In 1966 Robert F. Kennedy delivered his "Day of Affirmation Address" in Capetown, South Africa. Excerpting from it, he stated:
"Give me a place to stand," said Archimedes, "and I will move the world." These men moved the world, and so can we all. Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. Thousands of Peace Corps volunteers are making a difference in isolated villages and city slums in dozens of countries. Thousands of unknown men and women in Europe resisted the occupation of the Nazis and many died, but all added to the ultimate strength and freedom of their countries. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
I do not know how many sets of eyes will read the words I write. But I shall be writing for you.
From my small town in Wisconsin, I will be continuing to set down in print my thoughts and aspirations for this nation. I hope that you will join in this conversation.
America needs more voices to create ripples. Ripples that can grow to waves that will wash across this nation. It is a time for a new direction for America. We can do it together.
Bob
1 comment:
Bob,
My proudest possession is a letter sent to me by Robert Kennedy when I was just a young girl. My history class was assigned to write letters to our heroes and Robert Kennedy wrote back. I'll never know if he composed the content of the letter or if a secretary did, but the signature looks real. The letter arrived two weeks before he died. It is a sad part of that sad history that reminds me that we can never hold on to our dreams too tightly because they vanish all too quickly.
It feels particularly appropriate to me that you named you named your new blog after the words of Robert Kennedy. That quote is one of my favorite and I remember when John Kerry referred to it in one of his speeches. Yes, so sadly appropriate. There was a greatness in Robert Kennedy and there is also greatness in John Kerry.
Thank you for continuing to blog. Your posts are always inspirational.
There is still much work to be done. The ripples will grow.
And John Kerry is still fighting for us and with us. Something tells me that he's going to be creating some mighty fierce waves in the coming months. He'll need folks like us to have his back more than ever.
Congratulations on your new blog.
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