Open Letter

Before I paste his text in this forum, I feel I must preface with a word or two about my stepfather, Bob.

Bob was a Reagan Republican. For as long as I've known him, he's been the lone voice of old-school fiscal conservatism in my large family of New Deal lefties. And this year, he contributed to, supported and voted for Obama. It was an event which sent a collective double-take through my family, but one that quickly made us all beam with pride. Because, far from drinking the liberal kool-aid, Bob had actually listened to his heart and his conscience, and supported the candidate he felt best suited to put us right with the world, and with our own people. The candidate best suited to unite us all with an even head and an even hand. Someone who would not just spend a term putting out fires, but who could re-engage us in the world community and challenge us to achieve great things again.

And that's the gist of the open letter he sent me, with a request to publish on this blog.

* * *

An Open Letter to the Next President,

I’m an ordinary person, capable of extraordinary things. I work with my hands, my brain, the strength of my back and the flat of my feet. I am strong in times of weakness and weep openly and unashamed in moments of great triumph. I am weary to my bones but I carry on with a strength that resides deep in my soul. I persevere in the face of despair. I exult in my neighbor’s blessings and help them carry their heaviest burdens.

I am vain, petty, cowardly, envious and pessimistic. And yet still, mostly hopeful. I am all these things and more: Resilient, moldable, ambitious, willing. I am a citizen of the United States of America. I am you, and you are me, joined as we.

Together as we, let us do great things. Find us the tools then get out of the way. We are the people that forged a tiny, fragile country by defeating the most powerful military force on the planet. We did it on the strength of an idea. We are the country that invented the light bulb and found a thousand uses for the humble peanut through the vision and persistence of brilliant individuals. We are the country that saved a world at war for democracy twice in a single century through the shared sacrifice of a nation. We went to the moon using nothing more sophisticated than a slide rule and vacuum tubes, and watched it on the TV we invented. We defeated Communism and we showed the world what the future of human relations looks like. It looks like you. It looks like me. It looks like us.

We have an uncanny ability to elevate great leaders at pivotal moments in our history and we believe we have done so once again. Make no mistake the challenges are great, as they always are. Save the planet, alleviate poverty, educate the illiterate, seek peace and justice and defend the defenseless. We are ready, as we have always been; to sacrifice tirelessly for our children’s and our grandchildren’s futures, to scrimp pennies and tackle intolerance. Watch the world be amazed and inspired by how we succeed. Please, give us impossible tasks.

Robert Pace
On behalf of the citizens of the U.S.A.

A New Hope

I'm stealing the subtitle from the original Star Wars movie to illustrate my current state of mind. And it's not just the election - everybody knows how this Jeffersonian liberal in a blue state casts his ballot. It's much, much more.

November 1st was my New Year, and it already feels like it. There's been a sort of pallet-cleansing of the soul recently, and although I'm not going into too much depth here, suffice to say it's really good, forward progress.

Some of it has to do with the dream I had last night, wherein my dad gave me a guided tour of my entire life, a la A Christmas Carol or It's a Wonderful Life. Some of it has to do with the fact that Gavin has helped hold Tyler's feet to the fire with his school work and attendance, and it appears to be working. He cheerfully and promptly left with us for school this morning. Some of it is the improvement in Tyler's and my relationship recently. Some of it is grownup relationship-related (and again, not going into detail - only that it's forward momentum).

Overall, there is a sense of optimism and hope for the future. My future. Our collective future. In every arena. And that is a feeling I wish everyone could have, at least once. That's all I have to say about that.

Tonight we'll be going to Dan & Trish's place for Election Day coverage, dinner and wine. We're bringing a bottle of champagne just in case, and Rae is staying here tonight. And on the topic of Election Day, why is this not a national holiday?? If we're going to pride ourselves on our democratic process, why not give people the day off to exercise their rights and do their civic duty? Let's revel in the process we helped invent, and reinvest in our national pride.

That's all I got.

RIP Randy Pausch

Fair Winds & Following Seas, Randy Pausch.

You fought the good fight. Thank you for sharing your wonderful perspective.