As much of my readership is no doubt already aware, I have spent a great deal of time over the past semester planning for Public Affairs Symposium. After our first two events have come and gone, I thought it a good idea to reflect some on what has been said so far.
I had the honor of being introduced by President Durden on Sunday night. That was a truly wonderful experience for me. To be introduced by someone one looks up to so much is an absolutely beath-taking experience. It was a further honor to be given the opportunity to introduce the guests for the evening, Danny Glover and Felix Justice. Both provided what I would characterize as wonderful and enlightening performances. Felix's recitation of a Martin Luther King, Jr., (notice the correct punctuation) speech sent chills down my spine at points. It was absolutely inspirational. Glover's sketech about Langston Hughes was equally insightful and interesting, yet I think the fact that MLK is more widely reknowned provided Justice with more easily inspiring material. Both were, however, fantastic, and the question and answer session revealed their intelligence in addition to the acting abilities.
Perhaps because it is more recent, or perhaps because the global consequences were even greater, the content of tonight's lecture from Immaculeé Ilibagiza provided even greater opportunity for inspiration. To say that she didn't disappoint is the understatement of the century (it'd be a bit like saying the stock market had an off year). Many devoutly religious figures have an heir of "I know better than you," but Miss Ilibagiza had a clear understanding the the road to spiritual sanctitude is an individual one, not one communicated didactically. Furthermore her religious espousals contained no necessity for Christendom, but rather, simply peace with God as the paramount aspect. Additionally, there was a young girl in the audience who had been adopted from Liberia, and had apparently been through a similar cirumstance to Miss Ilibagiza. In conversation, Immaculeé went up into the audience to give her a hug - a truly generous gesture coming not from the desire to be well-received but rather from genuine sympathy and love.
There are those few people we meet in our lives who are so at peace with themselves that we can find few ways to disturb them. Perhaps it takes an experience as drastic as Miss Ilibagiza's to make us truly comprehend the beauty of every day. On the other hand, perhaps we can come to appreciate this beauty by learning her story and understanding how little time we truly have.
From a purely self-centered standpoint, I have felt gratified returning to my room each of the past two nights, knowing that I had helped contribute to the planning of two great programs. A thank you to our guests and the rest of the committee is in store. You have all been fantastic! When the events come together as well as they have the past two nights, it is absolutely wonderful to synethesize the ideas of each of the speakers. I hope the rest of the college community has had the same opportunity, as I have, to recognize some of the common themes of incivility and disrespect. When we forget that we are all humans, that is when we allow for disrespect. Thus, my belief in the Electric Chain of Humanity has been validated.
It is my sincere hope that tomorrow night goes well as well. Thanks to everyone who has attended!
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