I heard Sara Barellie's song Brave for the first time the other morning and the words inspired me to write this blog post. I want us to be brave enough to speak up and speak out. I want us to be brave enough to believe that we can make a difference if we stand together. I want us to be brave enough to say to the wealthy: "Your money may buy political ads filled with distortions. lies and negativity, but your money cannot cast a single vote! We have more votes than you and our votes count!" I want us to be brave enough to believe that, too!
I want us to be brave enough to stand with Sr. Simone Campbell who believes that "We the people of the United States have to form this more perfect union" and Sr. Marge Clark who says, "All are welcome at the table, but the table can't be bought." And all the Nuns on the Bus who are standing up for the 100% because, as Sr Simone says, "we need to have a conversation with the one hundred percent because too many people are being left out."
I want us to be brave enough to say "Yes, President Lincoln, we remember what you said at Gettysburg and we will stand together, united in our belief and determined to protect and pass on to future generations a government that is truly of, by and for all people."
I want us to be brave enough to believe that the Statue of Liberty and her message of hope to the "huddled masses" still means something to us today. That we, a nation of immigrants, will continue to welcome immigrants. That the torch in New York Harbor will never dim regardless of how hard a small group of people try to extinguish its flame.
I want us to brave enough to say, "This is our flag, our country and we will not allow anyone to be denied the freedoms so many have fought and died to defend because when we deny freedom to any group, we all lose."
I want us to be brave enough to go vote in November and make the changes some people think we can not or will not!
