Barak Obama - President of the United States of America! What an amazing and wonderful title!
I have had a curious and unique relationship with the civil rights'movement' in this country, ever since I was a teenager.
In the early 1960's - while in High School - I was a 'Quaker' [or more correctly, 'The Society of Friends'], and deeply involved with my Friends 'Youth' Organization, of about 150 or so teens of all ages, 13-19. This was in northern California. We were very active in social, and politically aware events of the time, but we focused a lot of our energy on the 'Civil Rights Movement'. Some of our group, and close friends, were 'Freedom Riders' on the Greyhound busses touring the south. Several were beaten and jailed. Later 2 of my good friends participated in the 'March on Selma' with Dr King. I was too young to go then.
During these years, Dr Martin L. King, and several notable civil rights activists, musicians, artists, and writers were to be having a town hall meeting about the 'movement' at Stanford University. Our youth group helped in the promotion of the event. We waited outside the hall, and Dr King, and the other notable activists, and celebrities - on their way into the event - were kind enough to stop and meet with us briefly, each say hello to every one of us indivually, and shake our hands by way of thanks for supporting the 'movement'. I have always been very proud to say I shook Dr Kings hand!
Those were very worrisome days in the Civil Rights movement, as there were many people across the country - not just in the south - that were not very favorably inclined toward helping black folks, or supporting the concept of 'equality' in general. I was about 15 then, and had not yet gone to Viet Nam ... which is another, but very much inter-related story. In spite of my belief in, and study of, civil disobedience and non-violence my whole life, I found myself in the Marine Corps. This is an amazing story in itself, but for another time of telling.
Fast forward now a few years to 1965.
I was in Marine training at Camp Pendleton, California - in the heat of August, when the 'Watts Riot' erupted in Los Angeles. Being only an hour away, our unit was hastily organized, and trained for 'riot control, to attack civilians .. where we learned, and practiced crowd control techniques with fixed bayonets. This scared the shit out of all of us. Americans against Americans. About 35% of our unit was composed of African-Americans, who were not inclined to participate, and threatened a virtual 'mutiny'. This was a very crazy time. Ultimately, we were never called to the riots, but the Government had rows of busses, and troop transports lined up for us, waiting to go at a moments notice. It was very serious buisness. We were not issued rubber bullets. Thank God we never had to go.
The first time I ever voted in a National Election was by absentee ballot - as a Marine in Viet Nam. I voted for Eldrige Cleaver. There wasn't a chance in hell he would be elected, but to me - there wasn't any other choice. I later wondered if that was a 'wasted' vote, but at the time, I was convinced it was the right thing to do. I could not vote for LBJ! Through a curios twist of fate, I had actually shaken hands with President LBJ, when he came personally to see off our Marine Unit. He was shipping us off to Viet Nam to reinforce our losing troops during the 'Tet Offensive' of 1968. LBJ had come to El Toro Marine Air Base to see us off. We traveled in combat gear, to be ready to fight upon landing, which we did.!
By the age of 19, I had shaken hands with Dr King, and LBJ. What a world of contrasts.
When I watched Barak Obama give the keynote speech at the Democratic Convention, in 2004, it was the first time I had heard such stirring words of inspiration, reconciliation, and hope from a politician in many decades. It gave me hope. I was inspired. I was stirred. I was 'called'. I felt that here was a person who actually 'got it'! I turned to the folks I was watching the convention with, and said WHO is that guy? Wow.. HE is the guy who should be running for president, and if - by some chance - he ever did, he had my vote! I have since learned that many others mirrored that exact moment.
I was at the VA hospital on this last voting day - November 4th. It happened that I was there almost all day. There was a palpable feeling of excitement, and it seemed that everyone - even the most red neck hardened old vets - were all hoping that Obama would prevail. I was quite taken by the universality of the sentiment across all the various clinics, staff, waiting rooms, and elevator rides. There was a quiet riot of sorts. I would ask folks if they had voted, and a common response was .. "I voted for historic change last week" [early voting] ... or 'I'm voting for history today' ... several die hard republicans even said .. they had never voted for a Democrat, but had voted for Obama. It was quite inspiring, and wonderful how everyone seemed to be pulling together. I had not experienced anything like it since the stirring days right after 9-11 when everyone was 'one'.
President Obama will have a tough path. I think we all put the expectations of an FDR on him. I want him to live up to those expectations... but he is one man. I liked his appeal to all Americans to work together... from the ground up... I have always believed that kind of change - from the people upward - is stronger and more lasting. This country needs a lot of fixing.Obama has called on all of us to participate in the repair. All my energy and hopes are with our new President. I am even more proud to be an American today! I would love to shake his hand!
I have had a curious and unique relationship with the civil rights'movement' in this country, ever since I was a teenager.
In the early 1960's - while in High School - I was a 'Quaker' [or more correctly, 'The Society of Friends'], and deeply involved with my Friends 'Youth' Organization, of about 150 or so teens of all ages, 13-19. This was in northern California. We were very active in social, and politically aware events of the time, but we focused a lot of our energy on the 'Civil Rights Movement'. Some of our group, and close friends, were 'Freedom Riders' on the Greyhound busses touring the south. Several were beaten and jailed. Later 2 of my good friends participated in the 'March on Selma' with Dr King. I was too young to go then.
During these years, Dr Martin L. King, and several notable civil rights activists, musicians, artists, and writers were to be having a town hall meeting about the 'movement' at Stanford University. Our youth group helped in the promotion of the event. We waited outside the hall, and Dr King, and the other notable activists, and celebrities - on their way into the event - were kind enough to stop and meet with us briefly, each say hello to every one of us indivually, and shake our hands by way of thanks for supporting the 'movement'. I have always been very proud to say I shook Dr Kings hand!
Those were very worrisome days in the Civil Rights movement, as there were many people across the country - not just in the south - that were not very favorably inclined toward helping black folks, or supporting the concept of 'equality' in general. I was about 15 then, and had not yet gone to Viet Nam ... which is another, but very much inter-related story. In spite of my belief in, and study of, civil disobedience and non-violence my whole life, I found myself in the Marine Corps. This is an amazing story in itself, but for another time of telling.
Fast forward now a few years to 1965.
I was in Marine training at Camp Pendleton, California - in the heat of August, when the 'Watts Riot' erupted in Los Angeles. Being only an hour away, our unit was hastily organized, and trained for 'riot control, to attack civilians .. where we learned, and practiced crowd control techniques with fixed bayonets. This scared the shit out of all of us. Americans against Americans. About 35% of our unit was composed of African-Americans, who were not inclined to participate, and threatened a virtual 'mutiny'. This was a very crazy time. Ultimately, we were never called to the riots, but the Government had rows of busses, and troop transports lined up for us, waiting to go at a moments notice. It was very serious buisness. We were not issued rubber bullets. Thank God we never had to go.
The first time I ever voted in a National Election was by absentee ballot - as a Marine in Viet Nam. I voted for Eldrige Cleaver. There wasn't a chance in hell he would be elected, but to me - there wasn't any other choice. I later wondered if that was a 'wasted' vote, but at the time, I was convinced it was the right thing to do. I could not vote for LBJ! Through a curios twist of fate, I had actually shaken hands with President LBJ, when he came personally to see off our Marine Unit. He was shipping us off to Viet Nam to reinforce our losing troops during the 'Tet Offensive' of 1968. LBJ had come to El Toro Marine Air Base to see us off. We traveled in combat gear, to be ready to fight upon landing, which we did.!
By the age of 19, I had shaken hands with Dr King, and LBJ. What a world of contrasts.
When I watched Barak Obama give the keynote speech at the Democratic Convention, in 2004, it was the first time I had heard such stirring words of inspiration, reconciliation, and hope from a politician in many decades. It gave me hope. I was inspired. I was stirred. I was 'called'. I felt that here was a person who actually 'got it'! I turned to the folks I was watching the convention with, and said WHO is that guy? Wow.. HE is the guy who should be running for president, and if - by some chance - he ever did, he had my vote! I have since learned that many others mirrored that exact moment.
I was at the VA hospital on this last voting day - November 4th. It happened that I was there almost all day. There was a palpable feeling of excitement, and it seemed that everyone - even the most red neck hardened old vets - were all hoping that Obama would prevail. I was quite taken by the universality of the sentiment across all the various clinics, staff, waiting rooms, and elevator rides. There was a quiet riot of sorts. I would ask folks if they had voted, and a common response was .. "I voted for historic change last week" [early voting] ... or 'I'm voting for history today' ... several die hard republicans even said .. they had never voted for a Democrat, but had voted for Obama. It was quite inspiring, and wonderful how everyone seemed to be pulling together. I had not experienced anything like it since the stirring days right after 9-11 when everyone was 'one'.
President Obama will have a tough path. I think we all put the expectations of an FDR on him. I want him to live up to those expectations... but he is one man. I liked his appeal to all Americans to work together... from the ground up... I have always believed that kind of change - from the people upward - is stronger and more lasting. This country needs a lot of fixing.Obama has called on all of us to participate in the repair. All my energy and hopes are with our new President. I am even more proud to be an American today! I would love to shake his hand!
A man walks up to the guard at the White House and says ... "I'd like to see George Bush".
The guard says ... "I'm sorry, but he doesn't live here anymore."
Next day .. the same guy walks up to the guard and says .. "I'd like to see George Bush"The guard - a bit peeved - says "I told you .. he doesn't live here anymore"!
This goes on for the next 2 days .. and the guard is getting steamed!
Finally the guard explodes and says .."SIR .. I told you George Bush doesn't live here anymore!!!!"
The man says ... "Oh I know that .. but don't you just love hearing it !!"
The guard says .. "Oh .. absolutely ...then I'll see you tomorrow ?" ..
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