A Mystery Meeting -- A Moment In History

I'd just walked in from one of those terribly long days, put my feet up to listen to more bias, more hatred on television only to have my heart moved by Maya Angelou. Her intelligence, beauty, depth and fondness for both Clinton and Obama gave me the hope about which Barack Obama has been speaking - the hope that hatred will not win, that all the disparaging, gratuitous, despicable speech might dissipate - melt in the hands of those whose primary interest is the future of this country.

None of us knows what Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have spoken about this night, but there is a feeling in the air that perhaps ignorance, arrogance, and cheap put-downs will cease to amuse - cease to raise ratings. Perhaps all of us will sense that the struggles by Hillary and Barack have been firsts in their own right worthy in both cases of praise.

I doubt he will choose her given his recent words. But if he does it will speak volumes about him and his sense of what matters most.

In any case, Angelou's words below should give us pause. Hatred is an awful master. Respect, especially among differences, is far more impressive and reliable. Angelou's words, I hope, serve as a balance to so much of the anger, so many of the insults, the cheap attacks and innuendos, and remind us that much is at stake -- that we can't leave our futures to those for whom ignorance and hatred are paths to profit and a twisted means of joy.

"You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may tread me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise."