SwimFinsSF

Things I long for

In case ya haven’t guessed I’ve fallen into one of my crazy busy times.. This time its more self induced than something I can blame on work.. Don’t get me wrong - its all work - but its cuz I’m working on things I”m interested and can’t quite step away… Unfortunately, when I get in this frame of mine I tend to get too lost in what I’m focused on to pay attention to whats going on around me.

But ever so often there are things that stop me from what I’m doing and make me take a breath and think for a minute. Thats happened to me three times this week - all triggered by something I heard out of context from the TV I keep on in the background as I work. All that made stop what I was doing and rewind and listen. All choked me up. And one left me in tears.

The first was a clip of a speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. that they played during Driving Miss Daisy:

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of bad people but also for the appalling silence of good people.

The second was the closing scenes of ‘And the Band Played On’ with the scenes of all of the amazing and wonderful people who have been affected and taken by the AIDS epidemic. This was the one that left me in tears. The number of people who died as our administration did nothing and ignored the problem. And the effects that continue and grow in many ways today in so many people I know.

And the third was a speech on the west wing by the President:

Forty four people were killed a couple of hours ago at Kenneson State University. Three swimmers from the men’s team were killed and two others are in critical condition when after having heard the explosion from their practice facility they ran into the fire to help get people out. Ran into the fire. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They’re our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight.

But every time we’ve measured our capacity to meet a challenge we look up and we’re reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars.

All three of these snapped me out of my work trance and got me thinking.. and dreaming… And longing… Longing for a world where people take a stand for what is right. A world were people respect and love each other - and start by respecting and loving themselves. For a world where everyone is treated with respect and dignity throughout their life and in their dying hour. For a government that truly places human compassion and dignity before moral superiority and judgments. And for a President who is a moral and noble man who truly cares for the people of our country…

Anyway. Kind of a lot to ask huh? Just seems some times like we’re so far from it that it makes me kinda sad… Thats the kinda stuff that gives me pause as I’m surrounded by the hubbub of life and the insanity I see in the news these days…

Back to your regularly scheduled programming!