[Sent 31 July 2020 to my wife and three daughters]
Good morning. I am sure
you have paused frequently since Congressman John Lewis died two weeks
ago as various media have respectfully reported each stage of the
thoughtfully orchestrated review and summation
of his disciplined, sustained, courageous, and dignified march toward
peaceful and just community. The range of speakers during yesterday’s
funeral service – from the 11-year-old boy who broke down after reading
his friend Lewis’ favorite poem
Invictus to the niece who vividly sketched her uncle Lewis’
manner within family circles to Congressman Lewis’ deputy chief of staff
whose vignettes of working near him confirmed his integrity to the
crescendo of salutes the prophet Lewis received from
the four living past presidents – demonstrated Lewis’ consistency and
justified the authority of his words. I anticipate I will return most
often to the stirring message powerfully delivered by Lewis’ mentor in
non-violent activism from the early 1960s –
the 91-year-old James Lawson. I am concerned that Lawson’s
presentation is not being appropriately noted in the media coverage. I
have inserted below a link to Lawson’s funeral oration and encourage you
to find a few minutes to listen if you have not yet
heard it. Doug/Dad