PRENOTE March 1, 2026: Coincident with the convention described below came news that the U.S. had begun to bomb Iran.  A few days ago, I started a post about Iran which you may wish to look at and comment on.  It is here.  Note: at the time I published this post, I had no idea that the events of this past weekend would take place in Iran.

This very evening from my sister, this recommendation, about 40 minutes on YouTube.  “Voices of alarm come from all sectors and I have appreciated listening to Rick Steves as he comments on assaults to our democracy – I recommend Traveler and American Democracy with Rick Steves.   Rick is a historian but better known for his travel guides and encouragement of getting to know other cultures better.”  At the same place, following Rick Steves, is the Lutheran Bishop, Shelly Bryan Wee, who he references in his talk.  Her message is also very worthwhile.

My Saturday was spent in the auditorium of a local high school, as a delegate to the Minnesota Senate District 47 DFL (Democrat) Political Convention.

Each state has its own system, and each party its own structure.  In Minnesota, Precinct caucuses some weeks ago were the first essentially neighborhood gatherings to pick representatives to the formal political process.  Saturday, the elected Democrat delegates gathered to consider resolutions, listen to candidates, and select delegates to the next formal step in the process: the Congressional District Convention which in our case is May 3 (CD 4 in Maplewood); thence the state convention May 29-31 in Rochester.

I have attended a lot of these biennial conventions over the years.  They reflect the diversity of constituencies and complexity of the issues facing a society such as ours.  One speaker asked for a show of hands of those who were attending their first such convention.  I wasn’t in a position to see most of the auditorium, but apparently a large percentage were rookies, which is very positive.

I can call Saturday “an inspiring day” because it was well organized and the process worked.  While it was exhausting, it was worth the investment of time.  I did not seek delegate status to the next level.  But I was involved, as were all the others, in selecting delegates to the next level.

So, what happens in the five or so hours we 200 people spent in the auditorium at East Ridge High School?

Much of our time this particular day was off the printed agenda: an opportunity to hear from assorted elected officials and candidates for office.

In all, I noted 20 such speakers, including Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan; U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar; Congresspersons Betty McCollum and Angie Craig; our three state legislators; Secretary of State Steve Simon and a broad assortment of others, either in or seeking some elected office or other.  We like to criticize ‘politicians’, but these folks are charged with the representation of all of us – not a simple task.  Showing up at events like ours is important for candidates.  (There are 67 Senate and 134 House districts in Minnesota.  Our district represents three of the 201.  Statewide candidates in particular have a lot of geography to cover while running for office.  The three minutes or so in front of a local audience is important.)

What comprises the platform – the philosophy – of my party is built from the base of resolutions generated at the local level.

In our case, at the precinct caucus level citizens properly submitted 76 resolutions in 14 different categories.  This year more than usual related to the general category I would call ICE – Immigration issues.  We each were given a ballot, and we could support no more than 38 of them.  I voted for 23.  Our convention was “allowed 38 resolutions to move on for state convention consideration”.   Volunteer delegate committees do the work of sifting and sorting the final choices.

The final event of the day was to elect 17 delegates and 17 alternate delegate (CD4) and 2 delegates and 2 alternates (CD2).  (Part of our Senate District is CD2).  The task seems impossible, given we are a group who mostly don’t know each other, and have differing points of view.)

The DFL over the years has refined the process of selecting delegates through what is called the “walking sub-caucus”.  In its most simple iteration, any delegate can propose an affinity group around a candidate or issue.  I didn’t write any of this down, but it appeared that there were as many as 15-20 of these small groups; these were winnowed down to those which were ‘viable’ – those who had sufficient persons to qualify for one delegate.  A time certain is allowed to reach viability and there is likely a certain amount of ‘horse-trading’ to  secure more delegates, or share excess delegates with others.

The process works very well, and is very orderly.  The group I was in qualified for two delegates and two alternates, and according to the rules half need to be male, half female.

I was exhausted when I got home, and I was glad I came.

I’m confident that the next levels will be similarly orderly.

POSTNOTE:  As noted, Saturday afternoon “I was exhausted”.  I attend Catholic Mass most every Sunday, and this particular weekend I felt too tired.  But this morning I went anyway, and I’m glad I did.  The Gospel for today was the Transfiguration, MT 17:1-9.  Father Tasto, a preacher extraordinaire, made a point in this sermon that I wish I could have in hard copy, but I will try to reconstruct from memory here.  He said that all of us, if we thought about it, could identify certain transfiguration experiences in our own life – something happened which changed our life.

As he wrapped up his sermon, he noted that we are in a divided country, now in our 250th year.  He suggested to all of us that we might take the time to reflect on where we are as a country at this time in history; and where our country has been; and finally, where  our country is going.  Makes a lot of sense to me, regardless of one’s personal belief.

I’m adding the Johan van Parys commentary in the church newsletter for this morning, should you be interested in a little more: Johan van Parys Transfiguration Feb 27 28 2026.