History Marches On

[usedbear1950]

I sit in front of the TV this evening watching a new chapter in history. This is not a thread about who I support nor whom you should support. It is a thread about watching and being present as new events unfold.
Tonight I sit in breathless anticipation as the first black person becomes the standard bearer for a major political party.
It has made me think of the history I have seen in my 57 1/2 years.
I met Malcolm X a year before he was assassinated.
I was in Washington to hear Martin Luther King speak of a dream.
I was in class in my Catholic school when the nun announced with teary eyes that JFK was assassinated.
Then MLK and then RFK.
I remember being at a "Moon Walk" party as we watched the first small steps.
The day the Civil Rights Act was signed into law.
The end of the Vietnam War.

THE DAY MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN.
The day we brought my adopted nephew home.
The day I met huney.

These are the events that shape our lives.

Take a moment to savor and understand those events that shape our lives. Public and private events.

Use these moments to expand our knowledge about all that has come before and during our lives and will light the way to the future.

Some will say this makes me seem old...I say it makes me priviledged to have witnessed the events that will shape the future.
Embrass the day, embrace the world and it will will brighten your steps to tomorrow.

Just a few thougts from
ur ever luvin'
usedbear
:2cents:

[arana]

What a lovely thread (((((( Bear )))))))). Thank you for posting it. It reminds us to reflect in all we have seen, done, been and can be. To appreciate what we have and those we have come in contact with. People impact our lives daily in some way. Some contribute major life changing moments, others just in changing our attitude about the day, good or bad. Thank you for being one of those people who have made an impression and memory in my life, bear.

[darkeyes]

... throws brick at new plate glass winda... "wonda who sittin thinkin up ways a shootin 'im?

[usedbear1950]

Darkeyes,
I dinna keen your meaning but you did put a wee smile on me face....LOL

usedbear

[darkeyes]

Darkeyes,
I dinna keen your meaning but you did put a wee smile on me face....LOL

usedbear
awww bearie. ta.. yas luffly... me ratha hav smiles on faces than scowls..:bigrin:

[Doggie_Wood]

... throws brick at new plate glass winda... "wonda who sittin thinkin up ways a shootin 'im?

Mrs H?

[ambi53mm]

I sit in front of the TV this evening watching a new chapter in history. This is not a thread about who I support nor whom you should support. It is a thread about watching and being present as new events unfold.
Tonight I sit in breathless anticipation as the first black person becomes the standard bearer for a major political party.
It has made me think of the history I have seen in my 57 1/2 years.
I met Malcolm X a year before he was assassinated.
I was in Washington to hear Martin Luther King speak of a dream.
I was in class in my Catholic school when the nun announced with teary eyes that JFK was assassinated.
Then MLK and then RFK.
I remember being at a "Moon Walk" party as we watched the first small steps.
The day the Civil Rights Act was signed into law.
The end of the Vietnam War.

THE DAY MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN.
The day we brought my adopted nephew home.
The day I met huney.

These are the events that shape our lives.

Take a moment to savor and understand those events that shape our lives. Public and private events.

Use these moments to expand our knowledge about all that has come before and during our lives and will light the way to the future.

Some will say this makes me seem old...I say it makes me priviledged to have witnessed the events that will shape the future.
Embrass the day, embrace the world and it will will brighten your steps to tomorrow.

Just a few thougts from
ur ever luvin'
usedbear
:2cents:

Hey Bear...I remember quite a few of those events myself....and who knows....maybe the best is yet to come....memorable at any rate lol...just hope I don't loose my.....damn...whatever it was that I forgot.

Ambi:)

[jem_is_bi]

I am 60. So, I have experience US history before TV and commercial jet travel. I remember race riots in my city very vividly, which makes me much more intensely aware of this historic moment. Win or lose he is everything we hope (black or white) the next generation of Americans will be. What I mean him is, he is a young man you respect greatly.
Yes, I am a supporter, but I hope the Republicans eventually have their own (probably more conservative) version (black or white) some day. However, their present candidate is about as good as it gets from my generation. Even if I disagree with his policies and goals for this country, he is an old man like me that I greatly respect.

[Not2str8]

Bear, though I am a little younger than you, (not by much) I witnessed many of the same events you spoke of, some as they happened and some later, and last night, as I watched the TV coverage of Barack Obama's win, I couldn't escape the feeling that I was witnessing still one more landmark moment in history. A passing of the torch, to borrow a metaphor, from the old generation to whom race meant so much, to the new generation for whom it is far less relevant. The event was chilling in it's excitement. I also couldn't help but marvel at how wonderful it was to hear a political candidate appeal to the best in all of us; to challenge us to be better still, and not pander to our fears and prejudices. I had to keep reminding myself that as historic as this was, it's still only the Primary, and the tougher job of winning the general election lies ahead. And then the toughest job of all. Governing. But for the first time in many years, I am letting go of some of my cynicism, and starting to think that maybe we'll be ok.

[Delilah]

I want to be the first Tgirl President :bigrin:
I will sign a bill allowing Tgirls to legally change their driver's lic even though they have not completed their sex reassignment. I will also paint the white house purple. Oh and I will have bisexual flag flying high just underneath the USA Flag. Then I will have a string of cute biker daddies to be my intern. Then I will put the oral office to use. I mean, the oval office.... lol

Ok, aside from that
This is a great post. I love listening to my grandparents tell me history and how things turn of the event before their very eyes. I am proud to be an American where freedom rings for everyone.
... And that we can all over come! :bibounce:

[frenchvikki]

I hope he can live up to the hope he brings. Others have brought hope yet world events and internal national social and economic pressures have conspired to crush it. Is he up to the task? Lets hope so but I am sufficiently cynical to have many doubts that he is allowed to be. For now we live with the hope.

[12voltman59]

Words of wisdom from one of our great members--thanks for them--there is no doubt that we are--as the old phrase says: "live in interesting times"--I do believe that while we have had a period of rather tranquil years in some terms----I believe that we are entering a period of a major transition and because of that----most if not all people on the planet are going to be experiencing some personally turbulent times----

This is something I almost found amusing--I got an email in recent days from someone who is a brand new member making a comment about my post about Obama finally getting to be the nominee and possible choices for VP-he was making some nasty comments about Hillary as VP--he also said that Drew doesn't want me making anymore political comments on here--isn't that funny---a new person making such a statement---the profile says this person is from Spain---but his English style was pretty aggressive and sorta reminds me of the person I call the "drive by poster" that Drew has had to work so hard to remove in his various guises.

I told him that he can simply shut the F&#K Up! thank you very much!!!

Sorry to bring up that bit of negativity in this great post--and to Used Bear-I luvs ya man!!!

[someotherguy]

I'm glad the Democrats decided to go all out and have both a non-male and a non-white candidate in the running. Now maybe the thing is done and next time it won't be news. 43 in a row white male Presidents...could there be some underlying principle at work? It's way past due.

My guess is that now with kids growing up connected globally online, every last barrier based on prejudice will fall away. The internet provides a window onto the world so people can see for themselves, interact directly with one another, and organize as needed to achieve anything they want. The resulting changes in culture make obsolete those types and habits of representation that were needed up until now because no direct access was available. Truly a case of light casting out darkness in social terms. Never mind if nothing actually changes. The symbolism is important anyway.

[Papelucho]

I thought it would be interesting to write down things that have shaped my life, as I am 30 years younger than you Bear. Your post gave me a nice bit of clarity, and I thank you for that. It also helped me appreciate the experiences of the generations that came before me, and notice how they are different than mine. :)

When the Oklahoma City bombing happened I had stayed home sick from school. I watched in with fascination and perplexity at what I was seeing. In a way, I also felt priveleged to be able to watch this news coverage while it was happening.

As a music fan, the deaths of Kurt Cobain and Jerry Garcia were significant events. I learned that rock stars die, and they don't do it gracefully.

Columbine changed everything when I was in high school. I don't think that the effect it had on our schools can be put into words. It was sweeping. Paranoia took hold, outcasts were suspected, security was seriously ramped up. School will probably never be the same.

Ralph Nader. Say what you will, but I voted for him in 2000. He was the only one that came close to speaking to my ideals. He got me interested in politics.

Oh yeah, Y2K, what a crock of shit that was.

I remember 9/11 but it didn't affect me the way it did so many others. I was seriously skeptical of the USA's involvement around the world at this point, and wasn't surprised that people wanted to hurt us. Our irrational reaction is what should have surprised me, but that didn't either. God, I've lived almost 1/3 of my life under George W. Bush. Some things you wish you could forget.

I remember experiencing history during Barak Obama's speech on race in Philadelphia. I too sit in breathless anticipation as the first black person becomes the standard bearer for a major political party.