With the Inauguration of Barack Obama just days away and the airwaves and my mind filled with past inaugural speeches I began to wonder what makes these moments special. Hope and Change--the Obama campaigns primary platform, have left us feeling ready for that and and willing to see how these two giant ideas might work out practically. We know Mr. Obama's skillful communication is a great asset. The undeciders need to know how effective a manager he will be, how well will he lead. I have no doubt that Obama will provide us with a great piece of oratory. He will stir our hearts and minds for moments better than these. His presence on that stage--change and hope embodied in him, the aspiration and confirmation of a people, the power of his victory is proof to what makes America special. His rise to the office of the President is not possible in most states especially those that would do us harm and his representing us in the world speaks more to our power, of our people and institutions, than any use of force ever can or will.
With AC360 style comparisons to when Lincoln, FDR and JFK assumed the presidency generally equating to a nation in peril, etc. infinitum. What other common thread links these men is also an imperative to a great speech? In ostensibly our darkest hour they managed to look ahead and hope almost beyond what could be hoped for emancipation and unity, beyond depression, sacrifice and putting a man on the moon. They pointed the way and said we are going to get there, we are America.
I don’t know what Barack Obama will say or how far forward we can peer at this time with so many seemingly overwhelming tasks ahead of us. But in this moment of renewal, change in leadership and direction for our great nation I hope YOU will take the moment, this moment filled with hope and change, to pause and reflect on what obstacle or task, hill or mountain you might hope we as civilized people can take off the list or progress past. I have my own that I take pause to communicate for its proclamation and solution seem today beyond our imagination and comprehension. Full of the same "unrealistic" and "idealistic" tone as when in the depths of the Great Depression FDR proclaimed that “We have nothing more to fear than fear itself”. It sounds like the same dream, glossy eyed and inconceivable, shocking--like telling a segregated black man in the south with no right to vote that in his lifetime a black man will sit at the pinnacle of power in the White House. It all pleads for us to ask what can I hope for by the end of my days.
With AC360 style comparisons to when Lincoln, FDR and JFK assumed the presidency generally equating to a nation in peril, etc. infinitum. What other common thread links these men is also an imperative to a great speech? In ostensibly our darkest hour they managed to look ahead and hope almost beyond what could be hoped for emancipation and unity, beyond depression, sacrifice and putting a man on the moon. They pointed the way and said we are going to get there, we are America.
I don’t know what Barack Obama will say or how far forward we can peer at this time with so many seemingly overwhelming tasks ahead of us. But in this moment of renewal, change in leadership and direction for our great nation I hope YOU will take the moment, this moment filled with hope and change, to pause and reflect on what obstacle or task, hill or mountain you might hope we as civilized people can take off the list or progress past. I have my own that I take pause to communicate for its proclamation and solution seem today beyond our imagination and comprehension. Full of the same "unrealistic" and "idealistic" tone as when in the depths of the Great Depression FDR proclaimed that “We have nothing more to fear than fear itself”. It sounds like the same dream, glossy eyed and inconceivable, shocking--like telling a segregated black man in the south with no right to vote that in his lifetime a black man will sit at the pinnacle of power in the White House. It all pleads for us to ask what can I hope for by the end of my days.
So I have two. I hope that by the end of my days we will have evolved past the roadblock of deterrence toward a world emancipated from the threat of nuclear war. For too long we have relied on the threat of mutually assured destruction to begin our conversations and to threaten our people. This I believe is a fundamental step, a step back from the brink; holster in the thoughts and minds of military men world wide the ability to end life with the ultimate weapon ever devised in the history of civilized society.
Where do we start, like the addict committed to end the torture of drugs, one day at a time. I hope that for one day of my life there will be a day free from oppressive armed struggle and the threat of force for mankind. A holiday, in the most surreal parts of my mind a celebration of our combined humanity on earth, celebrated like the myriad others except free from armed pursuits. We have set for too long at this crossroads and yet war as a viable instrument has continued to plague us. Unless we begin to take actions to alleviate the continued development of these measures we are doomed to continue down this dread road for another lifetime. That is the road to peace.
Where do we start, like the addict committed to end the torture of drugs, one day at a time. I hope that for one day of my life there will be a day free from oppressive armed struggle and the threat of force for mankind. A holiday, in the most surreal parts of my mind a celebration of our combined humanity on earth, celebrated like the myriad others except free from armed pursuits. We have set for too long at this crossroads and yet war as a viable instrument has continued to plague us. Unless we begin to take actions to alleviate the continued development of these measures we are doomed to continue down this dread road for another lifetime. That is the road to peace.
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How are you feeling about month one?
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