MORE IS REQUIRED

And now — now we must look to the future. Let us heed the voice of the people and recognize their common sense. If we do not, we not only blaspheme our political heritage, we ignore the common ties that bind all Americans. Many fear the future. Many are distrustful of their leaders and believe that their voices are never heard. Many seek only to satisfy their private work — wants; to satisfy their private interests. But this is the great danger America faces — that we will cease to be one nation and become instead a collection of interest groups: city against suburb, region against region, individual against individual; each seeking to satisfy private wants. If that happens, who then will speak for America? Who then will speak for the common good?” As we look at the possibility of an extended shutdown and little willingness from our representatives to recognize the harm being done by their actions, perhaps words from a reasoned voice from our past can serve as a reminder of the principles this country was founded on. And even though we have often strayed from that path, we have always been able find our way back to that road that strives to serve the common good. Barbara Jordan was that voice of reason…and humility…and compromise …and faith; faith that we would look to our better selves and remember who we are as a nation, what we stand for in the world, and why we must never allow any entity, any one idea, any movement to pit us – one against the other – to the exclusion of our higher purpose. “We must address and master the future together. It can be done if we restore the belief that we share a sense of national community, that we share a common national endeavor. It can be done. There is no executive order; there is no law that can require the American people to form a national community. This we must do as individuals, and if we do it as individuals, there is no President of the United States who can veto that decision. As a first step — As a first step, we must restore our belief in ourselves. We are a generous people, so why can’t we be generous with each other? We need to take to heart the words spoken by Thomas Jefferson: Let us restore the social intercourse — “Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and that affection without which liberty and even life are but dreary things.” A nation is formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good. A government is invigorated when each one of us is willing to participate in shaping the future of this nation. In this election year, we must define the “common good” and begin again to shape a common future. Let each person do his or her part. If one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer. For the American idea, though it is shared by all of us, is realized in each one of us.” Right now, attention is being directed at Ms. Jordan because of her work on immigration which, unfortunately, was cut short by her death in January of 1996. Her work is being bandied about by both sides, claiming her as a shining beacon of reason for whichever position they represent. The truth is, neither cares to share all of what she said because Barbara Jordan was both humanitarian and pragmatist who had no expectation of either side getting all but both sides working toward an acceptable compromise. I invite each of you to take a few minutes out of your day to listen to Ms. Jordan’s speech to the 1976 Democratic National Convention. I believe it will lift your hearts and challenge your thinking; whatever your thoughts about our country’s current leaders and the challenges they face. I will leave you with this final thought. And now, what are those of us who are elected public officials supposed to do? We call ourselves “public servants” but I’ll tell you this: We as public servants must set an example for the rest of the nation. It is hypocritical for the public official to admonish and exhort the people to uphold the common good if we are derelict in upholding the common good. More is required — More is required of public officials than slogans and handshakes and press releases. More is required. We must hold ourselves strictly accountable. We must provide the people with a vision of the future. If we promise as public officials, we must deliver. If — If we as public officials propose, we must produce. If we say to the American people, “It is time for you to be sacrificial” — sacrifice. If the public official says that, we [public officials] must be the first to give. We must be. And again, if we make mistakes, we must be willing to admit them. We have to do that. What we have to do is strike a balance between the idea that government should do everything and the idea, the belief, that government ought to do nothing. Strike a balance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg7gLIx__-k