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| A Hug |
February 04, 2005 |
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Dear Friends,
State of the Union is one of the rituals of our republic. And, usually, it`s about the words, the programs, the initiatives.
As a much younger woman, I helped craft the centerpiece of one of the previous President Bush`s State of the Union addresses -- an initiative on conventional arms control. I was far too junior to attend the speech itself. I helped do the background briefing of the White House press corps and went home, quietly pleased with my contribution, and listened to the President on the radio.
The radio wouldn`t have been good enough Wednesday night. Because the highlight of the speech wasn`t in the words.
I was on the floor to the President`s left, about half way between him and the gallery where his wife and the White House guests sat.
There are quite a few guests of the President in that section, and they do not arrive together. I don`t think people sitting there know why the others are there.
The President recognized Safia Taleb al-Suhail in his speech, an Iraqi human rights activist whose father had been murdered by Saddam. She had just achieved a dream by exercising her right to vote.
And then, towards the end of his speech, he introduced Bill and Janet Norwood whose son was a young Marine, Sgt. Byron Norwood, who died in Iraq.
The ovation from the House was sustained and heartfelt. The Norwoods were in the seats right behind Safia. They stood, Mrs. Norwood with her son`s dogtags wrapped around her right hand like a rosary.
Then, it just happened. The sustained hug of two women who have both known sorrow`s depths. A hug of thankfulness and understanding that crossed cultures and said more than any words could say.
A hug between an Iraqi woman who had survived horror and was given the freedom to vote and the mother of the Marine who died giving her that freedom.
It was an emotional moment for all of us.
Wish you were here,
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