Reading the newspaper this week was a dismal activity. Senseless violence, more threats to air travel, political mayhem and petty politics, the probable derailing of needed light rail in the Twin Cities. Further moves to the right by Catholic bishops promise renewed energy devoted to stopping all gay marriage and opposing health care reform as a step toward outlawing all abortion. And Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich move closer to announcing their bids for president. God have mercy on us all.
Last night we listened to the PBS portrayal of Hubert Humphrey. I had forgotten his boundless energy, which he coupled with skillful use of political strategy.His moral passion generated a long list of legislation we now take for granted. Would the Civil Rights Act ever have been passed without the "happy warrior's" determined efforts.
Today, I have been thinking about Paul Wellstone. A man small of stature, he would literally bounce up and down in his passion for justice. People still keep his bumper stickers for re-election on their cars - in this time when people are driving their cars longer than in previous times.What more might this man and his spouse have given to this country if their plane had not crashed in northern Minnesota?
And news of the royal engagement. Like romantics all over the world, I read and listened to every tidbit of news. In good times, I expect I still would have paid attention to the announcement. But in this time of news as dismal as the grey November skies, they represent hope. Not just for a strong marriage for them, which William's mother and father did not have. Hope for decency and better times for all of us.
Moral passion and romance - badly needed in our world today.
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