My wife and I talked over lunch about the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony and its effects on us personally and on societies local and global. What she said struck me so powerfully that I had to quote her:
"This is the opposite--this is the antithesis--of 9/11. What I mean is that what I felt that morning, the thought that history was changing, that American history would be marked pre-9/11 and post-9/11; and that the way the world and all Americans see this country would shift in some amazing--and even scary--ways. This day is the opposite of that, in a way. It's...like a phoenix rising from the ashes."
I formally invite DJ Jay Smooth to expound on the thought (and no, I don't agree with each of his points, but the overwhelming theme is on target):
We have permission to be happy while maintaining our practical perspective. America has signed a treaty with her children, a promise to learn from the cornucopia of our past blunders by walking in Dr. Martin Luther King's--and, for that matter, my mother's--dream to live as humanly and as humanely as we REALLY can in our country's grand area. Our problems are far from over in many ways, but we--America--are walking our talk again.
Let freedom ring. Keep walking your talk. Love somebody just because God loves him or her as much as He loves you. Talk about tough topics with people--instead of setting people up to look like racists because they don't understand your perspective or your culture. Open your mind enough to see another human's perspective, and you might change your mind about a few things. The work IS a part of the dream, believe it or not...
God bless you. Vaya con Dios. Salaam 'Alaykum (السلام عليكم).
If I have misspelled or misused the beautiful words of your parent language, forgive me and correct me. It's my pleasure to learn. That, as it turns out, is another part of THE DREAM.
3 comments:
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Great post! I really enjoyed the video. I agree that there is still much work to be done, but we took a great big step in the right direction.
And I also agree with your wife's quote. She's right on point. I guess we need another new term. We were plain post-9/11 up until January 20th, but now we are something else too. I'm not sure what to call it.
Kofi: Did I comment on the RIGHT post? If memory serves me, I managed somehow to put my comment for one post on another one of your posts. Blame it on the need for real winter weather to help me think straight! Onyx Investments? Will do!
Anali: It's a pleasure to hear from you, dear lady! I've been thinking about the need to give a new period label to our present place in history. I want a descriptor that speaks positively and that will not include Bush, Cheney or the rest of the "Henchmen." Let's keep thinking on it.
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