The activists who control our local government like to remind us from time to time of that for which we should all be grateful and proud:
| December 14, 2021 | Mayor Manheimer confers a proclamation to The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism (SPH) and The Sovereign of the Sovereign State of SHRIKAILASA, His Divine Holiness Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam and proclaims January 3, 2022, Incarnation Day of The SPH, as KAILASA’s SPH Nithyananda Day. The SPH has enriched more than one billion individuals over the past 27 years and has also had a significant impact over the City of Asheville. Mayor Manheimer commends the observance of KAILASA’s SPH Nithyananda Day to all citizens. |
| February 8, 2022 | Mayor Esther Manheimer has proclaimed March through May, and September through November as “Bird Migration Awareness Months” |
| June 29, 2022 | Asheville City Council issued a proclamation affirming reproductive freedom. As the sole abortion provider in Western North Carolina, the Asheville center will become the closest legal abortion destination for millions of people. |
| September 20, 2022 | The Equity and Human Rights Department of Buncombe County sponsor a proclamation in Recognition of Hispanic & Latino Heritage in Buncombe County for Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2022. |
Proclamations can bring a smile to our hearts and to our faces. They can help unearth old and precious memories of better times. They provide good PR to organizations, individuals and communities. We’ve seen proclamations honored in several ways by local government and its obedient press:
- City and County website decorations.
- A very excited WLOS reporter standing amidst a crowd of 2-4 supporters who have gathered in a church or a bar to talk about why the subject of the proclamation is so important to them.
- The unfurling of the rainbow flag from the top of the Asheville city hall building.
It is our opinion that conservative proclamations are disproportionately under-celebrated here. We must remember, though, that this absence is due to a lack of initiative on our part. There is no one out there trying to think of ways to help moderates and conservatives feel included and valued here. So, it is up to us to determine how we can also use this tool to give ourselves some positive PR.
September 17 was Constitution Day, commemorating the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who are born in the U.S. or by naturalization have become citizens.
This would have been an excellent opportunity for our community to raise our voices in support of the U.S. Constitution! While the weather won’t be as nice, a similar opportunity arrives on December 15. On that day in 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified.
There are many other such opportunities. Why don’t we pick just one and teach ourselves how to do it?
- Submit proclamation requests to the city and county.
- Plan a commemoration event. Ideas might include:
- Organize even just a small gathering on city or county property. Maybe a picnic for families.
- Invite candidates or elected representatives to speak about what the U.S. Constitution means to them, how they plan to defend it, or how they are already supporting it.
- Maybe a local country & western group could perform onstage.
- Maybe we collaborate with another organization (cloggers or square dancers?).
- Of course, there will be face painting, snow cones and hotdogs!
- Invite the city and county schools to participate by highlighting lessons about the U.S. Constitution.
- Encourage kids to write an essay about what they have learned in school about the U.S. Constitution. Maybe even offer a small scholarship as a prize for the best essay.
- An awards presentation for best essay, best-themed costume, and best patriotic art project.
- Maybe branch out to have awards given to some patriotic art project that is displayed at the annual fair.
- Identify an appropriate movie, and work with local theaters to schedule showings in support of the event for a week, weekend or just a day.
- Press Releases, Press Releases, Press Releases. Ask advertisers to help encourage MSM to cover these events. Also, be sure to place community event notices in The Asheville Daily Planet, Mountain Express and other local publications.
- Talk with the area tourism authority about ideas and information (permits, etc.)
- Talk with the Council of Independent Business Owners about possible sponsorship.
We could get a non-partisan group together now and begin planning for Constitution Day 2024!
Or…we could just submit a request to the city and county government to proclaim December 15 as “Bill of Rights Ratification Day.” Anyone can submit a request for a proclamation – even you!
Process for Proclamation/Resolution by the Board of County Commissioners
