I read something this past year that Dan Rather wrote about the sadness of his memories of specific historical dates. Those that recreated what America is, i.e.: December 7, 1941, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, September 11, 2001 – the terrorist attack on America (Twin Towers...), and so forth. As a newsman, he knows his dates. He’s watched the chaos, the terror, the good and the bad, and he’s seen America unite when they needed to and dissolve into selfish opinions and preferences afterward. I also suspect he has most likely feared, as many of us have, that we will finally fall so far apart as a nation that we will wander too far from unity to ever repair the rifts. So many are so selfish, so angry.
This article came out in the middle of Donald Trump’s presidency, while the unrest of the election between he and Hilary Clinton still scarred – and scared – many people. It was 17 years after the twin towers had been destroyed, and we suddenly realized an entire generation of children was with us that had not lived through that horrendous day. They have no memory of it other than the pictures that remind us each year not to forget. And they can’t truly understand it as we who lived through it do. Their concept would be that of a history lesson. Dan Rather says their own lives will bring their own challenges – we've certainly seen that in recent years. Mr. Rather knows we need our young people to know our history, but that they should not be bound by it. Wise words. We so often learn through our own experience, not other’s experiences or advice.
In all of this Mr. Rather saw something that can give us hope. He saw that this was a new generation, that there is the “changing of the guard” coming and that is normal and good. Because dark and fearful times can be turned to good times. We’ve seen it happen. Mr. Rather also used the rabbinical quote, “As long as the candle is burning, it is still possible to mend.”
I pray that this country would rise to the precepts it was founded on with all the freedom that was agreed upon in 1776 (Declaration of Independence) and on the belief that all mankind is created equal. I pray that the candle continues to burn large and bright until we see that day come - no matter who the presidents are along the way. God bless America.
Add on: Definition of mankind: “human beings considered collectively; the human race”.
That’s every race and every gender. We all have the same skeletal systems and the same basic internal workings, hearts, brains, blood vessels, etc. on the inside. We don’t get to pick who is human – it is what it is. We’re in this together.
Comments