Rosa Parks is one of my heros.  A simple act started a movement that changed history.  I hope I am seen as one that stands (or sits) for what is important regardless of how hard it is or what others might think of me.

Blackbird is my favorite Beatles song (and I also love it by Sarah McLachlan).  My friend OJai went to see Sir Paul McCartney in concert last night.

OJai: …and i learned something about my favorite song
OJai: Blackbird
OJai: he wrote it as a civil rights song
cimblog(tm): oh reeeeeeally
OJai: i don’t think i ever knew that
cimblog(tm): i know i didn’t
cimblog(tm): tell
OJai: oh he just said during the 60s they were getting news of the civil rights trouble in the u.s.
OJai: and he wanted to do something
OJai: so he wrote that song to maybe offer a little hope
OJai: then he played it solo, acoustic
OJai: *almost* made me choke up a little
OJai: heh
cimblog(tm): oooooo
cimblog(tm): (btw, i would have TOTALLY choked up during Blackbird)

* You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift
* You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong
* You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich
* You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred
* You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence
* You cannot help small men by tearing down big men
* You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer
* You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income
* You cannot establish security on borrowed money
* You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves

– William J. H. Boetcker
(These words are often falsly attributed to Abraham Lincoln)