Open Letter to Gary Chambers

Dear Gary,

I am often noted for my constant disagreements of your political views. Many often try to figure out the dynamics of our relationship by wondering if we have one or not. I often read your posts and although I rarely agree with your method, I do, however, respect someone who is willing to offer their opinion for public criticism. Gary, when you do what you feel is right, you will never get everyone to agree. What I mainly dislike about your writing was that you seem to bully those who didn’t agree with your thoughts. Although, you may not consider that bullying, but many people do. Some think the same about myself and its partially because we are both ambitious and we want things to be different.

Our job as leaders is to show respect even when we all do not agree.

Gary,we actually have more in common than you think.

I grew up in a house full of people (4 families in a 2-bedroom house). Most would call that a shotgun house---we had no cable, no AC, no car, but we had family. I was suspended from every school system in the parish. I was even expelled my senior year, so I never got to experience my high school graduation. I constantly had to deal with my emotions because I always felt misunderstood. My senior year I could have thrown in the towel, but I didn’t. I attended summer school and applied to attend college. Many wouldn’t have thought that a guy like me would ever go to college and I was supposed to go to jail or become a death statistic but GOD had the final say. I can still see the look on my mother’s face when I told her that I was accepted into a 4-year university. My relentlessness and the pursuit of greatness fueled my persistence and tenacity. I walked out of there being the first person to graduate from a 4-year college in my immediate family with multiple degrees.

Gary, when I ran for public office, I thought that many in my area could relate to someone like myself because I was ambitious and I had education. I looked for advice from public servants who were currently in office, but I was treated like an outcast. I was pulled in every direction and I didn’t know who to trust. Politics has indeed brought me to the lowest point of my life. I was falsely accused of things and those who vowed to help me were not dependable. So yes, Gary, I understand how you feel buddy.

Imagine how I feel to constantly lose elections and people telling me that they would support me only to laugh at me behind my back, but Gary I remain STRONG. I often view myself as an Eagle, someone that flies high and above the negativity.

Gary, currently I am still excluded from things, but that is what leaders go through. We go through the fire. I am not better than anyone nor do I pretend to be. Also, I do not try to fit in with any cliques. I just try to be the best person I can be and provide a better life for my children and help people along the way. Either you like me or you don’t, but if you don’t, it won’t be because I have done you anything. I was raised in the church to love people regardless of their faults because that’s how Christ love us.

Gary there is no competition in my heart with you or any animosity towards you. I look at you as a big brother that a little brother disagrees with most of the time, but in the end result, we still are brothers fighting for the betterment of people and bringing awareness to issues.

Gary, keep up the fight and even if we 'butt' heads, just know that we are both going in the same direction but just in two different cars.

Sincerely,

Daniel Banguel