In recent weeks, our country paused to remember and honor two historic anniversaries: the successful landing of American and Allied forces at Normandy 70 years ago on June 6, 1944, and the signing of the Civil Rights Act 50 years ago on July 2, 1964.
It's fitting that we salute the courage and leadership of those who helped alter the course of history and made these anniversaries worthy of celebration.
Fighting World War II abroad and pushing for civil rights legislation here at home were epic and noble causes, both of which will be forever etched in the history books and seared into the collective memory of our nation.
The brave Americans who stormed the Normandy beaches and went on to win the war were ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They did their duty, willing to risk it all for their country and for their fellow citizens.
They epitomized what it is to be a hero. They didn't think of themselves as such, but the rest of us know they were.
Overlooking Omaha Beach on June 6, President Obama described the nearby shoreline as "democracy's beachhead." He said to those gathered there, "America's claim and commitment to liberty, our claim to equality, our claim to freedom and to the inherent dignity of every human being, that claim is written in the blood on these beaches and it will endure for eternity."
The Americans who engaged in the long civil rights movement to win equal rights under the law for all citizens of the United States knew what they believed in and they knew that hatred only goes away kicking and screaming sometimes. Their vision was simple justice for their fellow citizens and their mission was to bring an end to racial segregation in our country.
They, too, were heroes.
I hope my generation and younger ones will never forget the leadership and sacrifices made by those who fought for liberty abroad and for justice at home. Whether marching to war overseas or marching in the streets of our own country for civil rights, the common Americans who served in those causes with uncommon valor were real heroes. They understood the importance of one's life is measured only by the impact that life has on others.
They deserve our undying gratitude.
In today's America, we need more heroes and fewer celebrities. We need people who will lead us into the future by inspiring us to think beyond our own narrow interests and about a larger purpose. We need heroes and leaders who will help us find the right place between who we are and who we want to be.
Most of us know what "The Greatest Generation" means. It was the American people who somehow kept body and soul together during the Great Depression and then fought World War II, many of whom in later years joined with younger citizens to tackle America's toughest social issues.
This was a time when Americans didn't flinch; they persevered. They did what they had to do for the greater good, no matter how hard it was. They always rose to the occasion, never shrinking from it.
They showed us how it's supposed to be done. They made our country proud and made it better.
Later generations, including mine, have not been tested the way earlier American generations were. We are fooling ourselves if we think we have.
Sure, we came together after Sept. 11, 2001, but the national unity that sprung from the events of that dark day quickly evaporated and most of us were never really asked to make sacrifices for our country. Sure, we suffered through a deep economic recession in recent years but dealing with that pales in comparison to what people had to endure decades ago.
Many of us wonder if we as a country still have what it takes to confront the big challenges of the 21st century in the remarkable and admirable way we did when our country faced and conquered the mammoth challenges of the 20th century. Can we step up? Can we set aside our differences to unite and sacrifice for the greater good of our country?
I believe we can but the day will come, sooner than some think, when we will have to prove it.
I hope I'm still alive when that day arrives because I'd like to be a part of truly living up to the high standards set by those Americans of times gone by.
Martin Luther King once said, "I don't know what the future holds but I know who holds the future."
We do. All of us.
Commentary on 07/17/2014