It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Thanksgiving it officially over and so we can start singing Christmas carols and enjoying the season. The Christmas tree goes up today and the cat will be pleased because he really likes to sleep underneath it. I love to play the carols and have bayberry or pine scented candles going, and feel all warm and cozy in the house. I love to set up my nativity scene (which I bought in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) and just generally enjoy this time of year. We get to sing carols at church. I like that. I hope everyone has time to let the "reason for the season" sink in just a little deeper. Merry Christmas, everyone.

Where were you?

I was 5 years old when President Kennedy was assassinated. I was at home with my Mom and younger brother and sister when the neighbor came running over and said to turn on the radio, that the President had been shot. We lived in Bermuda at the time and we didn't get TV until about 4 pm, so the radio was where we got "breaking news". I didn't quite understand what was going on, but I skipped down to the bus stop to meet my older brother and sisters and announced to them that the President had been shot. My brother responded, with some disdain, "Nuh-uh, that was Lincoln." and we argued about it all the way home. I don't remember much more except watching the funeral on TV. As, I got older I became interested in the detail surrounding the assassination and became somewhat of a conspiracy buff I guess. In the past 10 years, I have read many of his speeches. He had the power to inspire and I really think we would have avoided much of the Vietnam war and the turbulence of the 60's if JFK had gone on to serve a 2nd term. The following is an excerpt from one of his speeches that I have always loved:

I have, therefore, chosen this time and this place to discuss a topic on which ignorance too often abounds and the truth is too rarely perceived — yet it is the most important topic on earth: world peace.What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children — not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women — not merely peace in our time but peace for all time.
If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.

I often wonder what our world would be like if he had lived, much the way I wonder what would have been different had Lincoln lived to oversee Reconstruction. This day every year, I relfect on that and wonder if we will ever have "peace for all time."

Our Next President

Well, we knew history would be made no matter what in this election. November 4th was a historic night for our nation. Record numbers of voters chose the first black president for the United States. John McCain's concession speech was gracious and eloquent. Barack Obama's acceptance speech was inspiring and even though I didn't vote for him, I had a lump in my throat after listening to him. This part especially, touched me:

"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."

My 8th grade students were excited about this election. We spent the month prior to election day studying about the election and talking about the candidates and learning about the electoral college and what it would take to win. On election night they had the assignment to watch the coverage and keep track of the states and listen to the speeches. The next day they were excited to have history made in their lifetime and excited to understand that in 4 years they would be voters too and that Barck Obama would probably be running for re-election.

Their excitement is contagious. I have a lot of hope that positive changes can be made in our country. Barack Obama is a family man with strong moral values, an honest man with integrity. I could never say that about our last Democratic president. But Obama has my respect and support as long as he supports the Constitution. This is our system of government, the best in the world. He deserves every chance to do good for our country.

God Bless America, land that I love.