John Lewis has died

John Robert Lewis has died. He served in Congress, representing Georgia's 5th district, from January 3, 1987 until yesterday. He was a life-long fighter for freedom, justice, and equality.

Lewis was only 17 when he met Rosa Parks.  A year later he met Martin Luther King, Jr.  During his college years, Lewis organized protests and boycotts in Nashville. He was one of the thirteen original Freedom Riders and at times was beaten with baseball bats, stones, chains, and lead pipes. He was also one of the founding members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and served for a time as chairman. Lewis worked for the Field Foundation in New York City, had a position in President Jimmy Carter's Administration, and served on the Atlanta City Council. All of this was before being elected to the US House of Representatives. John Lewis was one busy man.

Lewis fought for justice not only based on race.  He was a champion of LGBTQ rights as well.  Just last month he said "I fought too long and too hard to end discrimination based on race and color, to not stand up against discrimination against our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters."

He was reelected to his House seat an impressive sixteen times, and always by a wide margin. His Congressional achievements are really too numerous to mention here. At the time of his death, he was serving on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the United States Congress Joint Committee on Taxation. He did not attend the inaugurations of either George W. Bush or Donald Trump, saying in both cases that he believed them not legitimately elected presidents.

John Lewis was awarded more than 50 honorary degrees and received numerous awards, and rightly so. His work and his life earned him that. What will always stand out in my mind, is when President Barack Obama awarded him the highest civilian honor of the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

America lost a giant yesterday.  I only scratched the surface on the many things he did in his lifetime.  May we all draw on his strength and example.  Thanks for making a difference John Lewis!  Rest in peace.

Here I go a walkin - sort of

Just a walk in the park right? Not this year! After reviewing plans closely with health officials, organizers of AIDS Walk San Francisco concluded that risks to the public outweighed the benefits of proceeding as usual with the usual in-person event in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. This year, it's a virtual event, but in many ways it may be more connected than ever. This year there will be a live stream on social media and on broadcast television. As always, the important things will still be in place: awareness and fundraising.

I do this every single year and although this blog is NOT about me, this is one of those days when I make an exception, because here is something every single one of us can get involved in.  Help spread the word.  Donate if you are able.  Watch the event next Sunday.  You might even consider signing up yourself!

Of course in the midst of a global pandemic, we can very well gather in the park.  Physical distancing would be impossible!  I will certainly miss the lovely breakfast and the prewalk exercise.  I'll miss greeting old friends and I'll even miss the walk itself.  I'm going to try to raise more money though than ever before.  If you can help. click HERE and go to my secure fundraising page.  I'm looking forward to seeing all the new elements including the participating celebrities.

It won't be the usual walk in the park, but I hope many of you will join in for this year's re-imagined streaming event, featuring Bette Midler, Vanessa Williams, Gloria Estefan, Queer Eye stars, and so many others. You can watch the event in the San Francisco area on KGO Channel 7 and also at https://sf.aidswalk.net/

Back on my soapbox

When I began writing this I knew, no matter how hard I tried, that some of my personal thoughts and opinions would sneak in.  I didn't want this to be about me, but instead for it to be about us.  For nearly twelve years I have written what I hoped would be encouraging posts and I have talk about wonderful people in our world who are making a difference.

I'd always rather take the positive side of things and so I prefer writing about good things we can do, instead of urging us to stay away from bad.  In political campaigns, I always like it much better when a candidate tells they good they have done and why we should vote for them, instead of tearing down their opponent and saying why we shouldn't vote for them.

As our country works to fight COVID-19 and also work toward reforms that will end racism and hate, I see a divide that keeps getting larger.  So many people are ignoring science and also ignoring basic human decency.  To me this is very troubling and I can't keep my mouth shut.  Yesterday was Independence Day when we recall those words "all are created equal."  We say we believe that, but we sure have a funny way of showing it.

Come on folks!  We can do this!  No, I'm not perfect and I don't have all the answers, but I do know that we need to come together.  Let's no be selfish and think only of ourselves.  Let's think about our families, our neighbors, or friends, those we work with.  Asian Americans are not responsible for COVID-19.  Masks work.  BLACK LIVES MATTER.  Remember those three things and a few more.  Make the United States a no hate zone.