Monday, July 9, 2012

What Kind of Country Do We Want?

Over the past week, I visited Texas, and got a glimpse of the Alamo, the bats of Congress bridge, and even a buffalo.  The highlight for my staunchly Democratic family was a visit to the ranch of Lyndon B. Johnson.  It was really neat, and if I was a picture taker I would post pictures.  But I'm not.  So I'll just tell you what I liked about LBJ.  He was not afraid to dream big and imagine our country better than it is.  Visiting his ranch made me think about what kind of country I want to live in.  Here's the kind of country I want, in President Johnson's words:

"In a land of great wealth, families must not live in hopeless poverty.  In a land rich in harvest, children must not go hungry.  In a land of healing miracles, neighbors must not suffer and die untended.  In a great land of learning and scholars, young people must be taught to read and write."  - Lyndon B. Johnson, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1965

True, I don't yet know how to achieve it, or what my role in bringing it to pass will be.  But at least I know where I want to go!

Watch President Johnson's inaugural speech in 1965 here:



(Note that I haven't yet watched the whole thing - looks like his speech starts after about 14 minutes of video.  Also I love the look his wife gives him right after he's sworn in, a kind of "now you better know what you're doing" look - right before the 14 minute mark)

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