Dona Nobis Pacem
Posted: Thursday, November 06, 2008 by Travis Cody inWelcome to the 2nd anniversary of BlogBlast For Peace! This post will stay up through Sunday so that bloggers may have time to visit, as many are still contributing globes and posts. Thank you for blogging for peace today and sharing your stories. Please sign the Mr. Linky so that I can keep up with your peace posts and document the day. One hundred and ninety bloggers have already signed at this link. Feel free to do so again here. I hope you will take time to read and visit everyone. The globes are beautiful and the posts inspiring. Wherever you find your peace today, may this be a day of hope and goodwill.
Brava to the blogosphere! Our voices matter.
I voted for Barack Obama.
I waited until after the election results to write this post. I had to. The spectre of this election has been all consuming for me. My thoughts would not open to this post until I knew what my fellow Americans had decided on Tuesday. The call for change went out, and it was answered.
President-Elect Obama said...
"Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, 'We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.' And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."
But what does it mean? I don't know what it means to you. I won't speak for you.
To me, those words mean that if you cannot find it within yourself to embrace the opportunity before you today to participate in this democracy, to speak out reasonably and rationally when you disagree, and to resist the urge to shout down those who don't think as you do, then the problem lives in you. If you don't like what you see, then speak to what you don't like. Write to your elected representatives and tell them so. Be active in your community.
Your President-Elect has called you to duty. He has invited you to participate. Will you?
Do something. And do it in a positive way. Don't spread fear and lies. Don't be intimidated by the daunting challenges before us. Have the courage of your convictions. Own your words, your actions, and your philosophies.
Stand up.
My courage has been lacking. The deed to my convictions has been locked in a cold box for a long time. NO MORE I say.
I am a Democrat. I am a Progressive. I hold many liberal social values. I hold many conservative fiscal values. I respect all opportunities to learn new things and to expand my knowledge base. I am a compassionate person. I am a tolerant person. I am a respectful person.
I hold these truths to be self-evident, that all are equal. We all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I love my country and my fellow citizens.
And I am an Idealist.
I believe that idealism has been at stake. I believe that our "better history" has been at stake.
With one choice, with this choice of Barack Obama, I believe we have reaffirmed that idealism is not a quaint and naive notion. We have rejected the assault on the ordinary kindness and tolerance and respect on which an enlightened society stands.
You may disagree with me and I shall defend your right to do so.
But that is my opinion, and I own it. I intend to be a citizen of the United States of America in the way that seems best to me, and I encourage you to do the same.
Citizenship is hard work. It demands your constant attention. And my attention has wandered for far too long.
We have difficult challenges ahead of us. And it will take all of us to face those challenges, and to overcome them. We must rely on each other. We must not divide ourselves into small factions. We must embrace our differences and listen to each other. We must come together and heal.
We must have a unity of purpose that respects and encourages ideas. No one has the one true vision. But we must participate in the process and drive our nation forward.
Let it be about hope. Let the hope lead to positive actions to the betterment of all.
May you find the strength of your convictions and may that strength guide you in your work for Peace in the world.
Dona Nobis Pacem.
Peace be with you and those you love.
I'm so excited to have this Blog blast follow this memorable election too !!!!!