ergo propter bop
I’ve heard some criticism of the memorial as being too upbeat, too much like a political or pep rally. What that reminds me of is a funeral I attended several years ago. The minister pointed down at the casket and said:
She’s dead. This funeral is not for her. Funerals are for the living!
It was kind of shocking at the time, but it explains the need to help us heal and keep moving forward in the face of immeasurable loss and sadness and pain. All I can think right now is, “Amen!”
Christina Taylor Green was born on September 11, 2001 and was among those killed in Tucson last Saturday. After listening to President Obama talk about this idealistic nine year old and seeing a bit of the news coverage of her funeral today, I couldn’t help thinking about Tom Harrell’s “Wise Children.” I have no idea what motivated this mournful tune, but it certainly fits the occasion. I especially liked these words from the President:
Imagine — imagine for a moment, here was a young girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy; just beginning to understand the obligations of citizenship; just starting to glimpse the fact that some day she, too, might play a part in shaping her nation’s future. She had been elected to her student council. She saw public service as something exciting and hopeful. She was off to meet her congresswoman, someone she was sure was good and important and might be a role model. She saw all this through the eyes of a child, undimmed by the cynicism or vitriol that we adults all too often just take for granted.
I want to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it. I want America to be as good as she imagined it. All of us -– we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children’s expectations.
Wise children indeed.
Update: On rdio.com I created a playlist containing songs inspired by the events of 9/11. It’s since been updated with songs inspired by Hurricane Katrina and, today, songs that seem fitting for the events of Tucson, and especially the death of Christina Taylor Green:
In an early-2008 presidential campaign discussion, I mentioned Sarah Palin, for the first time, as a possible VP candidate. I’d only read a little about her, but it seemed conservatives-in-the-know were enamored with her. I was as surprised as anyone that she was picked by McCain, and also surprised by her lack of depth.
Fast forward. Even before the events in Tucson, the media has maintained its Palin fascination, focusing on every tweet, every Facebook update. Today they’re telling us about her defensive crouch, her use of loaded words, how she’s playing the victim card. Etc, etc, Blah. Blah. Blah. Ad nauseum.
Maybe the media could show a little self-restraint and only update us when she’s politically relevant (i.e., someone who is both a serious contender for the Republican nomination and who has more than a prayer of a chance actually being elected president)? That (or my very own personal Palin filter) would be nice.
Until she’s serious (and has serious prospects), just ignore her, OK?
Oops, I’m doing it too. Never mind.
Today, the President signed the Senate health care reform bill into law. The reconciliation bill is still pending and will likely be completed by next week, bringing a long, tortuous and messy process to a close.
Just when the legislation appeared ready to fail at many points, some deft sausage-making kept things moving:
Ultimately, there’s nothing like a good external (existential?) threat. Democratic legislators, faced with potentially catastrophic election prospects in November, finally figured out their best course of action was to finish the job.
Great legislation requires some core principles, a strategy, good people working hard to execute, great internal and external communications, etc. But it also requires an ability to improvise and to change as required. There’s always a risk of failure, but you make the decisions you have to make to keep things moving forward. And if you’re lucky, well:
Just sent the following to the President and my U.S. Representative and Senators:
I am increasingly upset with the news coming from Washington. The news media is reporting that Speaker Pelosi says there are not enough Democratic votes in the House to pass the health care reform bill approved by the Senate in December. My preference is that the House pass that bill and make required changes using the reconciliation process.
If Democrats don’t figure out how to do that and let this bill die or drag on for months, I will vote against Democrats in 2010 and beyond, and will urge all my friends and associates to do the same.
We didn’t elect you so you could get reelected. We elected you to stand for Democratic principles and to actually make them happen. Period.
You guys need to prove Will Rogers wrong!!
Maybe if our politicians get the message, they’ll get the courage of our convictions??
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