Civility
This Memorial Day I discovered, at long last, why incumbents sometimes hold an advantage over challengers. Following my keynote address at the National World War I Museum and Memorial, also known as the Liberty Memorial, I spoke with a number of the nice people who attended the program. Amongst those who took the time to respond to my speech was a woman who shared a story with me. She told my how she had informed one of my previous opponents that she was going to vote for me, even though she was a lifelong member of his political party.
FOR THIS FATHER'S DAY
This Father's Day – I hope for my daughter.
It may sound simple, but it's absolutely true. Mothers do make the world go round. I know mine did. And I miss her every day. I know my children think of their mother, my wife Dianne, each day, as they put into action the lessons she taught them as they grew up.
We have not fulfilled our duty as representatives of the people until we bequeath to the next generation a love of public service, a zeal for facts, a craving for collaboration, an awareness of the feelings of those in need, and appreciation of loyalty, a vision for America's future, and the ability and willingness to take a blow to your good name.
This past week, the Greater Kanas City Chamber of Commerce made its way to Washington for its annual "D.C. Fly-In." During the visit, 25 or so business leaders meet with Members of Congress to discuss matters important to the Kansas City area. They talked with each member of the Congressional delegation from our area, including those from the state of Kansas. At the conclusion of my discussion with the group, I fielded a question about the "dysfunctionality" of Washington, and why I continue to work on civility in the midst of such red hot partisanship. Let me share my answer.
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| Congressman Cleaver tells an excited crowd about the benefits of the new Troost Pedestrian Bridge |
Tomorrow is Good Friday. In my faith tradition, this is a solemn and special day. Christians will celebrate Easter on Sunday, as our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate Passover, which began at sunset on Monday, and which will come to an end on Tuesday.
This message is influenced by the greatest theologians of our times, Lucy and Linus of Peanuts fame. Linus is contentedly watching TV when Lucy walks in and orders the changing of the channel. She backs up this demand by showing him her ferocious fist. "What makes you think you can walk in here and take over?" asks an infuriated Linus.
"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."
The most explosive running back I have ever seen in person was Berniece Mundean, my high school team mate. Under different circumstances, I believe that Mundean would have been an outstanding college running back and would have certainly ended up in the National Football League. He was just that good. During practice, one warm fall evening in Wichita Falls, the team was going through our punt return coverage where the punt returners were at one end of the field while the punter and two line men were at the other end.
As a sophomore student at Texas A&M at Prairie View, I hung out mostly with guys from Dallas and Fort Worth. Perhaps it was because I lived in that area during the first seven years of my life, and most of the Cleaver Clan still lived there.