We are the ones we have been waiting for

[JennO]

A stunning letter from Author Alice Walker to Barack Obama that was forwarded to me from a friend. Hope you are all well and full of renewed spirit & joy. 

 

Many blessings on you, your families, our community's leadership and our country.

 

Jenn

> Nov. 5, 2008
>
> Dear Brother Obama,
>
> You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being
> the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because
> you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver
> the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after
> decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the
> flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And
> yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a
> different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you,
> North America is a different place. It is s really only to say: Well done. We
> knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of
> the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would
> actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your
> rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a
> balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.
>
> I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the
> world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the
> world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however,
> is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits
> sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely
> daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to
> seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as
> the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and
> stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of
> scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate.
> One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no
> excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real
> success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may
> buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and
> space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet
> clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the
> reach of almost everyone.
>
> I would further advise you not to take on other people's enemies. Most
> damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those
> feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain
> religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies,
> but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is
> understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and
> are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely.
> However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often
> fought, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing
> of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of
> ruling a people's spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor
> people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.
>
> A good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by the
> Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the
> Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that
> must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be
> lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to
> animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And
> your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust
> characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy
> self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find
> an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the
> world.
>
> We are the ones we have been waiting for.
>
> In Peace and Joy,
>
> Alice Walker

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