Thoughts from The Past, On Which Our Future Stands

"There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come."

Victor Hugo wrote that, or something along those lines depending on translation of intent versus translation of exact wording. Suffice to say, Quasimodo's French founder and biographical basis has been much on my mind as of late. Not only his literary contributions, but the way (however unintentional they may have been) strokes from the brush of his words have painted the landscape of my world. I suppose I'm waxing a bit poetic on the subject, but the strains of Les Miserables and even Notre-Dame de Paris are influences I feel in political rhetoric today. I visualize them as clearly as the textural sensation of Van Gogh's Starry Night, fluid strength pouring down from nearly-ignored circumstance to create a new and unanticipated influence at the beginning of this new millenium.

I found myself genuinely excited when I found out the 3 leading women responsible for the end of the Second Liberian Civil War were getting the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

There are a lot of people I love very much who looked at me with genuine concern when they asked, "Why on Earth are you excited, and what are you talking about?"

I'm talking about 3 women who led a nonviolent movement in Liberia to change the entire country. This was a group of women who knew they were facing death during their struggle, as well as the idea that if they succeeded, they may face assassination for their achievements in a country where killing a woman wasn't as great a crime as killing a man. A tiny band of strong, dedicated women who said, "No. We've had enough. You're done now."

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

 Margaret Mead said that. Disappointing that she died in 1978; 2 examples of how right she was have come shining through international attention in the 33 years since her death.

Rwandan Genocide: I'll not belabor the point here. Just remember: a group of people getting slaughtered 130% more effeciently than the Nazis were during the Holocaust rose up and saved what was left of themselves, ending devestating murders 90 days after they began. There was no international intervention. The United States publically apologized for failing the people of Rwanda.

Liberia. For me, the achievement is all the more moving because these women, beautiful and strong in their convictions, forced change without violence. There was something more to this than punching the bully who's been stealing your lunch money. With grace and dignity they walked, turning aside all they faced as they said, "We are here. We deserve recognition for that. We are here." Forgiveness for the past, eyes firmly fixed ahead as they said time and again, "We understand what has happened before. We are still here." Even as blood pooled at their feet and lives were lost, these women knew they were right, and said, "We are here. Your time came, and now it is ours. We are here."

"Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary." ~Gandhi