I had goose bumps last night. When Hillary Clinton said at her DNC debut that her mother was born before women were allowed to vote and her daughter was able to vote for her mom for president she showed us how much has changed in the last few decades – not only for women’s rights but for the rights of all of us who are not white, non-disabled, heterosexual men. While we have much work to do, the democratic presidential races of both Clinton and Obama have spurred me to choose to see the glass half full.
The DNC this week is an exciting time for liberals like me to revel in words and promises that we can actually believe in – but we must be careful. It is easy to only pay attention to news that is agreeable and familiar. While I’ve sworn off all local news (way too sensationalist and non-substantiative,) I still tend to read and watch news that comes from one perspective – a North American one.
As conscious citizens that care about a sustainable future around the world, Americans (even liberal ones) must hear the voices of the oppressed -- the people who are rarely heard. Of course there are international newspapers like International Herald Tribune, which is a great resource. One blog I recently heard about is www.globalvoicesonline.org. Check it out – it’s a blog that gathers together news from all over the world.
Until next time, I leave you with this:
“And on that path to freedom, Harriett Tubman had one piece of advice.
If you hear the dogs, keep going.
If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.
If they're shouting after you, keep going.
Don't ever stop. Keep going.
If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”
(Hillary Clinton’s Speech on 8/26/08)
-Karyn Wingard-Manuel
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