The 4th of July celebrates our determination, our resilience, our diversity -- the beauty and pain of our various paths from the Mayflower to darken ships with bound bodies below to erected homes of hearth where independence already rode free.
The 4th of July celebrates our history, our present, our future. In spite of difficult seasons, in spite of uncertainties, remember our glorious, heart-wrenching blood-stained path of tears and...yes...BE HAPPY!
Many have survived and died for our independence from tyranny abroad and within. Our honor of the past remains reverential. Our will for becoming yet better remains resolute. Our love and respect for each other increasingly grows. Our future is very bright! BE HAPPY!
What a great country we have! What a great people we are! May God forever bless the United States of America.
Happy 4th of July!
10 comments:
It is words such as these Judith that can overcome many of the differences that might separate us by showing that we do share a love and respect for our country. Beautiful sentiment.
Judith, please know that if or when you were elected...that truly would be the profound and fundamental "change" I could believe in. So like uh, when do we get started?
Hi Dave...I'm glad you popped in. Thanks for the vote of confidence; that was very nice of you.
Politics have always interested me. From the time I was just a wee one until her passing a few years ago, my mother spoke about national and international politics and asking us our opinions at break, lunch, and dinner. At all times of the day we were prepared to discuss politics at the local, national, or international level. She would be so proud of Barack Obama if she were here. He would be her beloved 13th child.
I remember distinctly knowing about political leaders like the Kennedys, Barabara Jordan, Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Prince Abudulla, Anwar Sadat. Menachem Begin, and Prince Ranier. My mother spoke of them frequently and we were expected to read our subscriptions of The Detroit Free Press, Readers Digest, and Time, and listen to the evening news nightly. We were also expected to say something intelligent about the state of the world around us, locally, nationally, and internationally.
My mother put in us an abiding love for our country first and a deep respect for other places and people around the globe. The love for my homeland is great and the love for its people, even more so. We are a great country and a great people. I am greatful to my mom for the seeds she planted.
Your mother sounds like a most wonderful and special person indeed...as is her daughter. It seems that she instilled in you many of the traits sorely missing in people and society today like tolerance and temperance, service to others and a love and respect for your fellow man. Get enough like minded folks working together in our local communities (the frontline)...that is when real change,,,measurable transformation can begin.
I heard on the news this morning of more allegations of corruption (alleged) on the Detroit City Council. Councilwoman Ellis? Mayor Ellis? Governor Ellis? They all have a nice ring to me!
Dave...What's occurring here most certainly does not help the image of the City of Detroit. Regarding my interest in running for office, I wouldn't be opposed to it. I have friends who have been trying to get me to run for office for years. It is only now that I have even begun to take it somewhat seriously. So, you think I've got the stuff, eh? Hmm?
I second your nomination, Judith!
On a separate tack, I keep waiting for a Declaration of Independence for front line workers, for the cubicle serfs of the world. Ricardo Semler asks, "Why do organizations and their leaders cling to a rigid form of command and control that is at odds with the values of personal freedom that they cherish?" At some point this "disconnect" is going to become difficult to ignore.
Thanks, John, too for the vote of confidence. That's a great quote by Semler and a grand idea, one that is well within reach. I love the idea of less command and control.
I wonder, however, if personal responsiblity and respect on both sides were paramount, as well as the spirit of that 50/50 split and share of responsibility and creativity that you spoke of in a recent post on your blog, would diminish the need for such a document.
Is governing a country and an organization similiar? I guess leadership is leadership no matter where or whom is being led. I like to say that I am led even when I lead.
John...I also believe that rules are necessary and where there is a greater risk, as in the owner whose capital is at risk, there may be a greater need to control. There may be many ways of addressing this matter which can include hiring the right staff and trusting that they will do the right thing. (Big task, eh? Or, have we come not to expect excellence?) Although, in my businesses or ones where I have managaged, I am rarely out of the loop on most decisions.
"I also believe that rules are necessary and where there is a greater risk, as in the owner whose capital is at risk, there may be a greater need to control."
Excellent point (as usual), Judith, which I will ruminate on in the coming weeks. I think what is meant by "control" would have to be explored more deeply. In large organizations, where I do most of my consulting, there is a unquestionably a need for strong direction.
Without doubt, exploration is needed, whenever control is used, especially with regards to people. Control for me is knowing where my money is going and seeing its effectiveness in regards to products and people.
I love the sense of there being, as you have so beautifully put it, "strong direction." Though, as a business owner, there a few things that I feel the need to CONTROL. Spending, I CONTROL!
And regarding direction, this is what leaders to do best--leaders lead! This is also what great consultants do best--lead leaders by suggesting various new ways of seeing things and accomplishing goals, ultimately letting the leaders decide which direction is best. Great leaders know how to lead without bending or breaking wills.
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