Sal's Reflections

Yesterday I was standing on a corner waiting for the light to change. Suddenly a group of first graders appeared on the opposite corner. They were chatting, holding hands and fully engaged in every aspect of life. The teachers, front and back of the troop, were smiling and laughing with their young students. I could not help but feel sad realizing that this group in front of me was the same age as those massacred in Newtown.The sorrow and pain of that day becomes more real when you see children that age living what should be their normal lives. For me, it was another reminder that whatever we must do to have that awful day never happen again is a price worth paying.

The only real overt discrimination I ever experienced was as a young boy walking with my grandmother to the store. She could not speak English and a group of men on a corner shouted the usual words of bias at her. I was hurt by that experience, but it taught me that no one should have to be excluded because of who they were. With that in mind, I celebrate the decision made by the British Parliament to ratify same sex marriage. There is no such reality as separate but equal, and words make a huge difference. We are all free when ever brother and sister shares our full rights and responsibilities.

When something painful comes down the road sometimes the immediate reaction is “why me”. What did I do to warrant this hardship? However ,the real question is ‘why not me’?” Did I ask the question “why me? when I was blessed with wonderful parents .siblings and a wonderful new family as an adult? Did I question it when there were so many phenomenal friends and mentors in my life? Did I ask the proverbial question when I found meaningful work that I loved? Why we have valleys and hills is part of being human, and hopefully no matter what happens I will at least some of the time not dwell on “why me”?

I so often hear that the world is on the wrong path and everything is not as good as the “golden days of yesteryear”. It is said that kids have no respect and there is a complete ethical and moral breakdown in society. This is not a new refrain ,and I remember hearing a bit of this view growing up. I for one do not subscribe to this view. The world though certainly more complex still has wondrous people, terrific children and a host of marvelous realities that make life worth living. The world of Oz is not the one that I am talking about, and heaven knows along the way I am aware of the negative realities ,but life is still precious. More importantly every generation has the responsibility to touch the world in ways that make life even more special. That is the view that I accept and cling to as my guidepost.

A woman of color refused to ride in the back of the bus and it began a revolution. Rosa Parks was not initially part of a movement, but her act of courage enabled a nation to face years of injustice. We always think that greatness and significant change comes from collective courage and planning, but sometimes it only takes one person. We may not launch a memorable social change but the power of one resides in each of us. Today the world will offer opportunities for change. For some it will be the chance to support any attempt to lessen violence in our towns and cities. For others it will be the struggle for better schools, housing or health care for the marginalized. The opportunities are without limit, and the power of one remains ready to be unleashed.

I am sure we all know at least one person who is “down on their luck”. The world looks bleak when it is not going your way. and if there is no one that reaches out each day can be most difficult. I suspect that at one point in our lives we have all been there, so take a few minutes today to thoughtfully lighten their burden. Any simple act of caring will make an enormous difference.

Every day there are persons in our lives who may go unnoticed but they are truly champions. They are those that teach us to be kind, and to revere each person that we encounter. They listen to our woes. and smile and applaud our successes. Some are in our families, while others are friends ,acquaintances or those who pledge their lives as teachers and role models. As we watch the Super Bowl tomorrow let us cheer and recognize those who are our super heroes every day.