tamarjacobson

Quote of the day:

Editor – I have attempted throughout my life to give a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, encouragement to the discouraged, and options to the cynical and complacent. From Northern Ireland to Sarajevo to Latin America, I have sung and marched, engaged in civil disobedience, visited war zones, and broken bread with those who had little bread to break.

Through all those years, I chose not to engage in party politics. Though I was asked many times to endorse candidates at every level, I was never comfortable doing so. At this time, however, changing that posture feels like the responsible thing to do. If anyone can navigate the contaminated waters of Washington, lift up the poor, and appeal to the rich to share their wealth, it is Sen. Barack Obama. If anyone can bring light to the darkened corners of this nation and restore our positive influence in world affairs, it is Barack Obama. If anyone can begin the process of healing and bring unity to a country that has been divided for too long, it is Barack Obama. It is time to begin a new journey. Joan Baez, San Francisco Chronicle

As Director of a large university campus child care center I was often faced with hiring new teachers. It was always a big responsibility to decide who would care for and educate very young children. For, how we interact with young children affects them for the rest of their lives. Sometimes I would have to choose between a young woman in her early to late twenties or an older woman in her forties or fifties. I would be torn between the years of experience a person would have with the youth of another. And at times I would realize that I was being ageist! Just because a person had experience did not mean she was right for the job. It would feel as if I was taking an enormous risk hiring the younger person. Because, for me, early childhood is the most crucial time of our lives.

It has nothing to do with age or experience, I realized. It has everything to do with the right person at the right time – for the job. Whatever it is.

Don’t be ageist, America. Have courage. We have walked in darkness for such a long time, it has become a habit. So that when a light shines ahead we feel blinded and scared. Take the risk and follow your heart, America. It is so seldom that an opportunity arises for us to take a completely different path, that we must seize it with all our hands and hearts and minds. I heard Jason Alexander say on CNN the other night that his head says one thing and his heart another. Follow your heart, Jason! The time is right here and now. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be ageist.

Standing amongst the most diverse crowd I have ever imagined in my dreams, yesterday in Wilmington, listening to the strong voice of Barack Obama describing what hope means for him, the tears tumbled and rolled down my cheeks with joy and relief as his words went directly into my heart and soul. And as the young white Republican woman next to me cheered and applauded right along with me, I whispered to myself through my tears: "Oh, have courage, America. Please, please, have courage! For I really don’t know when this time will come again."

A year ago at Mining Nuggets: The nature of change