I just returned from Marquette University where I was teaching a public speaking class for some electeds and women running for office. On the campus that I almost attended, I was astounded by the friendliness of the humans I encountered.
I asked 6 separate students the cause of this warmth on their campus.
Six. Separate. Individuals.
I received the same answer.
Virginia Tech.
I noticed this too. After the 1989 earthquake we in San Francisco were so nice to each other. Folks had to carry Kleenex around November 1, 1989 as they came to a 4-way stop with pedestrians in San Francisco, everyone waved the other person to go in front of them…. It was inspiring.
Standing at one of these stops, I watched a homeless man take the money he was given by a passing vehicle, purchase a cup of coffee and hand it to a police officer directing traffic. wow.
Sad and warm at the same time.
In 1986, Mkele Mbembe was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Mbembe approached it very carefully.
He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant’s foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.
As carefully and as gently as he could, Mbembe worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.
The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments.
Mbembe stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled.
Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.
Mbembe never forgot that elephant or the events of that day. Twenty years later, Mbembe was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenaged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Mbembe and his son Tapu were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Mbembe, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man. Remembering the encounter in 1986, Mbembe couldn’t help wondering if this was the same elephant.
Mbembe summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Mbembe’s legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.
Probably wasn’t the same elephant.
I was lucky enough to hear past President Clinton on Sunday. I have a great picture of him that I can’t upload. Anyone reading this who knows how to use wordpress to upload pictures, let me know.
200 folks in a room: he was talking about Hillary.
He talked about her decision to run for President. He said one thing that resonated as I think of critical decisions we all need to make in our lives.
If you feel you are the best person for the job: you HAVE to run. If you feel someone else is the best person for the job: you can’t run.
Once you realize you are the best person for the job: you have no choice but to run.
How simple is that thought process. I am applying that to life right now.
I read an article in the Chronicle this morning that has left me blue. It told a story of a little boy who wanted to wear pink tights for ballet.
The author has the right perspective.
What saddens me is that in 2007 we spend 4 pages discussing if we should gender-correct children who want to be different than their sex.
Why do we care if a boy wants to wear a dress? What is so awful about a little girl who refuses tafetta and dolls? Why does this matter in our world?
We want conformity. Look right, act right, talk right.. or else. I am so sick of it. Parents everywhere should scold their children for teasing anyone about anything. Except maybe teasing a child for teasing another child.
I have bright red hair. No big deal.
This week I had a new client say to me “With that hair, you better be good.”
Why are we so alarmed by the different? I pray today that my little boy grows up in a world that has a backlash to his mom’s conformity world. I hope when he is in elementary school ANYTHING GOES… wear what you want, wear your hair how you want…… sing out loud…. be different.
Today, April 4, 2007, is a day to celebrate what is beautiful about our country, the United States of America. Today, we learned that two Democratic candidates for the President of the United States have broken all-time fundraising records.
One candidate is a woman. The other candidate is an African American man.
This is the country we live in. A country that doesn’t just accept diversity, a country that clearly celebrates the individual. A country poised and ready to show the entire world that at our core foundation we believe in an individuals right for freedom and the pursuit of happiness is an unalienable right- for all people.
The American people have great reason to be proud today.
Today is the beginning of a new and revived relationship with what we hold most dear: freedom and integrity. As the candidates looks toward the upcoming election, Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have already won. They have already given the American people cause to believe again in our political process and what is great about us. I am so very thankful for this reminder.
I have my fingers double crossed hoping this is the message we get from both camps. Not about CHANGE.. about how fantastic our country is.
They have a chance to HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK in the court of public opinion.
