JAMIE’S PLACE FOR STUFF

I just finished reading The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett It is a wonderful historical series of historical novels that takes one extended family over the 100 years from 1900 to 2000. It is very well written, well researched and engrossing enough that you simply don’t stop reading until you finish the “what happens next” as you move through world wars, systems of government, Civil Rights, assassinations and all the tidal changes of the past.

All this would have been fine if the last book “Edge of Eternity” just finished in 2000, but I made the mistake of turning the last page today. Given the events since Tuesday, I didn’t need the Epilogue I found for 2008 with all the still living members of the family watching television in order to see:

Onstage was an African American family: a handsome father, a beautiful mother, and two sweet little girls. It was election night, and Barack Obama had won.

Michelle Obama and the girls left the stage, and the president-elect went to the microphone and said: “Hello Chicago”.

Obama wore a dark-gray suit and a burgundy tie. Behind him, rippling in a gentle breeze, were more American flags than Maria could count.
Speaking slowly, pausing after each phrase, Obama said: “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy — tonight is your answer.”

Obama said,”It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, gay straight, disabled and not disabled –Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals, or a collection red state and blue states: We are, and always will be, the United States of America.”

It was a great night. He had no way of knowing that he would be fought tooth and nail by those who wanted his destruction more than they wanted what was good for the country he loves. They weren’t able to keep him from doing many wonderful things, but they have now defeated the equally committed and idealistic successor who would have continued those good things. Those who won by suppression and corruption sit on the brink of trying to undo and destroy. They want to make the one group of White Men supreme again and to return us once more to the red and blue states. His replacement is an ignorant, arrogant man controlled by men of great prejudice and little character committed to their own petty hatreds and pusuit of wealth and power. It is perfectly okay to cry. Then get back up and just like the past 100 years fight them tooth and nail to bring back HOPE.

Time’s Glory by William Shakespeare
From the Rape of Lucrece

Time’s glory is to calm contending kings,
To unmask falsehood, and bring truth to light;
To stamp the seal of time in aged things,
To wake the morn, and sentinel the night,
To wrong the wronger till he render right;
To ruinate proud buildings with thy hours,
And smear with dust their glittering golden towers;

Even the Towers with a great big gold plated TRUMP on the side.