Lessons forgotten?

The other day, I posted Bobby Kennedy's 1968 speech made the day after Reverend Martin Luther King's assassination and only a few months before his own violent death by assassination. Bobby admonishes us not to allow ourselves to treat our fellow citizens as enemies -- that we are each entitled to our own life and our own determination and pursuit of happiness. He reminds us we may not be of one race, one religion, one mind on any policy - except for that wish to build our lives in our own idea of happiness for ourselves and our families. That idea is America's original idea - its greatness, its exceptionalism in the most classic sense, its homogeneity.

I feel very fortunate to have lived when true, great leaders such as Bobby Kennedy, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, had the courage to lead our country with such character. In my opinion, a great leader leads his country to work harder to be better, to do better. I can not think of any such leader in our country right now.

In my lifetime though, I have also witnessed terrible leaders who lead us to nothing but destruction. We are a house divided. Politically. Religiously. Racially. By citizenship. By who we love. By our own personal and private decisions and beliefs. The wrong leaders are easy to recognize because they do all they can to pit us, one against the other. They teach that we cannot trust our own neighbor to work as industriously as we do, they teach we cannot trust our neighbor to uphold the laws the way we do, they teach us our neighbors are not real citizens, they teach us our neighbor is unworthy of the love of God. As a nation we allow these people a national stage. That is our disgrace.

It is much more than mere irony that binds together the radical right -- the John Birch Society, its ancestors  and its heirs -- to our national tragedies. For they are all the same disastrous and destructive evil. They are the evil that divides us as a people, as a nation and pits us against each other. Dividing that they might conquer, steal and gain all our collective power.

Will we continue to allow them to take us down this path? Will we learn to look for and elevate to leader,  those people who understand how to elevate us all, to our common good? When will we, once again, begin to chose from the best amongst us? Or, will you and I continue on until we and our loved ones have to face the horror that Sullivan and Sarah Ballou faced so many years ago? Would we have the conviction of the American ideal as strongly as Sullivan Ballou's expressed one in his second paragraph? If we truly did, wouldn't we have honored that debt by not allowing ourselves to come to where we are today? How much more can we devalue those sacrifices made on our behalf, the sacrifices of all the Sullivans and Sarahs, the Kennedys, the Kings, and all of those before us, until they become meaningless and, therefore, worthless?

July the 14th, 1861

Washington D.C.

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure—and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine O God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows—when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children—is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar—that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the brightest day and in the darkest night—amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours—always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again.

As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

(Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the battle of Bull Run)

From Wikipedia:

Sullivan Ballou (March 28, 1829 – July 28, 1861) was alawyer, politician, and major in the United States Army. He is best remembered for the eloquent letter he wrote to his wife a week before he fought and was mortally wounded alongside his Rhode IslandVolunteers in the First Battle of Bull Run.

"On the Mindless Menace of Violence", speech, City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio (5 April 1968) by Robert F. Kennedy

Victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one can be certain who next will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed, and yet it goes on, and on, and on, in this country of ours. Whenever any American's life is taken by another American unnecessarily, whenever we tear at the fabric of our lives which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, whenever we do this, then the whole nation is degraded. Too often, we honour swagger and bluster and the wielders of force. Too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives from the shattered dreams of other human beings. But this much is clear, Violence breeds violence, repression breeds retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our souls. For when you teach a man to hate and to fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color, or his beliefs or the policies that he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you, threaten your freedom or your job or your home or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens, but as enemies. To be met not with co operation but with conquest, to be subjugated, and to be mastered. We learn at the last to look at our brothers as aliens. Alien men with whom we share a city, but not a community. Men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in a common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. Our lives on this planet are too short, the work to be done is too great. But we can perhaps remember, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life that they seek as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, surely this bond of common fate, this bond of common roles can begin to teach us something, that we can begin to work a little harder, to become in our hearts brothers and countrymen once again.


Audio of this entire speech

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

****Note: These are not entirely my words. In fact, most of this little essay came my way through a friend of a friend. It has been heavily edited and appended by me. I invite you to use this version as you see fit, altering it as you wish to make the message. Together we can accomplish something to help our fellow Americans, struggling in these difficult times.****

As the Christmas holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. Let’s make this year different. This year, why don’t Americans give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. Using just a little ingenuity, you can find a gift produced by American labor. It is much easier than you might think.

Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? How about this idea: Everyone – everyone gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? If you know which shop they use, you can visit them and purchase the gift certificate.

What about a gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Personal trainers, massage therapists, nutritional consults, boot camps, martial arts and yoga instructors are all great gifts that help people invest in themselves and their health.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Don’t overlook small business mechanics - give a tune up or car inspection. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down big money on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are plenty owner-run and family owned restaurants -- almost all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big national chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would love the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. A great gift not often thought of – hire a window washer to wash all the windows on the house  – inside and out! Hire a painter to repaint and update the colors in the house. Hire a floor refinisher, a carpenter and or handyman for her to-do list, a pool maintenance company, someone to power wash the driveway and sidewalks and/or the house exterior, a person to revitalize the outdoor decks by cleaning and resealing. How about hiring someone to update her baseboards by installing some of the new wider ones? Or having new interior doors installed? A personal chef to prepare a special meal for a family to come together and celebrate on a meaningful occasion?

Do you have family or friends whose computer could use a tune-up  –  find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running and give his services as a gift. Perhaps you have family members who have started their own business trying to survive in this economy. Give them the gift of a web designer or graphics designer as a gift and you will have given a gift that helps two American business workers!

Okay, you are looking for something more personal. Local craftspeople spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. Some make jewelry, pottery, sew clothing, make furniture and craft beautiful wooden boxes, pens, spoons.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you really need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

If you do have a small business, commit to finding a way to hiring at least one new person this year, if only part-time. The point is to make your first money, your best money, to be spent on people, not things.

It is about keeping your money local. Do business with the small guy - okay he is a little more expensive than the Big Box guy. It is about helping those who aren't guaranteed a pay check or those having to invent their own way to survive. So, buy less Chinese stuff and when you do have to buy, buy local! Find and utilize your thrift and consignment shops. Look for your local farmer’s market, your local bank or credit union, your local dressmaker or tailor, your local mechanic, handyman, technician, trainer, painter, healer. Find those artisan bakers, jelly makers, cookie makers, tamale makers, candy makers...

Let’s make Christmas not about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Let’s make Christmas about caring about people in the US, and encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away, following their dreams. When we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. Let’s make this the new American Christmas holiday tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about? Let us all Occupy the Holidays!