Poli-Chic Maryland

Today was World AIDS Day. Not the most pleasant topic to begin the month of December, but a topic that needs to be talked about.

According to the World Health Organization at the end of 2008, 33.4 million people were living with HIV and two-thirds of the world’s HIV infections are in sub-Saharan Africa.

With statistics like that, it’s easy to retreat from the issue and regard it as someone else’s problem – until you consider the fact that right in our backyard, in our nation’s capital, AIDS has reached epidemic proportions. In March, the Washington Post reported that 3% of DC residents are HIV positive and that statistic is based on the reported cases.

It’s also easy to lack sympathy for consenting adults who are engaging in risky, promiscuous behavior. However, it’s much harder to ignore the 2 million children under the age of 15 who are living with AIDS today. It’s also hard to ignore the fact that millions of children are orphaned each year because of it.

The fact of the matter is that HIV/AIDS is everyone’s problem. It knows no socio-economic boundaries and no geographic boundaries. It’s not limited by race, religion or social status. The remedy to this problem should be the same and government should work toward making it that way.

Universal access to medications and anti-retroviral treatments combined with massive education campaigns could make all of the difference. And yes, the conservative Republican in me thinks that abstinence and monogamy have an important role to play in those education campaigns.

I realize that all of this is easier said than done (I’m reminded of the West Wing episode titled “In This Whitehouse”). I also realize that the issue won’t be solved in a day. But in the meantime, we should keep talking about it – even if it’s not a pleasant topic – and we should continue to push for solutions, both at home and abroad, that will combat and prevent this terrible epidemic.

These days it seems like every time you turn on the news you hear something negative about young people.  Fighting, joining gangs, school shootings – it’s enough to make even young adults wonder what is going on with the next generation.

 There are a number of explanations for the behavior, but equally as important, there are a number of organizations doing something about it.  Character Counts is one such organization (www.charactercounts.org). 

 The program is based on six pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship and fairness.  In the spirit of fairness, these are characteristics that we political types could be reminded of as well.  How can we expect coming generations to do the right thing when we don’t?  Especially since these days every time you turn on the news you hear about the most recent political scandal, swindle or mishap.

 I know, I know, it’s not a new phenomenon.  According to Aesop for example “we hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office” and that was somewhere around 500BC.  But in all seriousness, we know we are going to be held to a higher standard when we sign up for the job.  What is it about the word “public” in “public office” that we don’t understand?

 It almost as if people have started to expect politicians to behave badly.  I realize that we are all human and (the Lord knows) I have made mistakes too, but it’s time to start expecting something better.  It’s time to start restoring integrity and character to elected office and the people holding those offices.

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio is a Character Counts Coach for 11th graders at a local high school.

Last week I was invited to speak to a group of young women in Washington, DC.  The event was sponsored by Running Start and many of the young women in the audience were interested in running for office…some day. 

There are a multitude of reasons they might want to wait before diving into the muddy waters of politics, but I sincerely hope they decide to do it sooner rather than later.  Maryland used to be number one in the nation for the number of women in our state legislature, a ranking we lost after the last election.  Further, without a young woman elected in the next Congressional election, there will be no women under the age of 40 serving in Congress.

Now before you women (and men) over forty get upset with me, please understand that I am a firm believer that institutional knowledge and years of professional experience go a long way.  Not to mention the fact that I, myself, am getting closer to forty everyday and have no plans to get out the business anytime soon.  But the juxtaposition of young people serving in elected office beside long-term politicians is beneficial to everyone. 

With that in mind, I offer the following advice to young elected officials…

Learn from long-term public servants who are really good at what they do.   By way of example, I point to two of Maryland’s greatest female political leaders.  Delegate Pauline Menes fought for women to have equal treatment (and a restroom) in the House of Delegates and Delegate Jean Cryor was the first Republican woman to be President of the Women’s Caucus.  I was fortunate enough to serve with both of them in the legislature – a true honor if you ask me.  Their leadership style was impeccable, but more importantly, they were willing to share it.  They helped me find that place between Eastern Shore Pollyanna and Annapolis political reality without dampening my spark of enthusiasm.  

Second, keep in mind that as a young person with an earnest desire to change the world, you offer a positive message and a new perspective that constituents will prefer over jaded and out of touch long-termers.  In a sea of dark suits, rose colored glasses will be a refreshing wardrobe change.