convention Speech:
Salt Palace Convention Center
Salt Lake City, Utah
On May 13, 2006 Christian Burridge, a consumer rights attorney from South Jordan, Utah received the nomination from the Democratic Party to run for Congress to represent Utah's 3rd Congressional District. The 3rd district is comprised of most of west Salt Lake County, a large protion of Utah County, the east side of Juab County and all of Sanpete, Sevier, Millard and Beaver counties. See map. Burridge, a fifth generation Utah native from Riverton and graduate of Bingham High School and BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School, was enthused by the electricity in the croud at the convention. In his remarks Burridge said "America is rising up for change and the tide is turning . . . . We are a part . . . of a new generation of Democrats and we will feed the fuel that allows the light of democracy to burn brighter than ever." The following is a transcript of his convention speech:
The Lights That Will Guide Us HomeLadies and Gentlemen, fellow Democrats, my family, friends and neighbors, indeed the tide is turning! It is with great honor I accept your nomination to be the next congressman from Utah’s Third District. Today, I find myself standing here at the crossroads of the west of our beautiful country and at the crossroads of a new century. I am proud to be a Democrat. I am proud to be a member of a party with a strong heritage from our forbearers who fought for rule by the people, civil rights and equality. They prevailed because they fought against injustice and tyranny and we will do the same today.
My being a Democrat is not a recent conversion. It runs deep in my blood back at least a century. Two of my eight Utah pioneer great-grandfathers ran as democrats a hundred years ago, and were elected to local office. In fact, my great grandfather Parley Pratt Christison was the sheriff of Juab County—one of the counties I seek to represent today. They served faithfully and I am proud of their heritage.
This tradition was passed down to my parents and to me. I am the youngest of six children in a working class family. My late father was a Utah Highway Patrolman and retired a Command Sergeant Major after 40 years of service in the Utah Army National Guard. My mother was a public school teacher. They taught me that I lived in a country where anything was possible. I believe that through the years we all share a common thread of hope. A hope that everyone has a chance—a hope for a better tomorrow. Their hope and work made this country a better place. I stand today for that same hope. A century later, I believe my democratic ancestors look down proudly on their son who has the opportunity to become a member of the United States Congress.
However, we live in a time where conventional wisdom rails against those of us who call ourselves Utah Democrats. Yes, we have taken our bumps and bruises in the past, but those days are behind us and today we rise up to take back our future. We are here today to do the same as our founders once wrote in the preamble of the Constitution: “To secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.” When securing these blessings, our founders built a lighthouse for themselves and for us. This lighthouse shines bright the principles of democracy. It stands for the democracy that we strive to achieve in an ideal society. This is the light that has made America a beacon on a hill.
Unfortunately, these lights have not always burned bright, and lately under Republican leadership they have flickered. Through Republican policies the tide has taken America out to a sea of rough waters. But if we stand-up for democratic principles, America’s beacon will burn bright and we can navigate our way home. The Republicans want to create dark and illusory divisions at every turn—whether it is by using race, religion or gender they espouse the tactic of divide and conquer. But what they don’t understand is that their methods are flawed—because after all, we are all in the same boat. They don’t understand that America is rising up for change and the tide is turning.
Today, we are a part of a new generation—a new generation of Democrats—and we will feed the fuel that allows the light of democracy to burn brighter than ever.
When we strive for democracy we can live in a world where we can express ourselves and adhere to our values without fear of government control. Like you, I am a Democrat with values. The Republicans are famous for making waves under the guise of advocating family values. But we Democrats that stand for the light of democratic principles show that we actually value our families. We see education as an investment—not just another line item expense. We believe that all children should have health coverage. We stand up so that our children will have clean air and water in the distant future. We fight to end discrimination so all of our families—however they are made up—have a decent chance.
We want a bright light shining in the activities of government. We don’t want to muddy the waters with secret back-door meetings with Enron and oil companies. We Democrats stand for honest leadership and open government. We stand against warrantless wiretapping of Americans, and we will not put up with anymore lies when it comes to sending our troops into war!
When we espouse the lights of democracy we stand for Real Security. This means we protect our people from all threats foreign and domestic. The way this administration dealt with Katrina will mark their stewardship of America for years to come. We Democrats can do better and we will do better.
When the beacon of democracy shines bright we see pensions as sacred and they must be protected. If the Congress can make it so you can’t bankrupt out of student loans then big corporations should not be able to bankrupt out of pensions.
We believe in a rising tide that raises all the boats in the water. That’s why we need a tax policy that makes sense. The bulk of tax incentives belong to the middle class and small businesses and not the wealthiest one percent of Americans. We believe that where much is given much is required. Republicans believe where much is given little if any is required. If you don’t believe me just ask Dick Cheney what he is doing with his $1.9 million tax refund.
Our founders built us a lighthouse that shows us the way to good government. Under Republican leadership the tide has taken us out to sea, our lights have grown dim and we are at risk of running into the dark rocks of tyranny and oppression. But the tide is turning and today we have a choice. We can choose to again secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. We can fight to find our way back to the safe Harbor of America—the safe harbor of opportunity and prosperity. If we espouse the founding principles—the lights of a democratic society—we will not lose our way. We will find our way. We can follow these lights. These are the lights that will guide our way home.
May we roll in with the tides—and roll with the changes—to a better and brighter tomorrow! Now let’s fire the Cannon!
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