Working Away Being Witness to History w/Brief Thoughts....

It is always fun to be witness to history right now as the formal roll call is on-going as States declare their votes for Donald Trump.   As the convention continues, The commentary on all sides has been interesting,  to say the least as Mr. Trump gears up for the general election.    

I had this in my archives that I thought was quite appropriate to truly reflect upon the art of the possible and overcoming odds with this tribute to the great Maya Angelou.       In many ways, her story is the story of America --and the need to overcome is ever so evident now:

For me ... until her passing yesterday ... she was just a poet that had an opportunity to share her words at Bill Clinton's presidential inauguration in 1993... Her parents divorced when she was 3. She was raped by her mother's boyfriend at age 7. At 17, she was a single mother. In her 20's, she was a shake dancer in a nightclub, a prostitute, a cook, and ran a brothel.  Had I met her at that point, I'm guessing I'd have felt sorry for her and maybe a little judgmental at the same time. I'm pretty certain I'd never have bet on her as someone who would go on to have such an incredibly positive influence on so many people during her life ... and following her life.  She went on to be a singer, an actor, a civil rights activist (worked with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King), a college professor, a writer, a speaker, and ... a poet.  She also won the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian honor in the United States).  Next time I'm feeling judgmental (at work or in life) or a little down about something or feeling some past action (something I've done or something someone else has done) will make it difficult to keep moving forward ... contributing something positive to the world ... making good things happen ... next time ... I've got a new hero.  Rest in peace, Maya Angelou. Nice work!  Sam (the guy behind this stuff)

On This First Day of a New Week.....

On this Tragic Day in #BatonRogue: Brief Personal Thoughts

It has been a dark day in America as three cops fell as they were doing their job protecting the citizens of Baton Rogue, Louisiana.    As I supported @DailyOutsider earlier with a View of the Week, for me this was personal in many ways I remember how cops talked about how they expected the worst and hoped for the best.   It should not have to be that way.   They are us--and we have to remember that.    I understood this ever more when I had the pleasure to attend my City's Citizens Academy.

After Dallas,   I made it a point of reaching out to my local Police Leadership team underscoring how an attack on one Cop is an attack on us all.    As the Police Commissioner of New York noted, we live in perilous times and it is a very complex place--talk is not enough.  We have to go beyond it.   I also note how Commissioner noted how we have to stop talking past each other.    We have to also think about Guns in this Country--the idea of an AR-15 being legal is just beyond the pale to me. 

We can, shall and will overcome.