The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

What a marvelous time we live in! Fifty years ago we were invited to get on the bus, and now the bus is a jet plane. This is not a political blog, and it never will be. Arianna Huffington and a host of others do that with far more knowledge and aplomb than I ever could. But I believe the candidacy of Barack Obama for President is an inspiring event in the search for social justice and personal change. You start hearing about hope, and you want to create some yourself.

I also believe Senator John McCain is a fine man and an American hero, and it encourages me that as a nation we have chosen two men to run for the highest office in the country with distinct and well-developed visions for our future and the world. They seem ready to run a campaign about ideas instead of the Swift-boating, trash-flinging, fear-mongering garbage that so often defines the sound bite age of American politics. They understand we as a people want to hear their leadership vision, how they plan to reignite our greatness in the areas of energy policy, international relations, the economy, and national security.

One of the deepest and often unspoken challenges that await the winner of this contest is the need to heal the divisions that exist in our country concerning race. Many of us do not fully understand the searing, shocking, and incredibly painful experience that lies buried in the recent history of our nation. I don't. To the right is a link to a short film that illustrates that history, made with such courage it is far beyond my poor power to add or detract. The film is called "Change Gon Come?" by Westwood Productions, the work of a young man from Los Angeles who is not identified by name on the youtube site. The film contains graphic images but its subject is so important I encourage you to view it, and reflect on the power we all have to create a different and better world in our walk among people.

I have also included a link to a May 23, 2008 interview by television commentator Charlie Rose with Fred Smith, the founder, chairman, president, and CEO of FedEx. Please understand that I am not offering these video links in opposition to each other. I chose this piece because Mr. Rose and Mr. Smith have an intelligent and wide-ranging conversation about politics, our country, and how to promote innovation and success. As the 2008 campaign unfolds I hope we get ready for this kind of dialogue, and pay attention. The future is bright, but you've got to put down the remote and go outside.