Let’s stipulate that this election cycle has let down… A LOT of people.
Fair.
Still, we can celebrate when a political decision maker gets it right. And actually, perhaps the new and ever deepening lows of Trump nastiness and Clinton corruption make a recognition of higher moments all the more crucial.
Yesterday, we got a really good one.
During the Democratic National Convention’s roll call vote, several states highlighted their Native American tribes, which was beautiful and moving.
I think we forget, sometimes, how much good can come from coming together. When I taught 8th grade, we read the book Code Talker, which tells the true (and until 1968, classified) story of Navajo men recruited by the military to preclude Germany or Japan from deciphering American messages of wartime strategy.
Navajo is a complex language, and was completely unknown to the Axis powers.
They never did crack the Navajo “code.” And we know who won the war. Turns out that “Enigma” – the German machine built to scramble their communications – could be hacked. See: The Imitation Game featuring the father of computer science, Alan Turing.
The bravery and patriotism of Navajo Native Americans ensured that US military messages – including those received by my grandfather, a Navy Captain in the South Pacific – remained secret.
That’s inspirational. The story moves you with hope. And we don’t talk about those stories enough.
So here’s my favorite moment, when South Dakota gave Hillary Clinton the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination, opening with a message in Lakota. Beautiful.
Thank you, State Rep. Shawn Bordeaux.
Source: 30dB.com – Bill Clinton and Speech
“There have already been some great highlights at the DNC but Bill’s speech was not one of them. At a lukewarm 63% positive so far today in Social Bill didn’t meet the high oratory bar he has set for himself over the years.” – Howard K. 30dB