"We just need to get back to caring about one another."
The Obama Presidency, paying dividends already:
If we can turn around what leads to status in this country, it would look like this: People giving of themselves and providing for others who are lacking or in need or simply don't have the access or the privileges or the wherewithal. There are so many ways to do this.
[Hat tip to Deanie Mills who flagged this.]
Earl W. Stafford, 60, who grew up as one of 12 children of a Baptist minister...wants to bring to the inauguration disadvantaged people, terminally ill patients, wounded soldiers and others down on their luck. :Give yourself a holiday gift and read the whole article."We wanted to . . . bless those who otherwise wouldn't have an opportunity to be a part of the great celebration, the inauguration and the festivities," he said in an interview yesterday. "Our objective is to bring in a cross-section of society -- those who are distressed, those who are terminally ill, those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, those veterans who are wounded and served our country."Stafford said the idea was inspired by his deep religious faith and the good fortune that has come his way. The inauguration is an opportunity to remember the less fortunate and remind the country of its traditions of benevolence, he said.
"We've gotten away from those core values that made America great...We just need to get back to caring about one another."
If we can turn around what leads to status in this country, it would look like this: People giving of themselves and providing for others who are lacking or in need or simply don't have the access or the privileges or the wherewithal. There are so many ways to do this.
[Hat tip to Deanie Mills who flagged this.]
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Sometimes, I'm reminded just how great a country is the United States of America.
God, how wonderful! Thanks for the post, TheraP, and thanks especially for the link.
"...and a primo site overlooking the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route."
I hope this is one ball that gets scheduled for Obama to attend. No cameras. No press. Just a genuine enjoyment of the populism he has inspired.
Think of it. Most other ballrooms full of heavy-hitters, contributors, pols. and lobbyists looking toward self-congratulation (at best) and at worst, trying to leverage their involvement into a quid pro quo for political consideration from this new Administration.
And then there's Mr. Stafford's party. I would expect there to be no shortage of genuine joy, and tears, and love, and gratitude - and dare I say true (and healthy, even!) patriotic fervor - filling that room on that night.
I hope Barack and Michelle get a chance to enjoy it.
WOW!
December 4, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love your comments. ♪ ♫ ♬ You've got heart!
December 4, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Stafford said he hopes to recoup some of the $600,000 from other sponsors, yet to be recruited...He said the initiative will be funded through the family's nonprofit Stafford Foundation, created in 2002; this will be its first major enterprise."
Perhaps this is a place for the netroots to again step in and contribute poulist capital for this event, a'la the response to Michele Bachmann?
I can't think of a better way to celebrate this inauguration, actually. Get me a web address, Mr. Stafford, and I think we've got a few friends who can help in a most appropriate way to contribute to your foundation.
I want to be a part of this.
December 4, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Earl W Stafford:
http://www.unitech1.com
5870 Trinity Parkway
4th Floor
Centreville, VA USA 20120
Phone: 703-502-9600
Fax: 703-502-9300
December 4, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
"People giving of themselves" is from the New Testament. The greatest among you will be those who serve the most.
True service leads to true leadership.
December 4, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just make sure none of them are in strollers or carry back packs. Leave them in the bars with the crumb grabbers.
December 4, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's basically rented a venue with a perfect view of the whole thing! They'll be indoors, I believe, with access to whatever they need.
December 4, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
You did a beautiful job TheraP, thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention.
And SleepinJeezus--what a great idea! This is, indeed, what Obama had in mind for our country.
December 4, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wonderful to see you here, Deanie. :)
December 4, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
This was the final story on ABC nightly news this evening.
December 4, 2008 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is just the beginning of what I think is going to be a snowballing effect of people looking out for people...the emergence of what Obama calls our "higher angels."
Just adds to the growing excitement. Thanks for the link, Thera!
December 4, 2008 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for bringing this article to our attention. It was the first article I read this morning in the Times. Although not in Washington, I think there will be events like this on Inauguration Day, on a less expensive level, in every state and in many countries around the world.
At a Thanksgiving event last week my family and friends were all talking about how very grateful we are every day that Barack Obama will be our next President. Mr. Stafford exemplifies the values, the human compassion that an Obama presidency will bring out with so many people not only in this country, but around the world. The 21st Century really begins on January 20, 2009.
December 4, 2008 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the Times link:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/a-gift-for-the-down-and-out-the-inauguration/?scp=1&sq=Earl%20W%20Stafford&st=cse
And this quote:
December 4, 2008 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
very cool.
December 5, 2008 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is a beautiful thing to do...don't get me wrong...but I am kind of skeptical. I am especially skeptical of those who claim the "Lord told him" to do something. Haven't many hypocritical Republicans hijacked faith as well?
Here is a troubling section from the NYT article:
2/3 of the total rooms are going to corporate buddies and political allies of this guy? Something just does not smell right about this.
I really hope this is on the up and up and not just some "See! We care about the poor" scheme. I have a deep rooted cynicism and I look for the "what is in it for them" angle to decide if this is truly philanthropic work, or merely the appearance of one for purely corporatist reasons.
Sorry to rain on a truly wonderful sentiment. I just hate getting taken for a ride..so I might pass on this one.
December 5, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, I saw that too. Co-sign! I can put 2 and 2 together. There's enough info so you can speculate about what great PR this is. And the most troubling thing for me is yes, that 2/3 of the rooms business.
Don't worry, it's not you raining on this. It's there in black and white.
Noble sentiments. But with the web, I'm guessing there will be plenty of speculation... there's a price to everything and more publicity leads to greater scrutiny.
I'm a big advocate of doing good deeds anonymously to the extent that's possible. If you feel an inner desire, that's usually so private and personal (in my experience), that you don't advertise it. You just do it!
December 5, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely TheraP! I am of that mind as well. If you are truly philanthropic you don't hold a press conference, you just do it! Others will sing your praises if you are truly selfless - there is no doubt. :)
December 5, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Doing well by doing good" is a time-honored American tradition.
December 5, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but there may be something wrong when you are purposefully attempting to win a Nobel Prize for philanthropy by giving a homeless person a dime once.
December 5, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Never said it was a good thing. Just an American (if not universal) one.
December 5, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pure speculation here, based on the little we know: The business he owns moved over to doing defense-related stuff during the bush years. If defense work is going to be falling off, and if tech overall is falling off, he's trying, through good deeds and helping well-connected others to participate in the good deeds (and the emoluments) to keep his business going or growing.
December 5, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I remember Bush surrounding himself with freeer-saved test tube babies. Maybe this is a new move for the cryogenics sector. (And there's a pun in there somewhere, but even I'm not shameless enough to go shag it).
December 5, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great points, mageduly.... unfortunately.
It seems we have spent such a long time in the wilderness that the first sign of light causes me to be willing to throw all cynicism aside and BELIEVE once again in the honor of man.
You are right here - for the reasons outlined - to instead express caution lest we be taken in by another cynical attempt at self-promotion and political positioning.
After all, this could very well be another exercise in "Compassionate Conservatism." I'll let this story cook awhile before giving it my support. Thanks, mageduly!
December 5, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink