On W. Virginia Primary Day

This is an e-mail that C received from a friend he works with in The Next Generation Project. This is a group of young environmentalists (25-35) asked by none other than Terry Tempest Williams to work for one year collaboratively to chart a path for a new generation of environmentalism. These twelve get together in beautiful locations, and share anecdotes from their work, write profusely, and support each other in manifesting solutions to the problems they confront in their work. Needless to say I have remained totally jealous that its not me who gets to go on these retreats, but the benefit has been I am networked in to some great young thinkers. Point being: There is a primary today, there is no way to link you to this and the author prefers anonymity. But it is an interesting read. ************************************ Remembering Robert Kennedy "The cover story for the June 2008 edition of Vanity Fair is called "The Last Good Campaign," an excerpt from Thurston Clarke's new book The Last Campaign: Robert F Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America. What struck me about this excerpt was that in reading it I found myself drawn to what Bobby had to say. I found that he excited a deep feeling in my heart, a connection, the way so many people are able to touch me, but so few politicians these days. On this journey to the core, to tell the core story, I have been peeling away layers of polling, attempting to breathe between buzzes on the Blackberry, trying to find pause in a world where the internet has replaced the fax machine, cell phones have usurped land lines, and ego deems anything short of an immediate response too little, too late; to believe again in change. How did Bobby Kennedy break through -- then, and now? Bobby decided to run for President of the United States of America because he wanted to end the war in Vietnam. He knew that ending the war in Vietnam was the right thing to do and he knew that he would have to be President to do it. He bucked his party, his own brother's successor, and party insiders, but he knew it was the right thing to do. “I’m sleeping well for the first time in months. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but at least I’m at peace with myself.” Bobby's first campaign speech happened to be in the conservative State of Kansas. He was very worried because if the speech went badly, his campaign would likely not get off the ground. If it went well, he could ride the momentum to some primary wins and have a serious shot at securing the nomination. “Do you think they’ll boo him?” Ethel asked. “Will they hate him?” She never posed the next question, the one that was probably running through the minds of others accompanying Robert Kennedy to Kansas that afternoon: “Will they kill him?” Yet on that stage, not knowing how the audience would react, with his campaign on the line, Bobby stood in front of the audience and he told his story. He spoke from his heart. He said, “I am also glad to come to the home state of another great Kansan, who wrote, ‘If our colleges and universities do not breed men who riot, who rebel, who attack life with all their youthful vision and vigor then there is something wrong with our colleges. The more riots that come on college campuses, the better the world for tomorrow.’ ” Kennedy continued, saying, “[White] is an honored man today; but when he lived and when he wrote, he was often reviled as an extremist—or worse—on your campus and across this nation. For he spoke as he believed. He did not conceal his concern in comforting words; he did not delude his readers or himself with false hope or with illusion. It is in this spirit that I wish to talk to you today.” This is what people love about Senator Obama; it's what I love about Senator Obama (most of the time). Listen to his speeches. One can hear when he is listening to polling, political insiders, advisers and high donors, and when he is saying what he believes is right. I can imagine these moments of authenticity are scary for all those people spending all that time and money working to get him elected. But it is this authenticity alone that resonates with people, that respects what people want in a politician, that has inspired so many people to switch party registration, that has launched a movement, that transcends. One need only see the video put together by Will I Am to feel it, the power of those words, "Yes, we can." Perhaps in the words of the heart we find connection. In the moments of connection we find faith; a faith that so many people feel void of these days. My only advice to Barack Obama? (I thought you'd never ask.) Throw your Blackberry out the window and go with it. You already know what to do."