There has been much talk from the conservative side, as Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's ratings have risen, continuing to capture the much sought-after younger demographic, that their news shows confuse young people and make them less interested in politics.
I certainly have seen no evidence to support that now oft-cited canard. What I do know is that I have never been successful in getting my younger siblings and friends' children to watch me on cable news, but they do love to tune in to Colbert and Stewart. I have also noticed that they then Google and get on the web to follow stories that the shows discuss. Watching these shows is not substituting watching real news - it is young folks watching them instead of sitcoms, and in my not-so-scientific observation, encouraging more interest in current events.
I have been in politics for 9 years and I would say that as these shows and blogs have grown so has the participation of younger people in campaigns and grassroots organizing. Few things make me happier than seeing my generation and those younger than me working to make sure we build an America we can all be proud of. The truth, is we have a lot at stake. The decisions made today will affect our lives and our children's lives far more than my soon to be 80-year-old Mom-Mom and her uber-voting friends.
As far as the accusation that they criticize folks unfairly - for the most part, I am reminded of a political quote, I forget who said it, that "you can't use Reagan's (I think) own words against him or he will call it mudslinging."
Showing a clip where a journalist, politician, or policy maker makes a complete a------ out of him or herself can hardly be blamed on the person who shows the clip. There is also something to be said for the fact that journalists in DC can at times be too chummy with the powers that be, 'cause they are all hanging at the Palm together. Those outside the "club" can reveal things others might not.
There have been times that the WH press corps has been known to impersonate stenographers. The lead up to the Iraq War comes to mind -- Hello Judy Miller -- remember her?
And don't get me started on media consolidation and how the big corporate conglomerates dominating most prime time viewing might be coming into play. Check out previous posts (1, 2) and you do the math.
Anyway, take a look at the clip (via CrooksAndLiars.com, here's WMV or QuickTime), weigh in on the topic and let me know if I have a future in standup comedy or not (be gentle please, I would prefer my dreams slowly erode as opposed to come crashing down).
Flavia -
O'Rielly, Geraldo and the other conservative "news" jerks are just mad that someone has finally exposed them and the Republicans for their hypocritical idiots that they are. No one in the real media was willing to take on Bush and his media machine, otherwise they would be labled as communisits and unpatriotic, and shut out of the press rooms. Leave it to Comedy Central and these two genuises to distill the rhetoric of the GOP down to the ridiculous and flagrant lies that they put out every day.
Posted by: Mr. Jacques at August 22, 2006 05:16 PMi tend to lean right, but the daily show is brilliant. and you're dead on, if it gets more people engaged and paying attention... how the hell can that be a bad thing?
it's like those people who complain that kids are reading harry potter books. they're not "literary enough", they promote the wrong values, whatever...
my response? kids are reading? awesome!
Posted by: rox_publius at August 23, 2006 09:32 AMwho are you? you looked like an mtv girl on scarborough. i'm looking up your bio now. didn't find any credentials on this site. as for what you said on scarborough, yawn...
Posted by: mk at August 23, 2006 11:28 AMI think your point is dead-on: Geraldo and O'Reilly project this image that they are unbiased and reporting the "news" when they are nothing more than shills for the right. All Stewart and Colbert do is expose the charade, and they hate him for it. Geraldo's comments about the TDS's "little world" is so telling.
Posted by: Ken at August 23, 2006 11:47 AMClearly you did not look that hard. Harvard, Chief of Staff, editorial Board member, NPR, TV commentator, Charity work, and spending all this time doing this great site. What are your credentials? Let me get this straight she is being penalized because on top of being genuine, sincere, passionate, brillant, and well researched she happens to be beautiful and stylish. Yeah she really sounds like an MTV girl, I don't think so! Man you have have serious issues. As for a yamn trying rereading your comment. Take your negative vibe elsewhere. In case you didn't notice this is a site for folks who want to do more than just criticize people. HAd to set you straight as I can tell Flavia is too much of a class act to get down in the dirt with the likes of you.
FLAVIA COLGAN BIO
Flavia Colgan is an editorial board member of the Philadelphia Daily News. After graduating from Harvard with a degree in Religion, Flavia returned to her home state of Pennsylvania. After running several statewide campaigns for Democratic candidates, Flavia was appointed chief of staff to Pennsylvania's Lieutenant Governor, the first woman and youngest ever to serve in the position. She also served as a member of Governor Ed Rendell's senior staff.
Flavia has been a commentator for Fox News Channel, appearing on shows such as Hannity & Colmes and Fox & Friends. She is currently a commentator for MSNBC and CNBC, appearing on Scarborough Country, the Dennis Miller show, Lester Holt Live, The Situation with Tucker Carlson, and Hardball with Chris Mathews. She has interviewed such notables as Walter Cronkite, Prince Albert of Monaco, and Michael Moore.
Flavia also serves as a special correspondent for the nationally syndicated show Extra, where she explores the impact of celebrity on politics and causes. Her interviews include: Bill Maher, Geena Davis, Jean Smart, Kate Bosworth, Marcia Gay Harden, Daryl Hannah, Larry and Laurie David, Al and Tipper Gore, and Sharon Stone.
She is a frequent guest and guest host on local and national talk radio including Michael Smerconish, the Sirius Satellite show Young Turks, the Alan Colmes Show and NPR's "The Point." She has also served as cohost of a public affairs radio program in the Philadelphia area.
Flavia is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, Politics PA, the Allentown Morning Call and the Daily News. Among others, her work has also appeared in In These Times, Common Dreams, and the Harrisburg Patriot News.
Biased I know, but yes I thought it was funny. Also, great pt. on young people and Jon Stewart. I gave your sister his book for Christmas and she is not that into politics and she read the whole thing in a few days.
Posted by: Kevin at August 23, 2006 12:59 PMFlavia Colgan, I didn't even know who you were before today. You should thank crooksandlairs.com
Oh yeah, nice Freudian slip. You should watch yourself again on www.crooksandliars.com (a lot more accessible than your link above) Skip to 7mins 30seconds in and listen to yourself.
This is what Flavia literally said: "Well listen, it's its not about that, there's completely different standards, the difference is that Jon Stewart every night proves that he's not a journalist, he never deceives people, I mean that's one of the rules of journalist to not deceive your viewers. "
By the way, you have potential, but leave the jokes to Jon and ask your sister what's going on in the world, she is probably better informed if she's getting her news from Jon, and the net. Your atleast a step up from a Fox News pundit, but you can do better and America needs your help.
Flavia,
I didn't see it last night, but I did see you on Tucker. And to be honest(though this is sad), the reason that I stopped and watched at first was because there was this very attractive girl on Tucker (I did think you had to much make-up on). I then recognized the name from here and I watched the rest. You do have some good points. But those points can be made by almost anyone that reads dick polmans post. The reason you get on the show is three fold, one your beautiful, two your an ivy (connections), and finally your very intelligent. The pretty ones always get better ratings that just life. Not taking anything away from you. And yes to young people these comedy shows are real news, not sit-coms. Tehy give more current stories than fox.
the reason that young people are more interested John and Colbert is simple, they are funny and the content of there show is more relevant of what is going on than than what is shown on the shows you appeared on. How much time was spent covering the supreme court decision over Bush's spying, about 4 minutes if that. Jon Bennets killer is on 24/7 for a month. The news is pathetic. Before you were on Tucker, that show spent a half hour on that nut job.
Young person,
First, psyched you are young and so engaged! I hear you about what they cover, I made that very pt. on Monday night on Tucker (transcript not up for some reason, but when linked, I will put it here). I complained about the fact that Time Magazine had Hillary on the cover, a ton of stuff on JonBenet and 35 words on the court case you speck of. Yup, that's 35 words on a judge ruling the President did something unconstitutional - unreal.
I realize the limitation of the medium, which is why I am very lucky to serve on the board of this paper and write for them and have this site. More importantly though, I spend a lot of time in the field, as it were, which is the most important, in my mind.
No offense taken on the beauty comment. I think most folks find that to be a compliment, though my parents deserve all the credit if it is so.
Second, no worries on Ivy thing, I worked very hard to get into Harvard and I am proud of the work I did there, though I do feel it is over-rewarded - you can get an amazing education a lot of places. My mother does not have a high school degree, nor do many people whom I respect and find very bright.
Third, on why I am on: I have no delusions that others could do it as well, which can be said of any profession. There are a lot of talented people who do not get the due they deserve. TV is a business and it is based on ratings, though I do think it helps to have served in government or write for a publication, and for that I am grateful to Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll and Gov. Ed Rendell for giving me the opportunity, and to the Philadelphia Daily News.
I do not think I was the obvious choice in either case and was certainly very young and I am very humbled by the confidence they placed in me. I can only hope I have made them as proud as they have made me. And that I have served the community at least a fraction of what they have done.
Posted by: Flavia at August 23, 2006 04:24 PMHey there Flavy Flav--
Far as you know, has anybody checked the methodology of the 'study' conducted by the guys who made these allegations about the Daily Show? (Forgive me if I've missed this--no time to check every word at the moment.)
I'm just wondering if it's not a case of covariants being confused for causals, variables not accounted for, sample incongruities, something like that. Like you, it's so counter to observed experience that it really makes me wonder what their specific methodology was. My not-so-limited experience is that people who are already interested in politics and who view the Daily Show are not more likely to stop being active politically because they watch it. In fact, I've seen more of the opposite. That's anecdotal, I agree, but enough to want to find out specifically how these conclusions were drawn.
You're the greatest--
sf
Posted by: Steve Finley at August 23, 2006 06:42 PMHey mk, if her performance was such a yawn why did you come here and post a message? The opposite of love isn't hate, but indifference. Clearly she piqued your interest.
Posted by: JSM at August 24, 2006 12:59 PMMK,
My head is not easily turned but when the combination is brains, heart, and beauty, so mk, I hope you're buckled up because I'm slamming on the breaks to watch - - and so will many other viewers when presented a unique voice that speaks truth to power. The best is yet to come. Why some folks can't deal with that is beyond me.
I think some other adjectives to support Flavia in this crazy little place are: poised (as in not sinking to the shouting,fingerpointing pol-baiting banter), informed (she obviously commits herself to studying issues), committed (to being a positive person who translates that in her work, be it written or spoken).
it is important to realize that she puts herself out there to be seen and heard and that takes courage.
hats off to her for that.
it subjects her to the keen intellectual judgements (yep, sarcasm) of others who might not share that quality.
Posted by: evolo at August 25, 2006 08:37 AMOne thing I never heard you discuss with Joe…people watching Stewart and Colbert are largely young people WHO DON’T VOTE and certainly aren’t organized. Just a thought…glad to see you are doing so well!
Posted by: David L at August 26, 2006 11:02 AMTo All:
The commentaries of the 'young person' above have merit: most of these talk show programs, the commentary contained therein, is rather lightweight stuff.
And I must beg to differ with Flavia's positive observations of these people and the programs. A simple reality: Tucker Carlson is not on television for his viewpoints, Tucker Carlson is on television because of his father. How many college dropouts suddenly appear on national television as pundits?
It also must be cautioned that a Harvard degree, as well as several other institutions of higher education, does not signify intelligence or that "one worked hard" to gain admission or while in attendance. Quite the opposite. Any balanced administrator at Harvard speaking candidly will tell as you much. Admission to Harvard, though mildly less true than the past, is still largely predicated on financial fate and parentage. Without the particulars of Flavia's parentage, it is highly unlikely Flavia would have attended Harvard.
Is there anything generically wrong with being rich? No. But one must place proper perspective on the issue. And the young person hit the target: Flavia often stumbles badly in her commentary, at best, she says not much more than anyone else would tend to say 'if given the opportunity'. But they are not. And that is the defining fatal flaw with Tucker, Scarborough Country, Smerconish, Greta Van Susteren, Catherine Crier, et. al.
What you have, more or substantive less, is a bunch of rich kids out on a media frolic desperately trying to convince the public that it just is not so, that they are truly deserving, wise individuals. And I think the commentary displayed decides the issue with balance, aptness, and clarity.
In the days of waning relevance of 'Harvard' pedigrees - as even the outgoing president Lawrence Summers confessed Harvard has been putting out a non-competitive substandard educational product for several decades - the public is entitled to assess frankly: Tucker is more aptly "The Rich Kid/Politically Connected Playhouse"?
Well, read Flavia's biography.
And the young person again addressed a critical point that should haunt Flavia throughout her career: Flavia is on Tucker because of her looks, not a half shred more. You would not see a woman in a wheelchair on Tucker expressing the exact same views? Probably not. And how did Flavia become positioned to be noticed by MSNBC - again, the ghosts of Flavia's familial heritage dictate all.
A simple fact, Flavia is too young to have made any substantive impact on her own in the manner that it transpired. Not that the young do not have impact at a very early age, but the commentary of the 'young person' listed above far outdistances anything that Flavia has said on any program - if nothing else, the observations are of equal weight.
So if a child can outdistance Flavia on an observational level, why isn't he on Tucker? Or the thousands of others who easily could outdistance Flavia's commentaries? Or Tucker's?
As we proceed through life, it is healthy to remember history. President John Adams summoned the reality of Harvard even back in the 1700s - it is a land for rich kids who essentially buy their way onto pedestals in life on the financial inertia of their familial ancestors. While Harvard has worked to make it not so, and only recently at that, facts remain. Flavia is no less a child of circumstance.
Whether Flavia becomes anything more is up to Flavia. So far, she is not faring well in matters that are off camera and off website - indications are appearing that Flavia is an image factory producing manicured portraits for public consumption. And nothing more.
In that regard, Flavia has a tough road ahead.
In light of her indiscriminate political connections in Pennsylvania politics, the urgency to manicure may reach a breaking point: Flavia will either become a human being or she will sink further and further in the glitzy, heavily airbrushed biographies.
Being a human being and a politician is not as easy thing to do, few attain it, certainly not in contemporary times. But it is practical, it is possible, many have done so, many have risked outcasting from their party superiors yet achieved nonetheless.
And when it comes to that singular issue, friends, money will get you nowhere.
- Young Person Redoubt
still upset over not even getting on the waitlist, mr. redoubt? i think it's time you let it go, really. your bitterness is unbecom-ing. (i need to hyphenate that word cause of "questionable content"? puh-lease.)
Posted by: rox_publius at August 26, 2006 04:43 PMTo All:
No bitterness, simple reality, Flavia is just another in a long line of cogs fitting a pre-existing template.
Programs like Tucker are modern manifestations of the tendency and a companion inability to find substance amidst the procedural landscape. Whether that tendency is intentional is always an apt question as the young person duly observed.
Whether Flavia escapes that procedurally skewed world and strikes out on a substantive path is up to Flavia.
As for the monetary/fame hypothesis, it is an appeal to a generalization that often carries no substantive weight. Being a personal guest on such shows is not necessarily a badge of credit - as other commentaries on television duly note.
And as the young person eloquently noted, what transpires on these programs is dubious, often 'thoughtless' recitation, if it is not chocked with much error: in short, it panders.
For whatever reason, Flavia panders. The current formation of the CitizenHunter website says much. As does the overemphasis on citing people as opposed to concepts and ideas.
Life often provides simple lessons: people who talk about ideas and concepts are worthwhile, people who talk about incidents modestly so if sans overarching themes, and people who rest their strengths on citing other populist names are dubious if not entirely misguided.
Programs like Tucker invariably sink to the lowest of the above common denominators in humanity. Their world, their commentary of the world, is an ingrown one - not an outgrown one. Hence, the tendancy of the hosts to interview each other in studios as opposed to real individuals in the real world outside of MSNBC's Secaucus, New Jersey, studios.
As the young person ably noted, the television show 'host' whether singular or plural is the story - as opposed to the real people involved in the real situations.
For the moment, it is not a troubling thing due to Flavia's age, she is young, she is swimming in waters filled with misguidance both political and media. But the chance of Flavia living a career 'exploited' is very high on a number of levels.
Hence, commentary.
I have been on a number of national television shows, news shows, and news commentarian programs. I must say they continue to deteriorate in orientation, fixation, and an inability to focus on substance - as opposed to pandering to momentary procedural satiations, ratings, sponsors, wistful career paths.
Which brings one full circle back to the young person and his sage observations.
And I think the question naturally extended to Flavia, the challenge naturally extended to Flavia, is whether Flavia can rise to the level of 'citizen' as opposed to 'image manipulator'.
The matter is nothing unique to Flavia, she just happens to exist and thrusting herself into that spotlight.
As for Harvard, Yale much the same, the observations are not disputed either historically, in contemporary times, or by colleagues within the realm. So placing the matter on an emotive basis would be discounting much. And Harvardians would tell you much. And, yes, you should read as much into that statement - positively.
Whether Flavia amounts to anything more than a traditional polished political hack who foresakes much for easy gain is a question on Flavia's plate. And whether Flavia amounts to anything more than an Anderson Cooper or Tucker Carlson will continue to find its way there on a daily basis for the duration.
Rich kids with pretty faces are a dime a dozen, many get parked in higher educational institutions and, as Tucker Carlson admits, don't absorb much while they are there - even when they do graduate. For want of something constructive, it is a noticeable thing for their familial connections to find them something to 'play' with as a career as they do not necessarily fare well on their own in business not closely connected, in some capacity, with their immediate families even if appearing otherwise.
Nor more notable of such a venue exists than the contemporary television environment.
- Young Person Redoubt
In what world is a public school teacher rich? Says something about you that you automatically assume someone did not work hard or is rich. Do you know her? Do you know her family? Where do you get intimate knowledge of her families finances from? Of the local articles I have read, they describe her apt. as very modest. Seems as though you are the one not really discussing ideas, but rather only people and rudely and with no back up whatsoever. That is a sign of intellectual weakness and a lack of courage. I find it interesting that you disparage the medium yet with all of her many accomplishments and her other pursuits, be they writing columns, serving on an editorial board, having served in government or her various charitable contributions of time and energy, you only focus on that one line in her resume. I don't see her talking about TV that much at all. In fact, I think this is one of the few posts I have ever read that mentions it. I sometimes get to catch her on tv b/c Citizen Hunter alerts me to when she will be, but most times I catch her when the site has not said so, so clearly it is not her top priority. I do know that many of us want to know when she is on, as she fights valiantly to do the best with an admittedly disintegrating medium.
Jealousy and hypocrisy are ugly indeed.
The saving grace is you don't disguise it. Reading the tone of the way you write and think and react to people vs. her post says it all.
Posted by: Julie at August 27, 2006 01:09 AMYP redoubt-
you are a well written person who seems to be keen on making Flavia feel poorly.
seems a waste of a good brain. cruel drivel aimed at discrediting someone who truly does contribute to the everyday lives of people across a broad scope of our society.
i wonder what your motivation must be.
it seems funny to me that you talk about the fluff on talk shows and the silly way that people get recognized and placed into positions because of some connection, be it family or $$.
you take this arena to attack someone mostly for things beyond her control and say things i doubt you would to her face.
it is a sterile comfortable place sitting behind the screen typing away.
very impersonal.
hope you slip on some residue left on top of your soapbox and get taken down a few notches.
actually, i think your diatribe says more about you than Flavia.
It was very difficult for me to read the opinions mascarading as facts written by young person redoubt. Some people gain entry into ivy league schools because of intelligence and hard work, not family ties. Generalizations like the ones above serve no purpose. There are hundreds of thousands of attractive women in the US, but only a couple of dozen appear on tv. Why are those few singled out, maybe because they work at getting their opinions viewed and accepted? Why was Flavia selected as chief of staff to the Lt Governor of PA, Why was she an advisor to the Governor of PA? I know it must have been because of her family ties, or maybe it was because she was able to work and have her ideas presented to the Governor and he recognized them for what they were. Ideas of a young, bright, energetic hard working individual who could bring a perspective to government that was not already there. Isn't it just possible that someone can earn what they get?
The opening line of that rant says it all "Flavia is just another in a long line of cogs fitting a pre-existing template" as long as that person understands that that template is made up of hard work, intelligence and persistance. It would be easy to say that the writer was just a jealous, unintelligent, unsuccessful, misguided person, but then I dont know him/her so I cant say. They may be intelligent and sucessful, but when they dont know someone and persume to write about someone they have absolutely no knowledge how they got where they were going, it does seem a little jealous and not so intelligent to make those persumptions. I could go on, but I cant imagine anyone reading any more of this. I just have one final comment. Flavia, keep up the hard work, I know it will be rewarded with you geting everything you want and deserve.
Editing is the highest form of commentary so I will let the stories told by Citizen Hunter speak and offer a little bit of commentary...
Someone much smarter than I said that the enemy of active citizenship is cynicism - and I believe him. Cynicism takes many forms. It can manifest itself in the feeling that because of your lot in life, you should not speak out or act on behalf of a community.
“Gavin” wrote about Virginia Ramirez who almost fell into that trap:
“She was an 8th grade drop-out who later became a community organizer and spoke before the US Senate in the Clinton/Gore years. She didn't have the contacts, or the resume that many had. But she had a caring soul.”
The idea behind the story that Gavin told, is that whether you are born a “rich” kid or a “poor” kid doesn’t matter and should not inhibit your actions and desire to help others. It didn’t inhibit Virginia, nor does is stop Flavia or others from doing what they can.
Cynicism also causes others to believe the false notion that they must know all of the answers - be Ivy League experts if you will - before they say anything as “Paul” wrote to Flavia concerning the subject of hybrids:
“you simply are not qualified to talk on this subject. If you are please consult true experts rather than mouth pieces of one side or the other.”
I said then as I say now that that “we do not have to be experts to discuss an issue of importance. For if we did, then when is it the right time to discuss anything? Shall we only have discussions and debates among academics? Should citizens be reduced to spectators? Is the science so advanced that we could not possibly understand? Learn? Form an opinion? Voice our opinion? One doesn't have to be an expert on the topic to be engaged, but to be engaged is to start the process of learning, and by learning, form an opinion. This is the process of CH.”
For others, cynicism causes others to believe that it takes a saint to make a difference. Everyone has their issues to deal with. No one sprung from the ocean with a pure soul. Active citizenship get its life’s blood from its everyday practicioners and heroes, just normal folks born or placed into abnormal situations, like Flavia being born to a family of very modest means and doing the best with the opportunities she has been given. She decided then that the world that was not too big for her and inspires us to feel the same.
The practicioners of cynicism will say "it's always been this way and always will” to inhibit this drive to improve the community. That one was my personal favorite until you brought this one to the table. It caught my eye and encapsulates the foundation of ypr’s comments and why it is in error, at least to my mind and soul -
"Life often provides simple lessons: people who talk about ideas and concepts are worthwhile, people who talk about incidents modestly so if sans overarching themes, and people who rest their strengths on citing other populist names are dubious if not entirely misguided."
I think and believe that incidents, quotes, the invocation of names, and the telling of stories are very powerful. They take the ideas and concepts and place them into the everyday realm where they can feed the soul and provide the energy needed to act. Her recounting of other peoples stories move people to recount their own, act, and cause others to do the same.
“First and idea, then a word, then an act I step towards paradise.”-Zoroaster
Her telling of stories neither are neither misguided nor inconsequential. They are the first blooms of action. It has been this way since the beginning of man, and will always be this way.
To agree with the cynicism of your comment is to strike not so much at the heart of Flavia Monteiro Colgan, the person, as I am sure it is big enough to withstand these type of comments (the non-moderated format of these comments are proof of her desire to bring about real dialogue, not present an image) but at the very spirit of Citizen Hunter. It strikes at the very heart of me and all of us, as we are all placed in an unusual and undeserved position. We are all alive, human, and American.
YPR, thank you for bringing this particular strain of cynicism to the forefront, therefore exposing us to this mutation, inspiring us to talk and think about it, and making us stronger so we can replicate what Flavia has done at the downtown shelters, the voting booths, our churches and schools, and in a thousand conversations around the watercooler. If she is cut from a certain template or cloth then I am proud to be cut from the same one. Our commentary, stories, and actions may not be up to your standards, but it will get the job done.
I will leave you with a powerful Thomas Merton quote given by “gavin” that you might think about and end with a powerful quote and how this all began:
"If we attempt to do things for others or for the world without deepening our own self-understanding, our own freedom, integrity, and capacity to love, we will not have anything to give to others. We will communicate nothing but our own obsessions, our aggressiveness, our ego-centered ambitions."
This may be your case.
And to end this with a powerful Marian Edelman Wright quote offered by Flavia and how this all began:
"LORD, I cannot preach like Martin Luther King, Jr.
or turn a poetic phrase like Shakespeare
but I care and am willing to serve.
I do not have General Patton's and
George Washington's courage
or Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt's political skills
but I care and am willing to serve.
I cannot sing like Frank Sinatra
or organize like Susan B. Anthony
but I care and am willing to serve.
I am not holy like Pope John Paul or the Dalai Lama,
forgiving like Mandela, or disciplined like Gandhi
but I care and am willing to serve.
I am not brilliant like Einstein
or Ben Franklin,
or as eloquent as John F. Kennedy or Barbara Jordan
but I care and am willing to serve.
I have not Mother Teresa's saintliness,
Dorothy Day's love or
Lou Gherig's gentle tough spirit
but I care and am willing to serve.
God, it may not seem as easy as the 60s
to frame an issue and forge a solution
but I care and am willing to serve.
My mind and body are not so swift as in youth
and my energy comes in spurts
but I care and am willing to serve.
I'm so young
nobody will listen
I'm not sure what to say or do
but I care and am willing to serve.
I can't see or hear well
speak good English, stutter sometimes
and get real scared standing up before others
but I care and am willing to serve.
Use me as Thou will to save Thy children today and tomorrow
and to build a nation and world where no
child is left behind, everyone feels welcome,
and we fight for democracy
and the ideals and values
this great nation was founded upon."
This is from a poem, "A Prayer for Each of Us to Serve," written by Marian Wright Edelman.
Thanks.