27 August, 2018 0 Comments

Life Lessons At Gumbo Limbo

August 27, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Visit Gumbo Limbo to see some leatherbacks.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is one of those local treasures that you may miss if you don’t slow down and visit.
Nestled off of A1A near Red Reef Park in Boca Raton, Gumbo Limbo is beautiful and if you are looking to reconnect to nature and experience a different Boca, this is the place.

We used to go to Gumbo Limbo years ago, when the kids were little or when we had visitors with children. It was a pleasant way to spend a few hours, visiting the marine life, walking the boardwalk and gazing at the marine life in the aquariums.
But we hadn’t been there in years, so we jumped at the chance to go with a friend to witness a sea turtle hatchling release event recently.
It was a blast.
An educational and thrilling blast. We even met founder Gordon Gilbert which was a real honor.

We highly recommend you go if you have an opportunity and we also urge you to get involved if you are so inclined.
Sea turtles are amazing.

There are three types of turtles who hatch on our shores and all three species are in peril.
Loggerheads, leatherbacks and greens nest and hatch here and they face  long odds to live to maturity—about 1,000 to 1. That’s not a typo.

Between predators—foxes, raccoons, birds and sadly people—hatchlings have to cope with pollution, warming sands in Boca (which are creating an astounding 95 percent female population) and natural hazards as they swim miles to their nursery in the Sargasso Sea.

When you attend a sea turtle event you learn these things from a very informative and dedicated marine scientist. You come away from the experience as an advocate. It’s hard not to get caught up in the hatchling’s plight and to draw some parallels to life itself.

Watching the little turtles work their way to the ocean— pushed back by the tide, veering off to the seaweed, wandering toward the artificial light from the Deerfield pier or the cars on A1A is alternately thrilling and sobering.
Thrilling because it’s so beautiful to see these little ones scampering in the sand where if they beat the odds and make it they will spend 20 years at sea before returning to the sand.
And sobering because of those long odds made worse by human pollution such as plastic that they often choke on or get entangled.
It may sound silly but when you see the hatchlings rush to the sea you can’t help but draw a parallel to our own existence.

Life presents so many obstacles,  we’re so fragile and yet life is  immensely beautiful.

22 August, 2018 2 2 Comments

Finding the Village Square Again

August 22, 2018 By 2 Comments

A model in Tallahassee

 

“Humans aren’t as good as we should be in our capacity to empathize with feelings and thoughts of others, be they humans or other animals on Earth. So maybe part of our formal education should be training in empathy. Imagine how different the world would be if, in fact, that were ‘reading, writing, arithmetic, empathy.’”

–              NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

 

It’s the start of another school year and public school teachers throughout Florida will begin a race against the testing clock.

In Florida—and in other states—education has become about the standardized test.

I get it. Children need to learn specific skills and they need to be measured, but it’s hard to argue that something special has been lost when the test becomes the be all and end all. We lose the opportunity to teach the soft skills and perhaps the ability to think critically. We also might lose the chance to train leaders and the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence.

A few weeks ago I wrote about my visit with the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. What emerged from that discussion was a concern among those who served our country that we are not doing a good job teaching civics in America. They see the results of that deficiency in the current toxic state of our politics.

As I read, watch, surf social media and talk to friends I’m sensing a tremendous concern about the state of our society these days. Yes, to some extent these concerns have been here since the founding of our Republic and throughout our lives. But something feels different today. The level of toxicity feels higher, our discourse seems meaner and fear, anxiety, anger and despair appears to be deep and widespread.

The results are showing up in a variety of ways: trust in institutions is at historic lows according to the Edelman Trust Survey, a landmark poll. Congress, the press, corporations and our justice system are all suffering from low levels of trust.

Spasms of violence are breaking out too—from mass shootings and school shootings to extraordinary gang violence in places like Chicago. When the school year began this week, local and national press were focused on steps that were being taken to prevent massacres—important for sure. But also terribly sad. Wouldn’t it be a better world if we were anticipating all the amazing learning opportunities being rolled out for our children instead of fretting the next school shooting?

These are all symptoms or larger societal issues—but they should motivate us to find the root causes of these issues and begin the process of healing and uniting.

Of course, we run a hyperlocal blog which means that we believe in the power of “localism.”
So that means addressing issues at the grassroots community level.

While we may never drain the swamp in Washington (I happen to think we’d be better if everyone resigned) we can fix our neighborhoods and cities.

When it comes to improving dialogue, there are models throughout America that have proven to work.

One example that is worth mentioning and modeling is “The Village Square”, a Tallahassee program that describes itself as “A nervy bunch of liberals and conservatives who believe that dialogue and disagreement make for a good conversation, a good country and a good time.”

The Village Square hosts about 30 programs a year all centered on fact-based discussions of the issues between people who disagree. The effort has been chronicled in “Governing” magazine and is credited with building community by lowering the temperature around divisive, hot button issues.

What a concept.

The Village Square was founded on the belief that the hostile tone of our national debate is a predictable result of the worrisome reality that we’ve essentially formed tribes. We’ll all grow old waiting for Washington to fix it, so we’re going to have to get it done ourselves.

“The solution to this complex problem is surprisingly simple: To revive the American marketplace of ideas, we have to breathe a little life into the neighborly civic connections that used to exist without much effort on our part. It’s past time to bring back the spirit of the quintessentially American town hall, where foes become partners in futures that are inextricably linked. As much as we want to blame Washington, ultimately this work can only be done in hometowns like ours and between neighbors like us,” according to the Village Square website.

Through dialogue combatants are reminded of what we often forget: we are on the same team.

I had a similar thought last week when I was reading about a baseball player who joined a rival team. Once he was “on the team” all previous animosity went out the window. His new teammates may not like him personally but they remember that they are now on the same team, with the same goal in mind: to be successful and win.

Reading that, I wondered why elected officials can’t adopt the same mindset. In order to do so, it requires that you first acknowledge that your personal success and the community’s success is tied inextricably together. If the other team consistently blocks your initiatives or undoes your accomplishments we get locked in a perpetual zero sum game. The people lose in this scenario every time.

But if you realize that you may have differences but your success is tied to coming up with some sort of workable relationship you have a chance to solve problems and seize opportunities.

Washington lost the plot a long time ago. But local communities don’t have to.

I worked with a city commissioner who explained that some votes were votes of principle and others were votes of preference. On votes of principle, he was dug in. On votes of preference, he was open to compromise or supporting a contrary idea, especially if it was important to a teammate.

It seems to work and allows for issues to move forward and for accomplishments to occur.

There are other examples, but the main point is, politics can work if we are invested in outcomes not just in thwarting those we don’t like or agree with.

 

 

20 August, 2018 0 Comments

The Power of Dreams

August 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet–Theodore Hesburgh

Vision.
Ahh there’s that word again.

It’s a polarizing word at times, especially if the vision pushes the envelope. Especially if it’s considered ambitious.

Sometimes the term gets subject to ridicule and referred to as “the vision thing” as if it’s trite, as if vision gets in the way of actually getting things done.

In cities, sometimes there’s an aversion to vision: just make sure my toilet flushes, pick up my trash and fix potholes.
That was an actual email I got from a prominent citizen who shall remain nameless.
Ok, I responded. That’s a deal.
We’ll do all those things but please don’t begrudge those of us who aspire and plan to show up at what we used to call “charrettes” to envision a better future.

In order to have any progress we need to aspire. We need to have ambition. We need to dare to be great.

We need to have a vision and we need to dig in and implement too. Visions left on a shelf gather more than dust, they burn enthusiasm and tell those who bothered to show up that their time was wasted.
That’s a crime. We can take our ideas elsewhere but we can’t get our time back.

Last week, a promising young leader I’ve been observing Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson posted a video of actor Will Smith on Instagram that talked about greatness.
Mr. Jackson runs a Delray non-profit called the EJS Project: https://www.ejsproject.org. Look it up, it’s cool.
In the video Mr. Smith talks about the power of dreaming.

“You have to believe that something different can happen,” Mr. Smith says. My friend Dupree believes something different can happen. That’s why he will succeed and make good things happen for others in Delray and beyond.

Steve Jobs had a similar take: “Apple’s core value is that we believe people with passion can change the world for the better. Those people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who actually do.”

Damn right they do.

Now, let’s gets to it.

16 August, 2018 1 Comment

One Shoe: Nailed To The Floor

August 16, 2018 By 1 Comment

Actor John David Washington gives a stunning performance in Spike Lee’s new film.

We went to see “Blackkklansman” at Cinemark in Boca on the one year anniversary of the unite the right rally in Charlottesville.
It was not an easy movie to watch.

Blackkklansman is a Spike Lee movie that tells the true story of two Colorado Springs undercover police officers who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 70s. One of the officers was black. The other Jewish.
It’s a remarkable film that touches on issues of race, anti-semitism, violence and hate. Unfortunately it’s more than relevant in 2018.
When the movie ends–with news footage of Charlottesville– many in the audience were in tears.

It’s hard to watch a movie in which the characters spew unspeakable insults and vitriol at other human beings; simply because of the color of their skin or their religion.
It’s especially dispiriting because this kind of thinking/behavior is antithetical to what America is supposed to be.

And yet…

And yet we struggle with race, religion and a host of other “differences.”
And it breaks my heart.
We are stuck and I don’t know why.
If we think this is some esoteric issue being waged in places like Ferguson, Missouri or Baltimore we are blind to the struggle in our own backyards. It’s right here folks. Until we deal with it we will have a society in which one foot is nailed to the floor.
Go see Blackkklansman. If you tear up at the end– as many do– there’s hope. If you’re able to walk out and just go about your life well…
Regardless, it’s not just about getting choked up it’s about work. About making a conscious change. We have a whole lot of work to do.

13 August, 2018 1 Comment

As The Teachers Go…

August 13, 2018 By 1 Comment

In a few weeks, we will elect School Board members, choose gubernatorial candidates and judges and determine who will represent us in Tallahassee.

Sadly, few of us will vote.

I sure hope I am wrong on that account because voting is hugely important (even if often times the choices seem limited or uninspiring).

This year, the August elections dovetail with the start of a new school year in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.

The beginning of school is always a good time to look forward but also to reflect on where we are as a community.

Education is a core component of a healthy community. It drives economic development, impacts investment decisions and often determines where people decide to live.

In Boca Raton, education is a strength; a competitive advantage. The public schools have historically been largely A-rated, parental involvement is usually very high and city and business support through the Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Bell Foundation is enviable.

As a result, schools operate at or above capacity and some are calling for the building of new schools to accommodate the growth and demand.

Across the border, in my hometown of Delray Beach, the story is a little more complicated and the challenges more complex.

Since the late 1980s, the City of Delray Beach has been involved in education despite it not being a “core” city responsibility. The School Board is in charge, but that has not stopped Delray Beach and its leadership from caring deeply and doing a lot in the education space. In fact, millions of dollars in city money has been spent in support of public schools in Delray Beach.

There have been notable achievements as a result, and I would argue that they would not have happened without the city leading and putting real skin in the game.

Examples include: hiring the first city education coordinator in Palm Beach County, creating an Education Advisory Board, adopting and driving the completion of an educational blueprint entitled “Sharing for Excellence”, leading the effort to build a new high school with career academies, advocating for a new S.D. Spady Elementary School, supporting a grass roots effort to build and grow the Village Academy, the Campaign for Grade Level Reading and the list goes on and on.

It’s a lot to be proud of, but the challenges are very complex and ongoing. While Boca schools are at capacity, many Delray schools are under capacity, which is something that deserves some serious analysis.

What’s beyond debate is the value of good schools and how it drives economic development and quality of life.

In my capacity as a “PIP” (previously important person, i.e. a former elected official) around election time I often get approached by candidates seeking endorsements. A few even ask for advice, which I don’t give unless expressly asked.

I have had the occasion to talk with two of the five Democrats vying for governor: Mayor Phillip Levine and Congresswoman Gwen Graham.

But I’ve known Mayor Andrew Gillum since he was a rookie Tallahassee commissioner with huge potential a decade ago and I’ve met Jeff Greene and seen Chris King speak in West Palm Beach. All seem to be good people. I’ve never met or talked to the Republican candidates Adam Putnam or Ron DeSantis. I’d like to.

But the two I met with—Levine and Graham—I offered one piece of advice after being asked: Make Florida the best place to teach in America and you’ll solve just about every problem the state has and create untold opportunities.

We are far from being the best place to teach in 2018. Our educators are vastly underpaid, the pressure to teach to the test is intense and while we say we value education, our budgets don’t reflect that. I don’t know of any teachers who enter the profession thinking they are going to get rich, but entering the field shouldn’t require a vow of poverty either. We need to invest in teaching talent, it’s just that simple. And apparently that elusive too.

But until we do, we can expect the same old results. And in a very competitive world the same old doesn’t work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 August, 2018 2 2 Comments

A Man, A Dog, A Van & A Blog

August 8, 2018 By 2 Comments

ManVanDog=Compelling

Worry less. Experience more.
That was the hashtag on a recent Instagram post from an account called ManVanDogBlog.
The author is an ex NFL player who walked away from the game, gave most of his possessions to charity, adopted a dog named Freedom, bought a 2007 Ford van and hit the road.
The trip is open ended and the man, his dog and the van travel where they feel like going.

It’s fascinating (and a little addicting)  to live vicariously through Joe Hawley and Freedom and see where the van takes our heroes.
And the worry less, experience more mantra is pretty compelling too.

It helps that our protagonists are so appealing.
Joe Hawley played 8 years in the NFL and walked away while he still could.  That’s takes courage.
Here’s Joe..

“What an incredible journey this has been! People keep asking how long I plan to be on the road or what I plan on doing when I’m done and the honest truth is..I don’t know. The reason I’m ok with that answer is because I truly believe that when I do decide to stop and figure out what’s next I’m going to be such a changed man. I continue to grow and get outside my comfort zone every single day. This trip continues to evolve into something bigger and more transformative than I ever could have imagined and it’s only been four months. What I’m trying to say is that I’m not worried about what the future has in store for me because it’s going to be bigger and more amazing than anything I can even dream of right now. So I’m going to enjoy the process, live in the moment and continue to grow every day. I’ll be right where I’m supposed to be. I have no doubt about it. Worry less. Experience more.”

I thought this was important to share because time flies. Life moves fast.

People get cancer.
People get old.
Kids grow up. Fast.
None of this is new information but sometimes we act as if these things aren’t so.

We skip the vacation. We don’t make time for lunch with friends. We don’t bother to look at the orchid in the yard or the beautiful ocean that is so close for those of us who live in Delray Beach and Boca Raton.

We forget about the neighbor we used to see while walking the dog, we realize we never use the pool anymore and that the tennis racket is gathering dust in the garage. We drive by Old School Square– but when’s the last time we took in a show?

You get the picture.
I do too.
I think they call it being present— living in the moment.
I try. I too often fail.
But I’m going to try a little harder. It’s a promise I’m making to myself.

6 August, 2018 0 Comments

Heroes Change Lives

August 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Delray Students First is a local non-profit that is changing the lives of young people.

 

Mark Sauer is one of my local heroes.

The founder and visionary behind Delray Students First has a passionate desire to help young people break the cycle of poverty so they can find a better life. We are blessed that he landed in Delray and has decided to put his considerable talents, abilities and passions into changing the lives of our young men and women. After a long and successful career at the top of the sports and corporate worlds (past president of the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Blues), Mark has immersed himself in our community. Thank goodness.

One of those lucky folks who landed in Mark’s orbit was Delray’s own Tre’Quan Smith, a University of Central Florida wide receiver who was drafted in the third round by the New Orleans Saints this year.

Smith is currently experiencing his first NFL training camp training under the watchful eye of disciplinarian coach Sean Payton.

So imagine the delight when we got an email last week from Mark directing us to the New Orleans Saints website  https://(https://www.neworleanssaints.com/video/afternoon-wrap-for-monday-july-30) where we caught a first glimpse of Tre’Quan doing his thing which is basically catching everything thrown his way by future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.

The Saints are absolutely over the moon with Tre’Quan’s early performance—although Coach Payton sticks to the script with some cautious words of what he needs to improve. But based on what we know about Tre’Quan Smith, we can rest assured that he will do what needs to be done to make the most of this shot at the NFL.

Now my friend Mark Sauer will never say it because he’s humble and kind, but there are many young people like Tre’ Quan who have a shot at a good life because of the efforts of Mark and his talented team at Delray Students First.

The organization provides tutoring and mentoring to talented young people who need a dose of caring and love in order to succeed.

These are the type of efforts that change lives and communities. Mark and his lovely wife refer to Tre’Quan as a son—and that love, caring, attention and help has made all the difference.

There is a very good chance that Tre’Quan can have a successful career in the NFL. He’s talented, hardworking and hungry. If you watch the video you won’t see over confidence despite a strong early camp. What you will see is a humble young man who is dedicated to getting better, who is anxious to dive into the complex playbook so he can make the most of a unique opportunity that a whole bunch of people have worked hard to make happen.

While Tre’Quan gets the ink and is the most vivid story of Delray Students First’s success, he is not the only example of a life made better thanks to the efforts of an organization and its supporters.

Delray Students First empowers high school students in Delray Beach to reach their potential…We love that word empower. Because this program asks a lot of its students. They have to put in the work. They have to study, avoid temptation and work hard. If they do, there is a community of caring professionals and volunteers who will help them achieve.

But it does take a village and so Mark is an evangelist in search of resources. So if you happen to be looking for a great cause driven by great people—look no further. Delray Students First changes lives.

 

 

1 August, 2018 1 Comment

The Genius of Creative Mornings

August 1, 2018 By 1 Comment

Readers of this blog know that I’m head over heels in love with a group called Creative Mornings.

It’s an international group with 188 chapters all over the world.

The Creative Mornings Palm Beach chapter is the one I’ve gotten to know and I try to make as many of their monthly Friday morning meetings as my crazy schedule will permit. I never leave feeling anything other than motivated and inspired. In today’s stress filled world, you can’t put a price on the value of inspiration.

The most recent Creative Mornings was held at Old School Square’s Crest Theatre… a venue near and dear to my heart. I got married in the Crest, gave a few “state of the city” speeches on the stage and have seen some amazing performances over the years ranging from Roger McGuinn of The Byrds and Delray’s own Joe Cotton Band to memorable speeches by former Irish President Mary Robinson, winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. It’s a magical place.

So I am always excited to be at the Crest. It feels like home.

The guest speaker at Creative Mornings this month was Sean Scott, a founder of Subculture Coffee. He was very interesting.

Each month, the international body of Creative Mornings comes up with a topic that speakers all over the world address. Sean’s topic was “intention.”
He left me and others thinking about the word and the role intention plays in our lives.

He started with a provocative question: “Do you have an intention for your life?”
It’s quite a question if you think about it.

Because in a fast paced society we often rush from event to event. The months fly by: “Wow, I can’t believe its August already.” Pretty soon years fly by, then decades and you wake up and your 40, 50 or 80 for that matter.

If our lives are devoid of intention we might find that life slips by and those things we had dreamed of doing are suddenly out of reach.

Sean reminded me of that possibility; the very real chance that without intention you can lose time that you cannot ever recover.

He also gave us a valuable perspective on intention.

First, there are ingredients to a life of intention. They include truth, humility, transparency and integrity. If you combine those four traits, you get a good human. He also reminded us that intention is immune to success or failure, which makes sense if you think about it. If you have an intention in life success is a way station and failure is just a hurdle to clear.

But my favorite piece of advice was this: “intention is a long game.”
I love that line.

Intention is a long game.

If we are strong in our intentions we stick with them. It’s not something we instantly achieve or discard.

Creative Mornings is full of people who live creative lives of intention. In a harsh and fast paced world, it’s good to be with people who give a damn. Those words are straight from the Creative Mornings manifesto.

I’ve included the manifesto here with the hopes that I will see you one of these Fridays. I promise you will leave inspired and energized.

Everyone is creative.

 

A creative life requires bravery and action, honesty and hard work. We are here to support you, celebrate with you, and encourage you to make the things you love.

 

We believe in the power of community. We believe in giving a damn. We believe in face-to-face connections, in learning from others, in hugs and high-fives.

 

We bring together people who are driven by passion and purpose, confident that they will inspire one another, and inspire change in neighborhoods and cities around the world.

 

Everyone is welcome.

 

 

 

30 July, 2018 3 3 Comments

Things We Liked in July

July 30, 2018 By 3 Comments

Fran Marincola was honored with a cake for 19 years of advisory board service in Delray…see item below.

Things we loved in July

Thanks Patty!

A fond farewell and a hearty thank you is owed Patty Reed who left the Delray Chamber to start a new chapter in Melbourne, Florida.
Patty was a wonderful asset to the Delray Chamber and will be missed by all. Her warmth, attention to detail and hard work was not lost on chamber members who always looked forward to seeing her at events and activities. We wish Patty all the best and thank her for a job extremely well done.

News & Notes

Kudos to Sardinia Enoteca in Delray. Great food, excellent service and an extensive wine list make this a welcome addition to the ‘off the avenue’ food scene. Don’t miss their eggplant. Magnificent.

Summer time can be a little dull if you don’t like blockbusters movies. Thank goodness for the Living Room Theatre at FAU in Boca. An oasis in a desert.

We finally tried the Foxworth Fountain at the new Delray Shores Pharmacy on U.S. 1. It was wonderful.
Great pressed sandwiches, cute counter, a real throwback.
We didn’t try the desserts or soda fountain, but that gives us a reason to return.

We will miss Uncle Tai’s. But wish the proprietors a happy retirement. 32 years of excellence. Bravo!

Enjoyed checking out the classic and historic Addison with my partner Marisa Herman. The corporate open house featured incredible food, pineapple mojitos and showcased the classic property which is ideal for special events and corporate parties. Check it out. The holidays are around the corner.

Enjoyed spending time with County Commission candidate Bob Weinroth during an informal discussion at my office. We brought some Delray people over to exchange ideas and share priorities. November is coming soon, but first we have a primary on August 28.  Make sure to vote. So many important races and ballot questions.

Enjoyed spending time with friends at Apeiro at the Delray Marketplace.
It’s a great place for large groups. Good food. Great Moscow mules and the best orrechiette I’ve had in a while.

Baja Cantina in Boca is a cute little joint smack dab on the tracks south of Glades Road. Good prices, delicious San Gria and the chips and salsa are wonderful.
We also discovered the Corner Porch in Delray after all these years. It’s wonderful. Great drinks, delicious food and an historic atmosphere. It’s becoming a favorite.

Finally, a heartfelt thanks to my dear friend Fran Marincola who wrapped up 19 years on Delray’s Parking Management Board in July.
I think it’s fair to say nobody knows more than Fran does about parking in Delray nor is more passionate about the issue.
Board service is essential, important and often thankless work. The volunteers who give their time are often unsung but hugely valuable to a successful city.
Fran did his part, which also includes a long stint on the Downtown Development Authority. He cares a whole lot of about his town and that’s really cool.
Until next month, have a great and safe August.

25 July, 2018 5 5 Comments

The Ties That Bind

July 25, 2018 By 5 Comments

If you’re a local Vietnam Veteran you may want to check out the Boca based chapter of the VVA.

Earlier this week, I had the honor of speaking to the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1125 at Patch Reef Park in Boca Raton.

It was a humbling experience for me since I have great respect for veterans. The opportunity came about when members of the organization attended a Bronze Star award ceremony that recognized the heroism of Skip Brown, a friend, retired Delray police officer and Vietnam veteran who was gracious enough to accept the Bronze Star at Old School Square’s Crest Theatre recently.

The local chapter of the VVA has about 90 members and does some great work in the community raising money for good causes and working to provide services and information to Vietnam veterans in our community.

Our conversation was a memorable one. We all have much to learn if we listen to those who have served. My takeaways: many of the veterans are concerned that basic civics aren’t being taught to young people. They worry about low voter turnout, a fundamental lack of knowledge about history and a lack of understanding of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. They are also keen on reaching Vietnam Veterans so they can engage with them and if needed steer them to services. The organization is working on a website which should be ready by Veterans Day.

I thought I’d share my remarks with readers of Your Delray Boca in an effort to raise awareness for the group.

 

“I’d like thank my longtime friend Arthur Brown for the opportunity to be with you this evening…

I have to admit I struggled with what to say tonight and that would make those who know me laugh…because I’m a lot of things but speechless is not one my afflictions.

I struggled because shortly after Arthur told me about your group and asked me to visit, I happened to stumble across the movie “Coming Home”  which depicts the experience of Vietnam veterans coming home and struggling to adjust to life back in the states.

And I realized that I don’t have much to tell you, but you have much to tell me and all of us.

I was born in 1964 and while I registered for selective service in 1982, I grew up in an America that relied on volunteers and not the draft. And so my peers and I never had to contemplate going to war—others fought for us. While I have respect and gratitude for those who volunteer and those who go to war, I don’t know what it’s like and I never will. If you told me everything you knew about that experience, I would appreciate and grow from that knowledge, but I would still not fully grasp what you lived.

So what do I have to share with you?

Thankfulness and gratitude…for sure.

And yet, as I thought about tonight, I began to think in a larger context and what I concluded is that maybe this inability or unwillingness to understand each other’s experience and perspective is at the heart of what is ailing America these days.

We are here together at a very strange moment in our nation’s history.

We are a nation divided.

We are estranged from one another. That is probably a feeling that you recognize since many Vietnam veterans have shared that they were not exactly welcomed when they returned home. (Editor’s note: during the Question and Answer session following the talk, one veteran said he had to travel in civilian clothes because he was treated harshly while in uniform).

These days, we are talking and often times yelling past each other…we don’t hear and we don’t listen. We don’t seek to understand and we are lacking in thankfulness. We are lacking in gratitude. We are failing to recognize each other as people, as Americans.

Yet, despite our troubles…despite our divisions…despite our broken politics, our opioid addictions, our homeless issues, poverty, despair and violence—we do remain a land of abundance.

Despite racism, hatred, anti-Semitism, homophobia, trade wars, tariffs and political swamps—we remain a place of beauty—we regularly enjoy the blessings of this nation…opportunity, love, compassion, freedom and justice. However, imperfect, it does exist.

And so I thought that just like I could never understand your experience in the Vietnam era, it is possible for me to appreciate and respect it. And therefore it’s possible for all of us to appreciate and respect each other—in spite of our differences.

That’s a decision that all of us have the power to make.

We need to decide what binds us as a nation. What do we share as Americans…not as Republicans or Democrats, Liberals or Conservatives or other labels relating to race, religion, sexual preference or identity—but what binds us as people.

Maybe if we could see beyond the labels, maybe if we made an effort to listen, to be respectful and gracious… maybe just maybe we can find our way back to a place of reconciliation.

Abraham Lincoln called on us to summon our better angels. He also understood that a house divided cannot stand.

I see Lincoln as a model leader because he sought to unite not divide. Division is not leadership, its demagoguery. We lack leaders, we don’t lack demagogues.

That does not mean we cannot hold strong beliefs or advocate for deeply held convictions that conflict with each other. But it does mean, that we should strive for a better way to disagree. Because I know for sure that what we are doing today isn’t working. It’s not making America great again, it’s not instilling hope or affecting change, it is ripping us apart.

Maybe, we ought to step back…lay down our arms, shut off cable TV and social media for a few minutes and consider what’s at stake.  We just might think differently.

Maybe if we paused…we might change our perspective.

So what is at stake?

What is at risk?

I would argue that America itself is at risk.

For all of its imperfections, for all of its problems, this is an amazing country. A nation that has led the world, a beacon for all other nations.

How can we risk that?

How dare we risk that?

Your sacrifice…the sacrifice of others who fought for our country deserves better than what we are seeing these days.

The great leaders and American citizens and service members  who gave us liberty, freedom and the right to pursue happiness—deserve better than what our leaders and our pundits are giving us.

We, the people, deserve better.

I want to conclude with a few suggestions and then I’m anxious to hear your thoughts….

What do we do until we figure this out? What do we do to come together as a nation?

I would suggest we begin to think and act locally…volunteer, mentor a young person, find a worthy charity and give our time and talents…build a community. There are so many worthy causes to dive into in Delray and Boca.

Anne Frank said: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
How true and how amazing….that in the midst of the Holocaust Anne Frank was able to express hope. And her sentiments are spot on.

 

I’m anxious to hear your thoughts, but I just think we need to focus on what binds us, not what divides us. And that we need more uniters in leadership positions at all levels of our society.

The stakes are high…they couldn’t be higher and we are certainly at an inflection point. A house divided cannot stand…we need to heed the lessons of history if we are to have a future.

But we have the power to change things….to improve as Anne Frank said, our little slice of the world.

 

 

 

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