(The Capitol, October 29, 2024). Like many Americans I’ve always reserved a special place in my reverie of special places for our Capitol. It isn’t especially clean, nor crime free, nor easy to find your way around in. And it’s most notable sites seem to always be filled with visitors. Still, it holds our history, our hopes, and our dreams, as well as the immortal words of heroes past, the inspiration of our founders, as well as the nearby final resting place for many thousands who served in our Armed Forces and others who carried the torch of duty, honor, country. Although this city has survived many despoilers while being denied statehood, it nevertheless remains the city most visited by dignitaries, families, and by schoolchildren.
Arlington National Cemetery also ranks high on my list of reasons for visiting the area. My brother is buried there, so is my best friend, and also the one former military commander that I truly admired. There are many thousands of others, but no graves mean more to me than theirs.
Speech #1. Now there is the Ellipse, the circular grounds just south of the While House where Donald Trump made his deliberate attempt to steal the election of 2021. Apart from its well-manicured grass, and the White House as its background, it hadn’t much history until Donald Trump stood there while inciting 1,500 or so thugs to wreak havoc on the grounds, the Capital Building, and on those who got in their way. In the next few hours, that entire area lost its state of glory and fell into a sink-hole of disgrace, despair, and dishonor—words to which Trump has given new meaning. The marauders carried tear gas, insecticides, long poles with American flags with which they battered, rammed, gouged, and broke through windows and doors.
They greatly outnumbered the Capital Police who fought them off and held them at bay until they were overwhelmed by bands of thugs numbering in the thousands. It was an insurrection meant to stop the election results tally and divert the will of the American public and the 80+ million members of the voting public who voted in the preceding November general election. It was a violation of the presidential oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.” In that single act, Trump broke faith with all American citizens, our forebears, and with every freedom-loving person who ever lived. More than 140 Capitol Police sustained injuries. One insurrectionist was killed.
In the next 3 years and 33 months the Ellipse has remained a place that marked the grounds with dishonor, disgrace, and disgust among the great majority of freedom-loving people here and around the world. But sometimes the arc of history bends toward justice.
Speech #2. In an act of bravery, forgiveness, and sheer class, Kamala Harris returned to the Ellipse last night and delivered a speech that surpassed in eloquence, respect, and mesmerizing beauty any campaign speech ever heard by this observer. They could not have selected another man or woman to deliver words filled with more clarity, exquisite beauty, and loving forgiveness. There were no flowery introductions. No condemnations. And no threats of reprisals. She noted that where Trump had a revenge list, she had a “to/do” list. She suggested that where Trump worked only for himself, she would work for the American people. Her speech was met with a roar of approval that likely was heard by Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Thomas Jefferson, the Kennedy brothers, and a long list of Medal of Honor winners from the past.
The grass in the Ellipse grows stronger today. The sweet smell of freshness and redemption fill the air. A good speech also requires, honesty, delivery, sincerity, and the best of intentions. One by one Kampala Harris delivered a speech for the ages. She rephrased such words as “of, by, and for the people; “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”; “ask not what your country can do for you”; and the crisp words of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, “...duty, honor, country.”
Click here watch and listen to the best campaign summation speech of all time. Great speeches are hard to come by. This one will last foever.
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