The Dawn of a New Integrity

Let me begin by saying that I am a Patriot. I am a Patriot for America. I am a Patriot for Europe, for China, for Russia, for India, and for all Earthlings; for countries yet unnamed and for children yet unborn; for every bird that flies and for every butterfly that flutters; for the wealthy and for the oppressed; for the working and for the jobless; for those who agree with me and for those who disagree with me. I am a Patriot for all in a time where Patriots must do more than speak. Patriots must act.

As I sit here, fortunate to overlook a lake in Texas from a balcony at a resort, and as I see the sun rising through the clouds to illuminate another day, I feel the symbolism those early Earthlings must have imagined as Apollo hitched his chariot to the sun to help it make another day; the baby sun, struggling from the womb of night, struggling to breathe the breath of a new dawn, helped by a hero who saw his duty to more than himself and did it.

So, with the same conviction and dedication, I hitch my chariot to Hope; hope that my daily efforts will usher in the Dawn of a New Integrity - a new integrity that is inclusive of all Earthlings, regardless of their geography or humanity, regardless of their wealth or lack, regardless of their agreement or disagreement with me.

But, just as Apollo needed horses of great faith and fortitude, horses of great passion and endurance, horses that knew teamwork was the only way to succeed, I ask for your faith and fortitude, for your passion and endurance, for your teamwork. Without it, we will all succumb to darkness.

You may find it strange for a businessman to speak in such terms. You may even find it unbelievable. But, before you dismiss my words completely, believe this: our new world demands that we must now always consider everyone's words prior to dismissal because we must now listen first to everyone before we draw conclusions, before we decide, before we judge, and certainly before we act.

I began by saying that I am an American Patriot. Therefore, let me address the need for a New Integrity from that perspective. In the past 63 years since the end of World War II, America emerged as the leading world power. But, like a child who suddenly finds himself alone in a candy store after hours, we assumed ownership and gorged ourselves on our newfound fortune with no regard for the future. We neither took heed of our forefathers, nor remembered the lessons previously learned by ancients and ancestors. We ate all of the candy and left the wrappers on the floor. Then, when the store opened the next morning, we wondered why the previous owners and the other children were upset.

So, let's begin the Dawn of a New Integrity in America first. Hitch your horses to our Chariot of Hope. Let's drag a new day kicking and crying from the darkness. Let's pay for the candy we've eaten and pick up our discarded wrappers. Let's join with others in sharing agreements instead of commandeering the Earth's resources as only our own. Let's stop bombing and start listening. We may find that Integrity was the only thing they wanted in the first place.

Warm Regards,
Jerry Kemp, Founder of Text Voting Network, Inc. and the TVN GREEN BOOK
www.tvnblog.org
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Sent by Jerry Kemp | 1:12 AM ET | 09-05-2008

Could you clarify--was every time the audience started chanting "USA" a reaction against a protester in the room? I find it really telling that Obama could speak in front of tens of thousands and have no protesters and McCain spoke in front of a small crowd and was continually interrupted. Telling of what, I'm not sure.

Sent by Lauren | 9:04 AM ET | 09-05-2008

Hecklers at the RNC is a clear indication for America the republican party is not the direction to take.

Obama had people of all races of America jumping for hope and change.

McCain had hecklers and yawning delegates.

There's no change with the republicans, it's an old christmas gift in new wrapping.

Sent by Lyle K. Deere | 10:52 AM ET | 09-05-2008

Hecklers at the RNC is a clear indication the those who disagree with the RNC think their own message is more important and are willing to go to extreme, sometimes violent, and often rude means to silence the RNC message. I believe that all people have the right to free speech, as guaranteed in our Bill of Rights. However, just as this freedom does not allow you to shout "Fire" in a crowded theatre causing a potentially deadly stampede, there are limits on the methods one can employ to exercise these rights.
Should we attempt to squelch opposing views, we are not a Democracy. But ultimately there is a time and a place to voice your criticism.
Dr. King never incited a riot, yet caused change. Ghandi silently protested and accomplished great things.
One must not be loud and violent and crude to voice one's opinions. In a Civil society, we must act with civility.
Were there protesters at Sen. Obama's speech? Probably not. Why? Perhaps the "Party of the People" the "Party of Change" did a better job of screening those they would allow to enter. Perhaps all the radical Republicans (in itself an oxymoron), knew they would be subject to violence if they speak out. Perhaps they knew that having good personal hygeine habits and without tie-dyed shirts and dreadlocks they would not be able to pass scrutiny. I am just posting some thoughts, you decide for yourself.
I am just stating some

Sent by Donald | 12:39 PM ET | 09-05-2008

Hmmm,
Yes maybe Obama did have the crowd captivated with his speech, and maybe there were no interruptions from protesters. But, perhaps we can sum this up to the fact that Obama is a sociopath and everyone knows that nobody loves a sociopath more than a group of lazy, handout loving, socialist, hippies with nothing better to do than occupy their time with a rally against the major populous of the United States of America. Hitler and Manson would be proud of him. McCain may not have the approval of most of these people, but I do know that he's got a record to back up his promises and hey he may not even keep them but I sure feel a lot better wasting my vote on a doer than on a talker like Obama any day.But hey, maybe Hollywood will let Obama be their president after this is all said and done.

Sent by Maria Kalpakidis Rodriguez | 11:43 PM ET | 09-05-2008

The amazing thing is that those of noble character do their work in the shadows, adopting orphans out of foster care, helping widows and homeless without fanfare. They don't protest, they don't yell and try to silence others, they just go about doing great things, effecting change, not asking for anything more than the knowledge that they served their God by loving others. Code Pink and others of their kind would do well to remember those servicemen and women they resent are the ones who maintain their ability to raise their voices. No one loves war, but it was war that gave us the freedom we love and men and women who regarded freedom worth something to give their life for, they didn't just stand at the dock and yell at Britain and consider jail some noble cause. It was freedom, that all men are endowed by their creator with unalienable rights. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Sent by Glenn Arens | 7:23 PM ET | 09-06-2008

From the average viewer, the people shouting USA were the ones making the commotion and should have been removed. They were much louder than codepink and interrupted the speech with loud chants. We're they only not removed because they were shouting USA? Seems like a major commotion and equal opportunity escorting out would have been best!

Sent by lynn | 2:03 AM ET | 09-08-2008