I know there is a general moratorium on poitical discussions in Rotary, and I'm not trying to start one here, but let's face it....these are interesting times, and the Dem nominees speech was interesting to say the least....

Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having first sown.

It does not do to leap a 20 ft chasm in two ten foot jumps.

There is an old Chinese saying, which is a risk (Americans have called that "a curse") and an opportunity, that says, "May you live in interesting times." We all do; all the time.

I too do not wish to start a political topic on this forum but, since Stephen mentioned Obama's ending speech to the Democratic Convention, let me make some observations: 1) David Gergen, an advisor to both Republican and Democratic Presidents (so he is not speaking politically) said about the speech: "It is a masterpiece and, one word that comes to mind, a symphony." 2) What I get from that statement is this: Rotarians may not agree with all the content of any speech but they certainly should learn from the context in which it presented (plus the patterns that might make a symphony from the sounds and eloquence of how the words are delivered).

3) Also any Rotarian can learn from how these modern campaigns use technology. Obama ended just before the late news comes on, about 10:00 pm, to make the best use of the commercial news channels, and at 10:02 I already had a personal (at least it said, "Dead Joe") email from Barach, telling me what he had said and asking for a donation. The use of an enormous data base for this kind of response is mind-changing. It brings democracy to "the people." One look at the numbers of dollars that Obama has raised shows that it works. I see Rotary International using the same approach. 

When I go to an art museum, I do not question the story that the artist is working with, only the execution, which shows the context of character of the artist, and his execution for brillant delivery. I look for a creative mind, with the experience to communicate, who can certainly paint, sculp, draw, etc. I do the same with the symphony and the ballet. Why not look at politics in the same fashion, or commercials selling a product? I do not have to buy the product to enjoy the way that it is being sold. "Is it the truth?"  is answered in the form as well as the items of content.

The question that comes to my mind is: Who and what makes interesting times: the circumstances, the flexibility to adjust, the presentation in which those times are communicated, or my view of this new reality? Yes, Stephen, we live in interesting times but that could have been said of any time in history. The viewer helps to make those time interesting as well as what is viewed.

Joe