November 4, 2008
Dear David and Trinity,
A few minutes ago, while you both slept in your beds upstairs, Barack Obama was elected President of the United States of America. It's difficult to express how monumental this moment is for so many people in this country. It may not turn out to be the case that he is a great president (we sure hope he is, though), but what he represents is surely great. We weren't sure that we'd ever see the day that an African-American would be elected to the highest office in the nation. And, yet, here we are on the other side of history.
We live in troubled times. The world economy is in crisis. We are engaged in not one but two wars in the Middle East. The nation seems more divided than ever over central social and cultural issues: the rights of gay citizens to marry, the environment, health care, etc. And yet, despite this -- perhaps because of this -- we have broken down one of the longest-standing barriers in our country's history. The long struggle for civil rights is still ongoing in many ways. But tonight things just got a little bit better.
You were each born into this world with some cards stacked against you, simply for the color of your skin. But you are the brightest lights in each of our days: beautiful, smart, hilariously funny, kind, and unconditionally loving. Though you can't now know the significance of this night, you are sure to feel it in the very fabric of your lives. Forty years ago, a man had a dream that people would be "judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Tonight that dream came true. The world finally belongs to you, too, and there is nothing you cannot do. Yes, you can.
And so we say this to you: take your lives seriously, live intentionally, love fully, and believe that you can take the world you've inherited and make it a better place.
We're going to bed now. It's late. We'll go upstairs and listen to you breathe the way only the innocent can breathe. We go to sleep tonight knowing that the world has changed for the better (if only just a little) and that this place is a little more hopeful, a little less divided, and whole lot more open to all the possibilities your lives now hold.
Good night, sweet and gentle friends. We love you more than these words can say.
Mom and Dad
8 comments:
AMEN
Grammy
Geez. Just when I thought I was done crying over this election...
Amen is right!
Oh, John. You've got me crying... again!
Over and over, yesterday and today, I just kept thinking that David and Trinity could finally grow up knowing that there's nothing in this country that will be denied them if only they're willing to work hard for it. This is such a special time in the history of this country. Yes we can, indeed!
And it's nice to know I'm not the only weeping willow in the crowd. :)
Sorry. Guess I should have signed that post.
Love ya, little bro.
Sue (still smilin' through my tears)
Use the potty? YES WE CAN! Let mommy and daddy sleep a little bit more on Saturdays? YES WE CAN!
Be just a little bit more hopeful when talking about truth and justice in the U.S. and A.?
Yes. Yes we can.
BEAUTIFUL !!!!
I love you all - Aunt Mary
Gosh, I cried too. I have told more than one person what cool people (and parents) you are & this just confirms I am so right. :) Leslie in State College
Jonathan,
You are such a well spoken young man, with a heart and mind filled with thought provoking and emotionally evoking sentiments.
Better days to come- for all.
PS- It's not easy to write through a steady stream of tears.
Beth L
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