The first Christmas I met my step-sister's younger daughter she ended up in the hospital. She was having respiratory issues and spent Christmas night being subjected to tests and sleeping away from home. Her parents stayed by her side, both tired and both wishing they were in their house enjoying what is supposed to be a family holiday and special fun for children.
I didn't know her well, but during the day did what I imagined my mother would have done if put in the same situation. I went to Toys 'R Us and bought her a stuffed animal, a monkey to be specific, which had reminded me of one I'd had as a child. My hope was that this little girl would be distracted from the array of devices, tubes, and nurses that flurried around her and would for a few minutes, have a new toy on Christmas.
When we gave it to her, she smiled, granted for all of thirty-seven seconds, but all in all it was worth it. I was able to help her have, even if only for a moment, a happy Christmas. And it reminded me of how important those feelings of family and happiness are during the holidays, if not all year round.
Friday, November 7, 2008
That's what I'm talking about!
I had hoped with the election of Barack Obama that the country would begin to elevate above its past of bigotry and begin to accept people as people. As I listened to his victory speech on Tuesday night I was inspired to believe that people everywhere could begin to change their way of thinking, not only about others but also about themselves. If they would dare to hear the message they would understand that they too can strive for their dreams and truly embrace the fact that ones ability to achieve that dream is not only dependent on the obstacles they must overcome, but also on their own ability to create opportunity for themselves. Now that is becoming clear right before our eyes.
I think this is the beginning, we have a long way to go, but while children have said things like the quote below, for some reason I feel like this is the start of something different:
"We need some new ideas, and I think Barack Obama is the right man to do that," said Malcolm Mitchell, a fifth grader, reading from his essay. "He kinda motivated me because looking at the past, people say, 'black men can't do this, black men can't do that' ... you know, he's changing time, little by little. Women can vote now, and he's the first African-American president."
The next generation is destined to have a larger percentage that 'gets it' and if we can keep open-mindedness moving forward then discrimination will become a smaller and smaller part of our social structure. Gender, religion, race, sexual preference, name it. They are all colors of our individuality, they all give inflection to the tones of our voices. But at the core, we all still hope, we all still dream, and we all still long to feel empowered, and I think we've all just seen a large crack exposed in the wall that comes with ignorance.
Someone call Bob Dylan, cause the times, they are 'a changin'.
I think this is the beginning, we have a long way to go, but while children have said things like the quote below, for some reason I feel like this is the start of something different:
"We need some new ideas, and I think Barack Obama is the right man to do that," said Malcolm Mitchell, a fifth grader, reading from his essay. "He kinda motivated me because looking at the past, people say, 'black men can't do this, black men can't do that' ... you know, he's changing time, little by little. Women can vote now, and he's the first African-American president."
The next generation is destined to have a larger percentage that 'gets it' and if we can keep open-mindedness moving forward then discrimination will become a smaller and smaller part of our social structure. Gender, religion, race, sexual preference, name it. They are all colors of our individuality, they all give inflection to the tones of our voices. But at the core, we all still hope, we all still dream, and we all still long to feel empowered, and I think we've all just seen a large crack exposed in the wall that comes with ignorance.
Someone call Bob Dylan, cause the times, they are 'a changin'.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Where do we go next?
Today we wake to the sound of the human spirit being shaken. With a historic election, a voter turnout previously unseen, and a nation's voice calling for what I will not call change, but progress, we as a people bear witness to the beginning of a great undertaking; the reinvention and captivation of our ability to dream.
Not since the days of JFK has our country heard the call of a challenge that could unite all its people. Kennedy threw his gigantic gauntlet down and set our country on the path that would lead us to the moon and beyond. Now we see a man who I believe can rival that call with his own.
Do I think that president-elect Obama will challenge us with Mars? No. I do however feel that we are seeing the birth of a public speaker who can grace the world's stage with words and passion that can not only elevate our own country and its global position once more, but also the spirits of other countries and their people. This man carries a solid blend of confidence, assertion, empathy, and caring, and puts them all forward in what are often self-written speeches. He may not have every answer, but he has the ability to inspire the rest of us to help him find answers and solutions to any issues we face.
Does he have incredible policy depth? Not yet.
Has he been in Washington for twenty-plus years? Not yet.
Is he the catalyzing force behind a rejuvenation movement in the United States and a refreshed face we can turn towards the world? I say damn right.
I'm ready to watch, I'm ready to listen, and I'm ready to follow this man and his growing movement down a path towards something bigger than all of us which we can only achieve together.
Not since the days of JFK has our country heard the call of a challenge that could unite all its people. Kennedy threw his gigantic gauntlet down and set our country on the path that would lead us to the moon and beyond. Now we see a man who I believe can rival that call with his own.
Do I think that president-elect Obama will challenge us with Mars? No. I do however feel that we are seeing the birth of a public speaker who can grace the world's stage with words and passion that can not only elevate our own country and its global position once more, but also the spirits of other countries and their people. This man carries a solid blend of confidence, assertion, empathy, and caring, and puts them all forward in what are often self-written speeches. He may not have every answer, but he has the ability to inspire the rest of us to help him find answers and solutions to any issues we face.
Does he have incredible policy depth? Not yet.
Has he been in Washington for twenty-plus years? Not yet.
Is he the catalyzing force behind a rejuvenation movement in the United States and a refreshed face we can turn towards the world? I say damn right.
I'm ready to watch, I'm ready to listen, and I'm ready to follow this man and his growing movement down a path towards something bigger than all of us which we can only achieve together.
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