He had a Dream, I am Not sure What I am having

As I start to write this blog post I can't even think of a title for it.  Which is unusual.  But the fact is, as I look at the next four years, I don't know what to expect.

On my drive into work this morning I was reflecting on the fact that today is Martin Luther King. Jr. Day.  Martin Luther King Jr., was a great man and a great speaker.  Today his words spoke even louder to me than they ever did.

As our nations embarks on a new political era, I could not help but think that if we are scared by what one man can do, can't we, the American people stand united and stay united instead of being divided by hate.

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an an enemy into a friend" is just one quote of MLK that comes to mind.  He talked greatly of love and how love can drive the hate away.   "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

In looking back to our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson said; "When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is Liberty."  Here is where I think the problem lies, does the government fear us.  I think not.  Are they working for us or for themselves?   Thomas Jefferson also said "Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."  Are President-Elect Trump's threats, warnings and tweets just the tip of a iceberg that I pray doesn't meltdown into more hate and more division in this nation?

James Madison said "If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be under the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." Hmmm, makes you wonder if that is ISIS?  Ronald Reagan said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."  Trump says build one.  History is funny that way.  It makes me wonder in 50 years how our next 4 years will read.  Maybe there are enough checks and balances out there in our government that nothing terrible will happen and it will read as a small chapter of some successes and some losses and our biggest problem was which reality star we were electing into office next.

For me at this time I prefer to think of this quote by MLK - "I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear."

I prefer to agree with Dr. King when he said "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality...I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

Maybe it is not by accident that we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the inauguration.
Let it help us not take a giant step back when it comes to equality, let's not let hatred take the forefront and be what America is about.  Let's not fear but love.  Let's join hands and remember we can make a difference.

I leave you with this quote of Ben Franklin's - "It is the first responsibility of ever citizen to question authority."

and with that... it's another day in Catasauqua.

Remember 9/11

On September 10, 2001, the evening news had a lead story about two pekingese dogs waiting for their master to come home from work.   Parke turned to me and said "I guess it is a slow news night."  We did know what would be happening the next day.

I can't believe that ten years has passed since that terrible day.  I remember it well.  I was at work, and my bff Cathy called. "Bev " she said "the World Trade Center has been hit by an airplane."   I was shocked, I couldn't comprehend what she was telling me, I turned to Oliver who I worked with at the time and told him, he was trying to look on CNN but there wasn't anything there yet.  The next thing she told me was that another Tower was hit by a plane.  She was watching Good Morning America  and they didn't really know what was happening, they were showing you live what was going on. 

My first words were is Missy okay.  That's Cathy's niece and my daughter-in-law's sister.  Cathy assured me that she didn't work anywhere near the World Trade Center.  But we found out different a little later, Missy indeed was there, had just gotten out of the subway after the first plane hit and saw the second plane.  She did make it to safety and after a long day of travel made it home to her apartment. 

At work, we could only hear it on the radio, we did get some images from CNN, but the internet was bogged down just like the phone lines.  I couldn't  reach my son or daughter-in-law, they lived outside of DC in Virginia.  I heard from them late in the day and found out that they were safe.

They day seemed endless at work, the radio was reporting about the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the plane that went down in Pennsylvania.  I was so overcome with emotion I went out to another bff, Annette, with whom I have worked with for 33 years now.  I looked at her, she looked at me and we started to cry and hug each other.  We didn't know what to think, we didn't know what was going on, there was a lot of speculation and it was not until I got home and could watch it on TV that I fully understood what was happening. 

I called my Pastor at the time and asked if we could open the Church, I felt like I needed to be in the safety of my church's sanctuary even if it was for quiet prayer.  She wasn't certain people would come, I made a few phone calls and that night our church was full.  I guess I lot of people felt like I did.  I even remember the neighbor across the street calling over to me and saying are you having a service and I said, "Yes" and she came right over.  Catasauqua came together as a community while Americans came together all across the United States that night and many nights after to pray.   We came together as a Nation that day, we held hands with each other and we were proud to be Americas.  The American Flag flew from everywhere you looked.


It wasn't until one year later, when I took the day off and watched Good Morning America replay what had happened a year earlier did I understand what Cathy was watching and trying to explain to me.

I get emotional when I think about 9/11, I didn't loose anybody and for that I am grateful, but it still left a whole in my heart.  I love Catasauqua, but I also love New York and had been there dozens of times for the Letterman Show and the taping of the View.  I have seen Broadway Shows, been to the top of the Empire State Building and been in the World Trade Center.  I've seen the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island where my grandfather's family came to America.

I think in Catty as well as in many towns across America, we take our Freedom for granted.  We don't fight wars here on our soil.  We have the freedom to do as we please as long as it is within the law and that day a little piece of our freedom was taken from us.  We grew up a little, our innocence was taken away, civilians not soldiers died that day.  Fireman and Policeman were in the front lines, many of them loosing their lives in the process, protecting the people they are sworn to protect. Real heroes. Real American Heroes.

I found myself wishing that the biggest news on TV would be those two pekingese again
 
From the song Proud to be an American -

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

and with that it's......another day in Catasauqua