In the pre-dawn quiet, I'm still pondering the Ferguson Grand Jury verdict. It's another divisive moment in our nation's history, and I find myself wondering how we might rise together from these ashes, how we might turn our eyes, hearts and minds toward the common good.
I do miss the days when leaders spoke with eloquence, intelligence and sincerity; when by their actions, they inspired change. But in reality, it all comes down to what we–each one of us–is willing to say and do. I don't claim to have the answers, but in this morning's musings, I came across a passage that inspires me to do what I can, in this present moment: Write.
From Rebecca Solnit's HOPE IN THE DARK:
"The transformation of despair into hope is alchemical work, an artist's work. And what all transformations have in common is that they begin in the imagination.
"To hope is to gamble. It's to bet on the future, on your desires, on the possibility that an open heart and uncertainty are better than gloom and safety. To hope is dangerous, and yet it is the opposite of fear, for to live is to risk. I say all this to you because hope is not like a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. I say this because hope is an ax you break down doors with in an emergency; because hope should shove you out the door, because it will take everything you have to steer the future away from endless war, from annihilation of the earth's treasures and the grinding down of the poor and marginal. Hope just means another world might be possible, not promised, not guaranteed. Hope calls for action; action is impossible without hope."
Another inspirational passage, written and delivered by Robert F. Kennedy on the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death:
“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.
“So I shall ask you tonight to return home, to say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther King, that’s true, but more importantly to say a prayer for our own country, which all of us love–a prayer for understanding and that compassion of which I spoke.
“We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times; we’ve had difficult times in the past; we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder.
“But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings who abide in our land.
“Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.
“Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people.”
I also thought of RFK’s speech and its plea for understanding. He was able to calm down the crowd with this impromptu speech.
It’s a beautiful passage, isn’t it? Rehearsed or no, it was reassuring. And there was a call to action to help move us forward, together as one.
Truth be told, I’m well and truly scared that we’ll allow this to tear us further asunder, that we’ll retreat to our corners and abandon hope. Yes, I’m writing this from a place some might call privilege. But it’s a truth universal that when the light of hope flickers and dies, despair fills that void & darkness wins. Weary as we might be, we simply can’t allow that to happen.
LOVE HOW YOU PUT THIS MELODYE. HOPE IS THE KEY, AND ACTION,
THERE NEEDS TO BE CHANGE OF OLD LAWS. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, LOVELLA
Thank you, Lovella.
As an aside, I’m migrating my blog over to WordPress really soon–watch for that, will you? I think it’ll be more user-friendly: You can sign up for new blog notifications & comment without creating an account. Hope you’ll hang around until I make the switch-over and then follow me there. xoxo
http://melodyeshore.wordpress.com
Great quote(s).
Robin, I was so inspired (and reassured) by them…glad you liked them, too!
Thank you for that.
Thank YOU for stopping by.