“To sleep, perchance to dream.”

William Shakespeare wrote that famous phrase. It appears in his play “Macbeth.” This phrase has been one of my favorite literature lines since my college days. “Perchance” is a Middle English word which means conceivably or perhaps. The word perchance reflects my mood as you’re reading this.

Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to speak freely from my heart. The joint meeting coming up between the local Republican and Democratic parties is a beautiful thing. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the members and the officers of both ends of the political aisle to come together as neighbors. As friends. As proud Americans. This joint meeting really isn’t intended for people to fight. It wasn’t designed to be a referendum on my op-ed column. Thursday night’s event is far bigger than me. Thursday night’s event is much more important than my column.

Speaking of this column, I’ll say this. At its core, my intention for this column is for it to be a love letter. I am both serious and sincere when I say that. I was born and raised here. I love the city of Thomasville. I love Thomas County. I love its people and our way of life. I love the state of Georgia. I love the United States of America. We are all privileged to live in a very, very great nation. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Can we do better? Most definitely. I think we can all agree that Washington is largely broken right now. I think we can all agree that — to a slightly lesser extent — Atlanta is broken, too. But it doesn’t have to be that way here in the Rose City. This is Thomasville. We all live here. Many of us work here. Our friends and family members and neighbors and colleagues are here. We can rise above the gridlock, the hardened hearts and the like. We can rise above negativity if we choose to. Some of you may not know me personally; but those who do will verify this: I will not ask anything of anyone else I am unable or unwilling to do myself. It saddens me that some of you question my sincerity on wanting to build consensus between our local political parties.

Here’s what I believe. I do believe there’s very little America cannot achieve if our hearts and minds are on one accord. I don’t believe that Democrats are always right and that Republicans are always wrong. That would be preposterous. I don’t believe that President Obama walks on water; but I do believe that he’s a good man with ambitious ideas for America. He’s not perfect — but neither are you. Neither am I. None of us are.

My love for you is not a game. It’s very real. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t tell you I did. If I didn’t respect you, there would be no need to ever negotiate with you. If I didn’t think that a new American renaissance was still possible, I would not perpetuate a false narrative. We may have totally difference ideas about how to get there, but we all want to get there. Therein lies the hope. Therein lies the conversation which can lead to the consensus which can lead to the convergence of unity necessary to bring about positive change.

I dream of a society where racism, poverty, hunger, injustice, economic disparity, war and all other adverse conditions are things of the past. I dream of a vibrant middle class, plentiful jobs and universal access to health care for our citizens. I dream of continued prosperity for the rich, but also for everyone else. I dream of a return to the time when Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C., communicated, compromised  and legislated together. Is it selfish of me to dream of such a world?

I will end this missive with a request and a promise. Please come out to the joint meeting of the local political parties at the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium on Thursday. It’s important. Some very positive things can come directly from it. I’ll be there — and I hope to see you there, as well. Introduce yourself to me. Whether you love me or not, shake my hand. Whether you agree with my political viewpoints or not, let’s chat.

Here’s my promise. On Thursday, I will defend various points of the Democratic platform. I will explain why I feel the way I do in a thoughtful, measured and respectful tone. Say what you will… ask me what you will; but I’m not coming to fight or to chastise. I’m coming Thursday night to engage with an open mind, a loving heart and a receptive spirit. I pray you will do the same. To meet, perchance to unite. Do you dare to dream my dream?