Thinking about our relatively short history as a nation, one can easily focus on those transformative moments of great danger and division when it seemed that the one person (sometimes maybe the only one) who had the ability to bring us through was suddenly there on the stage.
The Virginia planter who’d dreamed of a martial sword, was tur…
Thinking about our relatively short history as a nation, one can easily focus on those transformative moments of great danger and division when it seemed that the one person (sometimes maybe the only one) who had the ability to bring us through was suddenly there on the stage.
The Virginia planter who’d dreamed of a martial sword, was turned down by the British Army he wished so much to be a part of, and then went on to face that army down with a courage and perseverance that made him a hero, then to go on to further enhance that heroism when he returned that sword to Congress and still went on to bring us through our raucous and uncertain infancy with a steady hand and an example we still revere.
The backwoods lawyer and homespun president, at first disdained as a hick by members of his own cabinet whose courage, political expertise, and extraordinary understanding of who we were meant to be brought us as whole as he could through our terrible adolescence, and gave us, in just over two minutes as an afterthought speaker, a goal for the ages.
The aristocratic cripple who through imaginative and daring policies brought us out of the worst financial disaster in our history, and then led us through the worst catastrophe the world had ever known as the arsenal of the armies that beat that darkness back.
We now face another crisis, this one of our own making, and perhaps one inevitable in any democracy. One man has already taken that stage and begun to bring us out of it. Now, unable to continue, he has handed that responsibility off to another, and we come to the second part of that transformative moment. Facing a dark malevolence whose mastery of illusion has seduced half a nation, a woman has stepped onto the stage, accepting the awesome responsibility of being the second half of that transformation. We hold our breath and move to stand behind her, hoping that she can now take on that crucial role played by those other Americans who, when the moment came, met and won it. You will have to bear much, Ms Harris. The forces arrayed against us are dark, deep, and desperate. Our job as those who understand and love the country we were meant to be is to stand behind you. Game on!
Doc, great poem, up to the end. My prefered message for the campaign is Democratic Diversity versus Republican Repression (or Regression, if you prefer). Emphasizing the overall Diversity rings many more positive bells than highlighting just one specific one. Say Rainbow if you want. Or let us together sing.
I have only seen a part of it but the meeting of the campaign staff with Joe (via phone) and Kamala in person was so moving. In her words, her demeanor, and my lord her glistening eyes the love and empathy she had toward Joe literally emanated from every fiber of her being. I'm welling just writing this!
I was gonna write a comment, but you blew me away and I have nothing more enlightening to add. Other than, perhaps you should offer up your skills as a speech writer for Kamala!
Thinking about our relatively short history as a nation, one can easily focus on those transformative moments of great danger and division when it seemed that the one person (sometimes maybe the only one) who had the ability to bring us through was suddenly there on the stage.
The Virginia planter who’d dreamed of a martial sword, was turned down by the British Army he wished so much to be a part of, and then went on to face that army down with a courage and perseverance that made him a hero, then to go on to further enhance that heroism when he returned that sword to Congress and still went on to bring us through our raucous and uncertain infancy with a steady hand and an example we still revere.
The backwoods lawyer and homespun president, at first disdained as a hick by members of his own cabinet whose courage, political expertise, and extraordinary understanding of who we were meant to be brought us as whole as he could through our terrible adolescence, and gave us, in just over two minutes as an afterthought speaker, a goal for the ages.
The aristocratic cripple who through imaginative and daring policies brought us out of the worst financial disaster in our history, and then led us through the worst catastrophe the world had ever known as the arsenal of the armies that beat that darkness back.
We now face another crisis, this one of our own making, and perhaps one inevitable in any democracy. One man has already taken that stage and begun to bring us out of it. Now, unable to continue, he has handed that responsibility off to another, and we come to the second part of that transformative moment. Facing a dark malevolence whose mastery of illusion has seduced half a nation, a woman has stepped onto the stage, accepting the awesome responsibility of being the second half of that transformation. We hold our breath and move to stand behind her, hoping that she can now take on that crucial role played by those other Americans who, when the moment came, met and won it. You will have to bear much, Ms Harris. The forces arrayed against us are dark, deep, and desperate. Our job as those who understand and love the country we were meant to be is to stand behind you. Game on!
I want to stand up and cheer!
Your profound words
of tribute and deep love
and compassion for our leaders
move me to tears
Yes our job is to stand behind you
Kamala Harris through the best
and the worst
of what is to come
Let freedom ring!
Let the black dove sing!
Doc, great poem, up to the end. My prefered message for the campaign is Democratic Diversity versus Republican Repression (or Regression, if you prefer). Emphasizing the overall Diversity rings many more positive bells than highlighting just one specific one. Say Rainbow if you want. Or let us together sing.
you are absolutely right, David
I stand corrected
I was all enthralled quoting the Martina McBride song
that goes "Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing"
when I realized um...changed it to black...
but I should have gone with MLK:
"Let the dove with character sing!"
😉🥂
In my yard, mourning doves are singing.... I always hear them as morning doves!
so do I
all us morning doves 🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️
are singing now 🎶🎶🎶🎶
because it's morning
in America 🌅🇺🇸
Morning in AMerica.... again.... sigh
I think that gets folded into a future vs. past framework pretty neatly
That is some magnificent writing
I wish I had been able to frame my comment as elegantly as you did! I am with you
! Game on for sure!
Reading this gave me goosebumps! Wow! Thank you for this perspective.
This is glorious James.
I have only seen a part of it but the meeting of the campaign staff with Joe (via phone) and Kamala in person was so moving. In her words, her demeanor, and my lord her glistening eyes the love and empathy she had toward Joe literally emanated from every fiber of her being. I'm welling just writing this!
$100 million in small-amount donations in the first 24 hours of her journey would seem to indicate a very strong start!
Wow. I'm thinking the Harris campaign can use another speechwriter, Mr Quinn. Give it some thought.
agreed!
This is a beautiful piece of writing, sir.
Thank you James
I was gonna write a comment, but you blew me away and I have nothing more enlightening to add. Other than, perhaps you should offer up your skills as a speech writer for Kamala!