"Shelter": "Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin

[DeepModem Mom]

but you start anyway and see it through." I may not have Harper Lee's words exactly right, as recited by Bruce Willis on "Shelter from the Storm" tonight, but, through my tears, they brought me a peace I've not felt in a long time. The spirit of the concert may mean, as I hope it does, what Melodybe posted: that we are going to win.

But these words helped me realize that if I die before we do win, I will consider my life well lived because I stood with the artists who participated in the concert tonight, and with you here. Jack Nicholson quoted from Louis Armstrong, that the music of New Orleans and the Delta was "music played by people who've lived." We've lived, my friends, because we have compassion in our hearts that the other side can only talk about. And we neither pretend to be perfect, or expect others to be. Unlike the other side, most of us have made many mistakes, and we know it. That's what it means to be human.

I watched the concert tonight with a cat I rescued from a shelter, asleep, and safe, in my arms. I had loved ones nearby, in person and on the phone, all with tears in their eyes listening to Randy Newman and Neil Young and Kanye West and watching the images on the screen of human suffering, compassion and courage. My computer, my line to you guys, was across the room, the photoshopped picture of GW and GHW fishing in flood-ravaged New Orleans newly taped to my printer. I realized I was richer than anyone on the other side.

What a poor life they really live, dedicated to keeping what's theirs and accumulating more. Voting only to cast a ballot for the candidate who promises the lowest taxes. Posing -- posing as holier than thou, more macho than thou, more American than thou. They're not artists, or lovers of life, in all its splendid variety. Theirs is a limited and miserly existence.

I want us to win; I hope for it, work hard for it, as we all do here. But for the first time tonight, I felt the peace of knowing that being on our side in an ageless struggle might have to be enough. Martin Luther King said, "I may not get there with you, but I have seen the Promised Land." For him, living his life on the side of justice for all was enough.

[catnhatnh]

1. A post of great Beauty.......

...nothing else need be said....

[tk2kewl]

2. i second that

and i need that... thanks :hug:

[applegrove]

3. Yes. So true. It is the journey that matters.

[cap]

4. I disagree: we shall overcome someday and

we shall see God. This will happen in our lifetime. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain shall be made low.

The trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible.

[Raksha]

5. What a beautiful and inspiring post. Thank you. n/t

[Blue State Blues]

6. Beauty and truth in your words

Thank you. I was watching that exact part of the concert when I saw your post.

Thanks to the magic of TiVo, here's a transcript of Bruce Willis' comments:

Harper Lee of Monroesville, Alabama wrote one of the great novels of the American South, To Kill a Mockingbird. These are her words:

Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Thank you, Blue State Blues! I'm really pleased...

to have the entire quote.

[HeeBGBz]

8. Thank you for your post

Beautifully shared feelings and thoughts.

I also watched the program with my little refugee dog that I brought back with me to Missouri. I cried through most of the program but felt a warmth from the words and music. I can't say I felt the hope build in me, but I felt compassion from many sources that bring me further along towards a more hopeful future.

Your post was reflective of where I want to be.

[SeattleGirl]

9. Thanks DeepModem Mom

I so identified with your post, as I was thinking the same thing earlier today -- that we WILL win. It may not be in my lifetime, but like you and so many others, I am fighting to make it happen. If it happens after I'm gone, that'll be okay, because my fight will help our future.