American Dream

This is a very enjoyable song musically, an interesting video with a number of guest and cameo appearances, and it’s especially timely tonight, the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech, and the night Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech as the Democratic candidate for President of the United States.

You can view full details of the video, including a list of performers, at this YouTube site.

As happy as I am with outcome of the Democratic primaries, it’s not without some sadness that I note that we’ve yet to elect a woman as our national leader, lagging behind many other countries in the world.

In that spirit, I really liked Hillary’s line (from her concession speech):

Although we weren’t able to shatter that hardest, highest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you it’s got about 18 million cracks in it.

There may still be one or two people (see previous post) who aren’t clear on who’s the presumptive Deomocratic presidential nominee, but as the graphic below shows, the world at large doesn’t share this confusion.

We’ll save our final congratulations until August and November, but for now let’s acknowledge the historical significance of Barack Obama winning the Democratic presidential primary race.

If you are curious how my original, tepid, support (acknowledgement of the inevitable was more like it) for Hillary evolved into strong support for Obama, a couple of things stand out, beyond his general message of hope and strength and plans to

Barack’s speech on race relations, which acknowledges the real issues facing our country in an honest and adult manner really should be observed in its entirety.

It’s nice to be spoken to as an adult.

The other thing, I have to admit, is a video that came out a couple of months before the aforementioned speech. Yes We Can, simply put, is a inspiring and persuasive musical vision of a world that I grew up in; a time when America was a can-do nation; a time when we lead the world; a time that is within our power, today, as Americans, to bring back to reality.

we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.

Update: This photo expresses so much more than I can say with mere words.

John Moore, Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery / Getty Images

More info behind this photo is available, here and here.

Five years ago, I expressed my concerns about the war that has now lasted longer than WWII. Sad to say, almost everything I wrote about turned out worse than any of us could have imagined back then.

My friend Ben writes eloquently about one of the techniques that have been used to prolong the occupation: “another 12 to 18 months and things will be fine.” Right. That’s worked pretty well; almost as well as hiding one’s head in the sand like an ostrich.

And soon 4000 Americans will be dead. 40,000 have been wounded, and let’s not talk about how America has failed them with under-funded veterans health care and other benefits.

And I suppose it’s fitting that this post simply end, with no real conclusion, for I have no great insights, I have no reserves of energy to keep fighting this thing, but unlike the ceaseless and indeterminate occupation, I can stop.