I spent the evening of November 18th with Condoleezza Rice - along with 2000 others - to raise money for the local non-profit organization, Global Samaritan Resources, headquartered in Abilene, Texas.
I could tell you about how proud she is to be an American, and how she continually reflects upon what makes us great ... I could tell you about how she described us as the most individualistic people in the world, yet we are also the most humanitarian and philanthropic as well ... I could tell you how she loves our strong democracy, and our personal responsibility as a united people to deliver something that government can/will never deliver: and that is compassion ... I could tell you about these things, but I won't.
I could tell you how she talked about the fact that she believes we are children of God, and about how we are facing some really hard times ahead ... and in spite of the challenges we face, and will continue to face, the most important challenge will be for us to show people who have no hope that there IS hope ... yes, there is so much of what she said that I could tell you.
But, I won't.
I could tell you about how she spoke to us about how ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference ... I could tell you about how she stressed that every life is worthy, and every life is capable of achieving greatness, and that it does not matter where you come from but it does matter where you are going ... but, I won't.
I'd rather share with you her personal anecdotes, her witty sense of humor ... share just a little bit of her story ... instead.
I want to tell you about her grandfather who worked the cotton fields as the son of a poor sharecropper, and how he decided one day that he wanted to get some real book-learning ... so he enrolled at an All-Black College, and paid for his own education with his own meager cotton earnings.
I want to tell you about how it wasn't long before her grandfather's money ran out, and how he was dismayed that his real book-learning was going to end. But then he found out about scholarships.
I want to tell you about how one day her grandfather came home thrilled to announce the news to his family that the rest of his high-dollar education was going to be paid for free and clear ... I want to tell you about the total shock of his family and how they shouted "WHAT?!?!?" in unison.
I want to tell you about how her grandfather responded with an excited, feigned innocent wide-eyed, sheepish response "Come on y'all, you knows my whole life that I've always wanted to be a Presbyterian preacher!"
After the audience finally quit laughing, Condoleezza mischievously said, "And, thanks to my grandfather, the Rices have been devout, college-educated Presbyterians ever since."
I'd rather share with you how she proudly told us, "I am the 67th Secretary of State of the United States of America despite the fact that my parents couldn't take me to a restaurant when I was a little girl."
I want to tell you about her aunt who has a PhD in Victorian Literature, and who writes impressive books on Charles Dickens ... and I'd rather tell you how Condoleezza sassily quipped, "If you think what I do as a black person is weird, just look at my aunt!"
I'd rather describe to you how the packed auditorium went wild when she boldly proclaimed, "My quite ordinary parents told me I could be the President of the United States if I wanted to ... even though, at the time, I couldn't even buy a hat I wanted at Woolworth's."
Yes, my friends, Condoleezza is right ... ordinary people really can do extraordinary things, and it really doesn't matter where you come from ... it only matters where you really want to go.
I could tell you about how proud she is to be an American, and how she continually reflects upon what makes us great ... I could tell you about how she described us as the most individualistic people in the world, yet we are also the most humanitarian and philanthropic as well ... I could tell you how she loves our strong democracy, and our personal responsibility as a united people to deliver something that government can/will never deliver: and that is compassion ... I could tell you about these things, but I won't.
I could tell you how she talked about the fact that she believes we are children of God, and about how we are facing some really hard times ahead ... and in spite of the challenges we face, and will continue to face, the most important challenge will be for us to show people who have no hope that there IS hope ... yes, there is so much of what she said that I could tell you.
But, I won't.
I could tell you about how she spoke to us about how ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference ... I could tell you about how she stressed that every life is worthy, and every life is capable of achieving greatness, and that it does not matter where you come from but it does matter where you are going ... but, I won't.
I'd rather share with you her personal anecdotes, her witty sense of humor ... share just a little bit of her story ... instead.
I want to tell you about her grandfather who worked the cotton fields as the son of a poor sharecropper, and how he decided one day that he wanted to get some real book-learning ... so he enrolled at an All-Black College, and paid for his own education with his own meager cotton earnings.
I want to tell you about how it wasn't long before her grandfather's money ran out, and how he was dismayed that his real book-learning was going to end. But then he found out about scholarships.
I want to tell you about how one day her grandfather came home thrilled to announce the news to his family that the rest of his high-dollar education was going to be paid for free and clear ... I want to tell you about the total shock of his family and how they shouted "WHAT?!?!?" in unison.
I want to tell you about how her grandfather responded with an excited, feigned innocent wide-eyed, sheepish response "Come on y'all, you knows my whole life that I've always wanted to be a Presbyterian preacher!"
After the audience finally quit laughing, Condoleezza mischievously said, "And, thanks to my grandfather, the Rices have been devout, college-educated Presbyterians ever since."
I'd rather share with you how she proudly told us, "I am the 67th Secretary of State of the United States of America despite the fact that my parents couldn't take me to a restaurant when I was a little girl."
I want to tell you about her aunt who has a PhD in Victorian Literature, and who writes impressive books on Charles Dickens ... and I'd rather tell you how Condoleezza sassily quipped, "If you think what I do as a black person is weird, just look at my aunt!"
I'd rather describe to you how the packed auditorium went wild when she boldly proclaimed, "My quite ordinary parents told me I could be the President of the United States if I wanted to ... even though, at the time, I couldn't even buy a hat I wanted at Woolworth's."
Yes, my friends, Condoleezza is right ... ordinary people really can do extraordinary things, and it really doesn't matter where you come from ... it only matters where you really want to go.
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