Here in America, one can fail, over and over - we don't pity those failures, we don't tolerate quitting and we do not give up.
Pearl Harbor, 911, Challenger - we're still standing. Its who we are, its what we do.
When sadness strikes, when we trip, stumble and fall - we do not hide our failure.
Because we know there is a tomorrow. Another day. Another way.
And we walk.
"...The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honoured us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'
Thank you..."
President Ronald Reagan - January 28, 1986
His speech was less than 5 minutes long. He did not blame anyone. Indeed, his sorrow and compassion for the families of the fallen pour out in a tangible, authentic manner.
Dignity; a nation's sorry plain to see.
He did not campaign, there were no t-shirts distributed and he was brief, poignant, subdued, gracious.
Tell me, where have all the cowboys gone?
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