Welcome

WELCOME TO THE GREEN PEN!

It's my personal soapbox, a place for me to express thoughts and feelings, musings and rants, reflections and recollections; to have fun with words -- about things spiritual, environmental, social, political, economic, and, from time to time, personal. And of course about peace. Soapboxes are in public places (as London's legendary Hyde Park) on purpose, and so I invite conversations with you, for it is through civil discourse that we can gain some perspective on the seeming chaos of these changing times and learn together how to shape a positive future for ourselves, our communities, and the generations to come.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama


Below is a YouTube link to  President Obama's speech today at Nelson Mandela's memorial in South Africa.

A beautiful, inspiring speech and a fitting tribute to one of the greatest, most transformative figures of our time. When Obama speaks like that, I’m always moved to the depths of my soul with hope.

In this Season of Light and as we transit to 2014, may President Obama's words about Nelson Mandela inspiring him to be a better man and president strike a similar chord of inspiration with all leaders in this country and around the world -- in both the public and private sectors and civil society at large, which means all of us -- and find expression in our decisions and actions every day at work, home, and play.