Milestone—a private one. Driving home today, I heard the music “Pomp and Circumstance” on NPR. I immediately flashed back to my high school graduation ceremony (now fifty years ago—how can that be?). That was a major milestone, a turning point, in my young and idealistic life. The seeds of my dream to become a public servant, eventually a spiritual leader, took root there.
Milestone—a public one. Last night, Hillary Clinton accepted the first nomination of a woman of a dominant political party in our country—for President of the United States! Truly, I had lost a some faith in her over the past few years. But after hearing President Obama’s speech, and Michelle’s (I’d vote for her for our next president), I was all fired up. Hillary was passionate and determined in her vision to help our children, those neglected in our political process and policies. She was full of details and how they’d be funded. I was so proud of her, as a role model for a woman who’s worked tirelessly for children’s welfare, and never gives up when she’s on a mission!
And to watch her daughter, Chelsea, introduce her—well, that held a special poignancy for me.
You see, my first daughter’s name is Chelsea (after the Joni Mitchell song Chelsea Morning). When she was eight years old, another Clinton was running for president, Bill Clinton, in the Fall of 1992. I’d been teaching Chelsea about the electoral process and about Bill’s campaign platform which included protecting our environment, especially trees. That caught Chelsea’s imagination. She began drawing pictures of trees, and then earnestly asked me, “Mom, can we go door to door so I can give these out to people and ask them to vote for Bill Clinton?” I was never prouder.
So that’s what we did. I stood behind her as she knocked on door after door, explaining why she thought her neighbors should vote for Bill.
Yes, Bill won, and he did some wonderful things as president and he made some awful mistakes; the same with Hillary over the years. But it’s the same with us, isn’t it? The important thing is, not that we make mistakes, but that we LEARN from them. I pray Hillary has. Sounds like it. We’ll see. And while her past mistakes have hurt many people, so have her successes helped many more, and her speech promised she’d keep working on her vision of an even better American for all.
Hillary’s motto must become our guiding star: “Stronger together!” and “Si, si puede!” Yes, we can, we must—we can do this together!! All of us! Awaken your inner child idealist.
Chelsea wrote at age 8:
I Am
I pretend to be a princess.
I touch the salty water where the dolphins live.
I worry about getting older.
I cry when I get a boo-boo.
I am a princess.
I’m a big kid now.
I wonder why there is war.
I hear cries for peace.
I see the unity in our world.
I want our world to get along.
I am a big kid now.
I understand that I can’t stop death.
I say that I did my best.
I dream that I made a difference.
I try to tell myself that I helped out the earth….
I am a princess.
So, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters (named Chelsea or otherwise), join us with “The sky’s the limit!” consciousness. It’s time. It’s the milestone of our millennium. Let’s keep our feet on the ground as we get to work changing hearts and changing laws. Let’s vote for our FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT! And then get to work together for our beautiful nation with its vision of equality and happiness for all. Amen. A-woman. A-children. A-merica!
I**Photo Credit: Pam Bro with Chelsea 1992
