You must be the change you wish to see in the world. - Mahatma Ghandi
Any positive movement in the right direction if it's received with a spirit of celebration, will produce more movement in the same direction. - H. Stephen Glenn
The Obamas’ request that we make today a day of service in celebration of the life of Dr. King struck a deep chord with me. I have been wanting to make better use of my time, too much of which is spent playing video games, watching movies, or reading dailykos more for distraction than for the empowerment it can offer. I resolved to make today the day I take action rather than wishing and wanting. Hoping for an easy solution, as is my habit, I followed a link to find a service activity already organized. I found only a blood drive and a book donation drive, yet I know there are hungry people in my area, homeless people, and people suffering from having lost their homes in the recent fire. While sorting out how to reach out in my geographical community, it occurred to me to write this diary as a service to the dkos community I love so. Herein, I invite you to sanctify this day by expressing gratitude. I offer this to the dkos community in the spirit of service, of unity, and of healing.
No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged from the kingdom of night. - Elie Wiesel
The horrific sins of the outgoing administration have been well-documented on this site. Many of us have "seen the years, and the slow parade of tears without hiding," and we are still trying to understand. We are angry, bitter, grimly determined. You might even say some of us are vengeful (who me?). The headlong rush toward an environmental, cultural, geopolitical cliff has left us with legs perennially stiffened, heels frantically dug in, fingernails clawing at the vestiges of our precious enlightenment heritage. I’m here to call "Ceasefire! Détente! Freesies No Takebacks!" There, that should do it. The ship of state will not go up in flames (down in ignominy?) while we divert our attention briefly from AllThatMustBeFixed in order to feel gratitude for that which has been true and good. That’s right, I’m asking progressives to count their blessings. Admittedly, I feel a bit like Dolly Parton on David Letterman, but in the end she had that cynical Yankee audience singing along with her corny hillbilly song. (If it will help you play the game, pretend I have enormous breasts.)
Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic. - John Henry Jowett
Years ago I saw Todd Martin play a tough tennis match at the US Open. The commentators were marveling at the smile he kept plastered to his face. He was using a scientific psychological technique—put your face into a smile and your body will produce the positive chemicals associated with success and confidence. At the end of yoga class, I often had students bring to mind something which made them feel grateful. This is a practical method for supporting health by flooding the body with endorphins and other healthy and empowering hormones. What I’m trying to say is that feeling and expressing gratitude can help us achieve our goals.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. - Melodie Beattie
So, the invitation of this diary is to list people, events, and ideas of the last eight years for which you are grateful. I’ll kick things off with a short list.
Marjorie Cohn, who said to the House Judiciary Subcommittee with impassioned strength and clarity
What does torture have in common with genocide, slavery, and wars of aggression? They are all jus cogens. Jus cogens is Latin for "higher law" or "compelling law." This means that no country can ever pass a law that allows torture. There can be no immunity from criminal liability for violation of a jus cogens prohibition.
I chanted the phrase "jus cogens" over and over to myself for several days following that testimony. It became my mantra, my grounding to a renewed hope that the human race has not gone mad. Majorie Cohn's testimony was a bright light indeed.
Today a thousand doors of enterprise are open to you, inviting you to useful work. To live at this time is an inestimable privilege, and a sacred obligation devolves upon you to make right use of your opportunities. Today is the day in which to attempt and achieve something worthwhile. - Grenville Kleiser
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who produced a chart showing the increased political influence on the DOJ under the Bush administration as compared with the Clinton administration. In the Mukasey confirmation hearings, he said
As much as I think there has been a failure of leadership at the Department of Justice and a rot from the top, as I said, I don’t think replacing leadership alone is necessarily enough, because my sense is that there are structural issues that need to be set right.
How grateful I am that Senator Whitehouse understands the importance of an impartial DOJ, of insisting the executive branch follow the rule of law, of our country's commitment not to torture. Thanks to Rhode Island for sending this man to the Senate.
Russ Feingold who asked Mukasey in relation to FISA:
Now, you have had several weeks to consider the question I asked you, so I will ask you again: Do you believe that the President has the constitutional power to authorize violations of the criminal law when acting as commander-in-chief?
Senator Feingold said Congress must "hold the president accountable for his actions," which include what he called an "assault" on the Constitution. I always trust Senator Feingold to see matters clearly and to articulate my concerns much more clearly than I could myself. I am so glad that he serves in the Senate.
It was my privilege to meet Mahatma Gandhi, in India. When he was asked to define his philosophy, he used one word, ‘Gratitude.’ - Reverend Hornaday
Lt. Commander Charles Swift, who said
As an officer, I have the deepest respect for the President. But as an officer, it is also my duty to point out when an order is wrong. What protects our democracy is that we do not just follow orders blindly.
Lt. Commander Swift stood up to his Commander-in-Chief all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of his client, Guantanamo detainee Hamdan. Two weeks after the ruling, he was passed over for promotion to Navy Commander. Where did I just hear that moral courage is more rare than bravery in battle?
Stephen Colbert, who congratulated Tom Delay for being his first indicted guest.
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. - Johannes A. Gaertner
McJoan, whose editorializing consists primarily in choosing which facts to report in straight-forward, factually complete style. She said
There really is no valid excuse, political or otherwise, to not close Guantanamo and end military commissions immediately.
Even when the news is horrible, it feels a little better to hear it from a person of such level-headed integrity. Thanks to her for keeping an eye on some of the things that matter most, especially the crimes of the Bush administration.
My ex-wife (no, that's not a misprint), who is appearing in court the day after inauguration to argue for her client, a Guantanamo detainee. She has sacrificed more time and money than she could afford in her two years fighting the criminal behavior of our own government. She gets a clear conscience out of it, and I get to know firsthand how committed some people are to making the world a better place. It helps immensely to know that people are fighting the fight. My gratitude goes out to her. (Please send her and her client a good thought for Wednesday.)
So please have at it. Favorite books (damn, I forgot to mention Naomi Klein) commentators (thank you, Keith Olberman), ideas (how do I love you, jus cogens? Let me count the ways), songs, events, people. And let's avoid discussing the merit or lack thereof of anyone's choices, m'kay? My hope is that we spend some part of the day focusing on the enjoyable, healing feeling of gratitude wherever any of us may find it.