THIS BLOG CAME TO MIND AFTER THIS WEEK'S EVENTS. I WROTE IT ON THE 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON SELMA. I AM RE POSTING IT WITH AN ADDITIONAL BIT OF INFO THAT IS SADLY AND EERILY TIMELY NOW.

3/8/15

It seems like an important day to blog.

50 years ago, incredibly significant steps were taken as people attempted
to simply and non-violently walk across a bridge.

They didn't make it across...without violence.

And it certainly wasn't simple.

It still isn't.

Some people STILL beat others who do not look as they think they should.

Most people STILL, at least,  beat the issue to death.

I do not know if or when we will ever simply walk together.

So, for today, I shall just share what came to my mind as I remembered Selma.

I remember the reports and the photos and the UTTER disbelief.

It touched me but Selma was far from Chicago and I was 17,  3 months from high school graduation so?!?!

BUT, then, I had an experience  of my OWN when, at 18, I went away to college.

There my disbelief solidified into belief...

...and that belief moved me to action.

I pledged a sorority.  Had no real idea what that meant but I pledged.

We were "NUMBER ONE"!?!?!

Whatever.

Six months in, I was the secretary. We had Rush and then a voting session which,
as secretary, I recorded....discussion about the girls hoping to be 'voted' in....yadayadayada.

I KNEW right away that this was not for me.

BUT, the deal was sealed when we were told that an African-American girl who was a favorite of most of us could not be accepted AND that a girl that was Jewish also was unacceptable.

BECAUSE THEY WERE BLACK AND JEWISH....THAT'S ALL...THAT WAS THE REASON.

I was outraged and said as much.

They told me to take it to the NATIONAL office.

I did.

They wrote back that they were a "Southern born white CHRISTIAN
sorority".

Take it or leave it.

I left it.

Oh, I had to still live in that dormitory since my room and board were paid for the semester;  the girls were still my friends but we were no longer 'sisters' because I deactivated from the sorority.

I no longer was "NUMBER ONE"?!?!

THANK GOD.

AND THANK MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO HUMBLY BUT BOLDLY TOOK
THOSE GIANT STEPS 50 YEARS AGO...

...so that I could take a tiny step 48 years ago.

Today reminds me to keep walking.

There are many bridges yet to cross.

I TRUST YOU KNOW WHY I FELT COMPELLED TO RE POST THIS.  IT IS EERILY TIMELY, ISN'T IT?  THAT 17 YEAR OLD RESIDES WITHIN ME AND HER HEART BREAKS AGAIN BUT THIS 69 YEAR OLD WILL BE DAMNED IF SHE IS GONNA' STOP WALKING.

SHE ENCOURAGES YOU TO DO THE SAME...SOMEHOW, SOMEWHERE, SOMEWAY...SO THAT ONCE AGAIN OUR COLLECTIVE SILENCE DOES NOT CONTINUE TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE VERY WORDS WE 'PLEDGE'...."LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL"!