Be the First [Vasco Speech]

[marguerite harvard d2a (zori)]

v a s c o

It's how we got here
I know that we got odds against us
We're probably gonna get real tired
Oh, we may have to choose
We're gonna have to learn what hard is

"Thank you, my friends. Ten years. Has it been that long?” I stood at the podium, sunflower fields at my back.

“I’m standing up here, but… it doesn’t feel right, eh?” I moved down the side of the stage and into the crowd. “That’s better.”

“I want to start in saying that I couldn’t be more grateful you’ve put so much trust in me. And lately – “ I thought of my conversation in the justice building, the pine boxes returned. “I don’t know if I’ve deserved it.”

“I’ve put my voice to the microphone and tried to hold people accountable. But I don’t think I’ve been without mistakes. So I want to say I’m sorry, for letting you down when things got tough. Or when it felt like I should’ve done more. I can’t know your grief, but if you’ll let me, I’ll share it with you.”

I’m of this earth, these fields, the same boy who’d stood in line hoping his name wasn’t called.

“I have spent my life in eleven doing as much good as I could, for as many as I could. That’s the way we are, isn’t it? Using our hand and hearts to make the world better.”

“We’re farmers - we know what that means, gardening and growing things. There are years when the weather’s no good, and soil can be bad, too. But you plant and turn it over and do your best to grow what you can. Share what you have so nobody goes without. It’s in our nature – I know y’all haven’t forgotten that.” Said once to Katelyn before. I smiled.

“Well – you’ve all given to me. Put faith in what I could accomplish. And so it’s time that I gave back every last part of myself, too.”

“This is my last run. So, what do I have planned?” I let the silence hang.

“Little things. Telephone wire for the whole district, so you can talk to each other each and every day. So you can know your mother, brother, or children will be safe with a call.”

“A train line through the district, so that you can get from the edges to the center in a few hours time.” My voice grew louder, soaring over those around me.

“Your freedom, freedom to speak freely, to assemble, to live and love as you should. Under my watch, I will not tolerate the number of peacekeepers here. We deserve a citizen’s defense force to keep us safe. A group of people who know their neighbors, who aren’t sent to break backs but keep you well.”

They deserved so much more than I’d given them.

“In fact – our voice cannot continue to go unheard. Whether or not the other mayors join me, I am demanding the capitol seat one of us on the council, effectively immediately.”

“Why, after ninety years, can they not stomach one of us standing alongside them? Why are they so afraid of us, that the council, who have never visited us, seen our people, or know our story, fit to govern?”

They had taken everything from me, from us – and no one had been brave enough to stand.

“We know – we know that shining a light does not dim the light next to us. That our lights together shine brighter and are stronger than a single light could ever be.”

But if it could be me, if I could inspire one, it should’ve been that I was willing to go first.

“And so I say to you, this is the beginning of a movement – for our voices to be heard, for us to be known, that eleven deserves a mayor willing to take a stand. I do not do this for myself,” I was yelling now, calling out to as many that could hear, “But for you. I know that now, it’s the last thing that I can give.”

“Join me and let’s march on the justice building!” I held up a lit candle in my hand and began to lead the way. 

elegant