I'M JUST PLAYING catch up on an item I passed on because there were too many things going on that needed my immediate attention. That's a lame excuse. My apologies for not mentioning the death of Mario Cuomo on Jan. 1.
I was at the 1984 Democratic Convention held in San Francisco and heard Cuomo's electrifying speech.
At the time, I was managing editor of the San Francisco-based Philippine News and it was the first time that one of the major political parties hand out a bon mot to local ethnic media by treating us as real journalists by giving us access to the convention. A small thing to mainstream media but it was a big deal and a little historical footnote in that it was also the first time that a Filipino-American publication covered a convention of one of America's major political parties.
That convention was also noteworthy in that the delegates truly reflected America's diversity. There was a sizable Asian American presence that was more than window dressing. They actually had enough Asian Democrats there to have a caucus and a separate breakfast to meet the candidates.
The eventual nominee, Vice President Walter Mondale, also made history by choosing Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, the first woman to be nominated as Vice President. Another footnote to history because in today's world, talking about a woman making a serious run for President is all the pundits can talk about.
In 1984, the speeches by Edward Kennedy, Jesse Jackson and Sen. Gary Hart were inspiring and uplifting. I didn't hear Jackson or Hart live but I was in Moscone Center when Kennedy spoke.
Even with all those great orators, Cuomo's speech stood out and set the tone for the rest of the convention. He, more than any other politician, described an America that it ought to be; basically, the ideal America that exists in grade school history books but not in real life.
Even with all those great orators, Cuomo's speech stood out and set the tone for the rest of the convention. He, more than any other politician, described an America that it ought to be; basically, the ideal America that exists in grade school history books but not in real life.
As I look back, I realize it was a watershed event in my life. My brief brush with Cuomo and the other "old guard" of Democrats probably led me to the government position I hold today. In my little corner of the world, trying to live up to their words is the driving force of what I do and how I live my life.
Eleven years later Cuomo demolished the Republican's "city on a hill" metaphor. His words still ring true and could still be used to argue against the current powers in the GOP who believe "their" America is under attack (by non-Europeans); whose belief in American exceptionalism denigrates the rest of the world.
Don't get me wrong. I love this country. I would not want to live in any other country than the United States. We're just not there, yet.
The gap between the myth and reality of America continues to grow. It is not a coincidence that the chasm between the middle class and the 1 percent is as great as it has ever been; nor is it a coincidence that the racial divide seems to be overcoming our relationships more and more; and the class war the conservatives accuse the progressives of exploiting, has been underway since the 1960s and we, the People, are losing.
Loving America does not mean being blind to its faults. I believe that it is the job of all patriotic Americans to work to narrow those gaps and correct those faults if we want to prevent our country from becoming an oligarchy where there are the uber-rich whose sole existence is to make themselves even richer and more powerful, ... and then there is the rest of us.
Eleven years later Cuomo demolished the Republican's "city on a hill" metaphor. His words still ring true and could still be used to argue against the current powers in the GOP who believe "their" America is under attack (by non-Europeans); whose belief in American exceptionalism denigrates the rest of the world.
Don't get me wrong. I love this country. I would not want to live in any other country than the United States. We're just not there, yet.
The gap between the myth and reality of America continues to grow. It is not a coincidence that the chasm between the middle class and the 1 percent is as great as it has ever been; nor is it a coincidence that the racial divide seems to be overcoming our relationships more and more; and the class war the conservatives accuse the progressives of exploiting, has been underway since the 1960s and we, the People, are losing.
Loving America does not mean being blind to its faults. I believe that it is the job of all patriotic Americans to work to narrow those gaps and correct those faults if we want to prevent our country from becoming an oligarchy where there are the uber-rich whose sole existence is to make themselves even richer and more powerful, ... and then there is the rest of us.
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| Mario Cuomo at the 1984 Democratic Convention held in San Francisco. |
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