The Gettysburgh Address vs. violence in these United States

The Capitol of the U.S.A.

Last night, the President of the United States delivered the most difficult speech made by a politician since Senator Ted Kennedy eulogized his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, at a service held at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral, June 8, 1968.

Just a few days after his brother was brutally assassinated, Teddy gave a speech, not as a fellow United States Senator, but the younger Kennedy spoke more of his older brother and described his brother's viewpoint on life in such a famous family.

Said Teddy of Bobby with Ted's voice literally shaking from his distraught emotional state of mind: 

"He gave us strength in times of trouble, wisdom in times of uncertainty, and sharing in times of happiness. He was always by our side."

He continued: "Love is not an easy feeling to put into words. Nor is loyalty, or trust or joy. But he was all of these. He loved life completely and lived it intensely."

"A few years back, Robert Kennedy wrote some words about his own father and they expressed the way we in his family feel about him. He said of what his father meant to him: "What it really all adds up to is love – not love as it is described with such facility in popular magazines, but the kind of love that is affection and respect, order, encouragement, and support. Our awareness of this was an incalculable source of strength, and because real love is something unselfish and involves sacrifice and giving, we could not help but profit from it.

"Beneath it all, he has tried to engender a social conscience. There were wrongs which needed attention. There were people who were poor and who needed help. And we have a responsibility to them and to this country. Through no virtues and accomplishments of our own, we have been fortunate enough to be born in the United States under the most comfortable conditions. We, therefore, have a responsibility to others who are less well off."

***

President Barack Obama was asked to speak at a multi-faith service in Newtown, Connecticut to begin the mourning process for the small New England community and the large nation it represents so well.

President Obama's Sunday evening speech, tucked in between remarks by clergymen of all faiths, will become known as the Gettysburgh Address vs. Violence and it could very well go down in history as Obama's contribution to worldwide society, if and only if, he can use his power and the power of the executive branch of the US Government to create change. He will need to create change in the stubborn minds of a nation of stubborn people, along with those and their "living in the past" politicians who wave the flag, if and only if, the act fits their own selfish agendas.

The President tipped his hand, as he noted, it is not one law, nor one set of laws nor many other things that become excuses for inaction.  He simply stated, "we have to do a better job" and we have to start somewhere, not tonight, but tomorrow.  Yes, first thing Monday morning.  

Let's Go.

Here are a few snippets from the speech - and, full video and a transcript will be provided, in case you missed it or its 10,000 replays on cable tv news.

"This job of keeping our children safe and teaching them well is something we can only do together," he told the hushed audience. "This is our first task: taking care of our children.

It's our first job. If we don't get that right, we don't get anything right."

He then asked whether "we as a nation" are meeting that obligation.

"The answer is no, and we will have to change," he said.

 Obama said this was the fourth mass shooting during his presidency, and there were countless other acts of gun violence on a smaller scale."We can't tolerate this anymore," he said. "These tragedies must end, and to end them we must change."

Stopped by today, unannounced

St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church

It was a cold, quiet Sunday in Newton, Massachusetts and the alarm clocks were not set this morning, because the kids needed some sleep. Despite that fact, and the fact I was sleeping soundly, my beautiful wife awoke on-time and she nudged me at about 8:25 am eastern standard time. At Midnight or so, she had been summoned by a different kind of alarm, a bad dream call to arms for "Mommy," from our littlest one.

My wife performed her motherly duties, thankfully, while I slept and all was good and peaceful in a warm household in bucolic New England. It is Sunday morning, and Clare knew I wanted to be out the door at 8:50am. I had to stop by and see an old friend who I hadn't seen in a while and the eta was 9:00am. Since the kids needed some sleep, they would make their own visit to see this friend on Sunday evening.  I needed to go visit today and as soon as possible. In fact, I had hoped to head over for a quick 'hello' on Friday evening. That didn't work out.

This summer, I had stopped by to see this old friend a few times, unannounced of course.  The door was always open, said he. It was.

Funny, I've known this friend on a first name basis since first grade. I was so proud to be a Kindergarten graduate from Genevieve Gallow School, but I set off, across the tracks, as they say, to Grammar School in my friend's blacktop backyard. Back then, the school was packed with kids - Grades 1-8, but in recent years, my buddy had to close the doors on my grammar school as the finances no longer added up.

I was lucky, though, as my timing allowed me to graduate from my friend's school-yard at 30 East Cherry Street and head off to the big time, a school run by my buddy's friends and he has friends all over my native Long Island and all the rest of the world, too.  After the first encounters as a little one myself, I really got to know this guy when I was lucky enough to keep the kinship flowing while I attended Holy Trinity HS, then later at St. John's University.  

My buddy was always there at the big events. From graduations, to weddings, to terrible days where he guided us through prayer vigils and, eventually, funerals, my guy was always right there.  In fact, looking back to my days as a newborn, my bud even threw me my first pool party, but he called it something else.

Two days stand out from the years gone by, and on both those days, my buddy came out of nowhere to be there for me and for Clare.  One day, came upon the day my wife learned of her grandfather's death. She was so sad, and she needed some solace. It came naturally, at a little West Village sublet that my guy had established.

Later, on 9-11-01, I sought my buddy's advice, too. Clare stated it clearly and decisively, "Let's Go."

The atmosphere provided is calm and simple. Sometimes, it's totally quiet and empty while other times, like this morning, it was packed.

I wondered why I tend to drift and allow so much time between visits, because, like good family members, my buddy throws a nice brunch and after events refreshments every week he holds forth. And, that's not to mention the "supper" he provides every Sunday, just like my older brother does with his friends and their immediate families each weekend.

The truth of the matter, is the site of the meeting never really matters, as my buddy is fortunate enough to have places all over. The fact is - when I need him, he's there and he gathers the right (small) group so we can be together.

To be together is times of joy and in times of sorrow. And, to find some peace of mind through the experience of being together, although my guy throws a serious party with some simple dishes of bread and wine.

My only trouble today, was when one of my guy's frontman, right in the middle of the gathering, stated the term, "Thy Will Be Done."  That line has always bothered me and it bothered me again today. But, as I understand it, my guy likes to read some mysteries and those mysteries aren't your garden-variety 10pm network drama mysteries nor are they the P.D. James or Michael Connelly type. They are true mysteries of faith. And, we'll never have the answers or the spine-tingling ending to read.

I found some peace of mind this morning and it prepared me for a better day, a better day that came today. My buddy helped me find strength and he helped me gather that strength so I could step up to guide my family. And funny, my guy encouraged me to "Get Ready for some Football," too, stating that is wasn't just okay to try to get back to life, but, it was mandatory. 

He was right.

I took that advice, stopped at DD in Wellesley and headed home to start a little fire in the fireplace and to rejoin my family.

My buddy helped a lot.  I think I'll be sure to visit him much more regularly, as he helped me gather my strength, re-affirm my faith in God and in mankind, all in one fell swoop.  My guy said, "the doors are always open," as he shook my hand and sent me off on my way home, down the steps, past the manger and out to the streets of Massachusetts.

My guy has hailed from St. Ignatius Loyola in Hicksville, Holy Trinity HS, also in Hicksville, then at St. John's University in Jamaica, NY, then at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament on W71st in NYC, then St. Joseph's of Yorkville on E87th, to Sacred Heart in Newton Centre to St. Ignatius Loyola in Chestnut Hill to St. John the Evangelist in nearby Wellesley. 

My guy. He helped me a lot today.  I know I won't be a stranger anymore.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

A post for parents everywhere ...

Tonight, I am very proud to call President Obama and his wonderful wife, Michelle,  fellow-citizens of the USA. I am even more proud to call our President a fellow parent.

I think we will all agree, the FLOTUS is and has been a model parent for all of us to admire and her efforts as a Mom were clearly stated when the family moved to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in 2008-09. Those facts on this subject are indisputable and I will attempt to tell you why I believe so.

The President's statement earlier today reminded us all that, whatever our occupation, we are first and foremost PARENTS.  Parenting is the REAL job.  Our occupations are temporary jobs, whether they are 25+ year careers in the business world or eight-year terms in The White House -- certainly one of the toughest jobs of 'em all.

President Obama took a few minutes today, to step back from his job and stand at a podium in The White House briefing room and be a parent.  In doing so, he helped countless numbers of fellow-parents who shared his pain as we sympathized with and mourned for the parents of some 20 little children senselessly murdered today, one of the two worst days of my lifetime.

Sadly, so sadly, we shared only 1-1-zillionth of the pain forever inflicted on the parents in our neighboring state of Connecticut. The parents, and all of their loved ones, maybe the parents of the parents - the grandmothers and grandfathers - who not only lost their grandchild but also lost their sons or daughters who will never, ever be the same. I just can't write - can't even imagine the depth of their pain, the horror of the parents of those 20 kids and the families of the other (adult) victims of the premeditated crime carried out in Newtown, CT.

One day, my ole boss and, now, thankfully, very good, maybe best friend, Brian, once said to me, "T, you won't even imagine the love you'll feel.  It is beyond anything you have ever felt in your life."

He was right. 

He was describing the love he has for his wonderful kids, Brendan and Catherine. He was teaching me the real meaning of parenthood.

It took me a few years to "get it," a term I often write about here. Amazingly, even though you love them and are amazed by them as newborns, somehow, the love actually grows.

To have that human relationship taken away in one instant on a 'normal' December school day is beyond the most horrific nightmare, beyond our worst fear, beyond comprehension for any peaceful human being. Even the worst moments of war would not allow for the close-range, direct murder of little children - even in the depths of hell on earth that is war.

I wrote it just before on FB as I tried to gather some thoughts.  I have nothing on this.  Just nothing left.  I will step up and will do my very best to be a responsible parent and I'll try and try and try to process this terrible, terrible experience of our lives.

My thoughts? Life seems to be much harder. It's been harder to live, harder to endure, harder to explain the countless tragedies, the unfathomable but regular occurrences of mass murders in these United States. Harder to endure the meaningless call for control(s) today and why they were not being called for yesterday or the day before.  How can it be discussed at this time? Plus, it's hard to know whether it would even matter.

I am typing but I am no longer writing. I am grieving, still.  My children are in their nice little bedrooms, safely tucked under their covers, yet they are still so vulnerable.  Why?

Yes, why?

That was the question my daughter asked of me.

"Why?"

And, I am struggling because I have no answer. And, I am struggling to be able to look my children in their beautiful eyes because they will see the tears welled in my eyes for days and days to come.

They are too smart, too perceptive to try to "act" or "pretend" around them, so I will gather the strength to provide to them some form of semblance or resolve or belief that tomorrow will be a better day and the sun will come up and we will endure and we can make a difference, maybe a big difference.

Tonight, I have no strength. But, I will rest, awake and I will try to do my REAL job, and like Barack Obama, I will be try to be a good parent.

May God Bless the families in Connecticut.  The prayers of a nation in mourning are being said for you all tonight, tomorrow and for a very long time ahead. And, we will, somehow, try to help you all.