Ken Blackwell's latest column on Townhall.com:
On Keeping Perspective and Beginning Again
By Ken Blackwell
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Although Los Angeles Dodgers’ center fielder Willie Davis was widely
considered the fastest man in baseball throughout the 1960s and 70s, he is
perhaps more often remembered for a remark he made following game two of the
1966 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. In the fifth inning Davis
committed three errors on two consecutive plays. L.A. lost the game 8 to 4 and
was swept in the series. When asked about his less than stellar performance,
Davis dryly remarked, “It ain’t my life, and it ain’t my wife, so why worry?”
Even more important than his amazing speed, Davis had extraordinary perspective.
More than once since the release of the November 7, 2006 general election
results, I’ve given some thought to Mr. Davis’ quip. I have been elected to city
council and Mayor of my hometown of Cincinnati. I was three times elected to
statewide office, first as State Treasurer, then twice as Secretary of State.
Voters from my political party decisively choose me to be their standard bearer
in the race for Ohio Governor. When the votes were counted in the general
election, however, this time I and other uncompromising conservatives did not
come out on top. But beyond personal disappointment there is perspective (a la
Willie Davis). And beyond such perspective there is an ironic, yet undeniable
sense of accomplishment for many of us.
I have spent thousands of hours over the past several years traveling on
Ohio’s highways, city streets, and country roads, to virtually every
municipality and township in the state. I have talked with literally millions of
Ohio citizens about the sanctity of human life and the sacredness of marriage.
We discussed second amendment issues, the importance of demanding fiscal
restraint on our state and local budgets, tax relief, and viable plans to revive
Ohio’s economy that would offer our children opportunity to live, work and raise
their own families.
For all the effort over many years, I along with others of like mind, were
able to help shape the discussion at Ohio’s statehouse, courthouses, and city
and township halls. These efforts resulted in some remarkable victories – like
Ohio’s Constitutional Marriage Protection Amendment, the establishment of a
statutory state government spending cap, the reduction of the sales tax rate and
the defeat of expanded state-sponsored gambling. We raised more than $12 million
from non-traditional sources and identified more than 1.4 million individuals
who pledged themselves to be civic-minded forces for change.
While the results of the 2006 election represent a temporary set back to me
and other conservatives who labored to advance our cause like U.S. Senator Rick
Santorum, if we become too focused on the vote tally alone we risk missing out
on the fruits of the struggle. In fact, we did good work for causes that were
worth our time and efforts. And as a consequence, not only did we leave our
respective communities better than we found them, but we are personally improved
and better prepared for the next battle.
I think about the considerable personal and political setbacks endured by
Abraham Lincoln before he ascended to the presidency. The death of a child,
unsuccessful business endeavors and several election losses shaped his
perspective but did not dampen his resolve.
Lincoln understood that life is about struggle – wins and losses. He
refused to be defined by defeat because he was driven by hope and a belief that
we can improve the human condition.
I like what Elie Wiesel wrote: “When He created man, God gave him a
secret—and that secret was not how to begin, but how to begin again. It is not
given to man to begin; that privilege is God’s alone. But it is given to man to
begin again—and he does so every time he chooses to defy death and side with the
living.”
Our conservative causes are just as true and worth fighting for as they
were on November 6 (the day before the election). So, we must keep perspective,
and continue. We must encourage others to also remain engaged in the struggle –
to be a force for living change. In more than thirty years of pubic service one
thing I have learned is that the only way a cause is truly lost is if the army
is scattered and resolved to defeat.
As citizens united in conservative principles, we are called to unite and
to be a force for change. We are not defeated. Indeed, there is still work to
do.
Ken Blackwell is the former Secretary of State of Ohio.
