The Passing of an Icon's Matriarch; A Moment of Silence, Please!

In the eyes of the world, eight days ago, America took a giant step. It appears most observers reflect on the import of that moment and conclude it was a step in the right direction. Leaders and common folk from around the globe have shared countless expressions about the significance, both symbolic, and concretely substantive, of our National awakening. All this is perfectly true, and yet, I am troubled. Now I have friends who may insist they could have told you that all along. But seriously, let us take a moment for deliberative contemplation.

Indeed, last Tuesday was a day, when all we knew about the historical dynamics of American politics was exploded and reformatted, in one thrilling Nation-wide vote. Regardless of whether one exulted or exclaimed, “Woe is me,” Team Obama has wrought an incredible Change. Remember that!

The resulting aftermath rendered Barack Obama President-elect. The junior Senator from Illinois campaigned brilliantly for 21 months. His name has long been elevated to “household, not just all across America, but around the world. Without question, that is important, and should not be…no, cannot be refuted, or even diminished.

But while the Election was a grippingly electrifying event, there was another occurrence of a fundamentally important nature last week. Madelyn Payne Dunham died Monday, the day before the Election. Unlike Barack, her name is not of the household variety. Yet, he claims her as his inspiration, and the shaper and framer of virtually all that you know of him. Based on that admission alone, I am moved to view her passing as noteworthy, on the most grand of scales.

We have been quick to embrace Michelle, Malia, and Sasha. Their images are almost as familiar to us as Barack’s. Recently, we have been advised that as future “First Children,” they have become Fashionistas, and like Michelle before them, their ensembles may become the leading edge for coming trends, or at least conversations.

Contrast that with Mrs. Dunham, Obama’s grandmother, who had not been interviewed since Barack’s now famous 2004 Democratic Convention Keynote Speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awQkJNVsgKM)/( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UDKXKGZ3PY), and whom was never on camera during the Presidential Campaign, and it is easy to understand why she and the impact and influence she had on President-elect Obama seems to simply fly underneath the radar at this moment.

That is just not OK! Perhaps I am more focused than some, and even more attentive than I might normally be, because I have been to three funerals recently. They were “Celebrations” of the lives of three unique women; one, a mother and politician, one, a mother and minister’s wife, and one, a young woman who was not yet a mother, and who really was too young to leave her parents and friends. Yet that is an integral element of the nature of the Circle of Life. We know not the moment or the hour when our appointed time will come.

Mrs. Dunham lived 86 years. Hers’ was a long and productive life. She was accomplished in many ways, but will almost certainly be remembered by most as Obama’s Granny. In addition to referencing her in his Race Speech, A More Perfect Union (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo), Obama described her as having "taught me values straight from the Kansas heartland" - things like "accountability and self-reliance. Love of country. Working hard without making excuses. Treating your neighbor as you'd like to be treated."


So, while I hail the coming of Barack Obama’s administration, and I hold good wishes, and great expectations for his Presidency, which does not begin until January 20th, I am slowing my roll, and I encourage you to slow yours, so that for just a fleeting instant in time, we can honor the Passing of an Icon's Matriarch; a Moment of Silence, Please!

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madelyn_and_Stanley_Dunham

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama-grandmother-madelyn-dunham,0,2249369.story

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1176639/madelyn_dunham_remembered_not_by_death.html?cat=62

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081111/NEWS01/811110356/1001/LOCALNEWSFRONT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/03/uselections2008-barackobama1

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/03/obamas_grandmother_dies.html

http://www.popcrunch.com/barack-obama-grandmother-death-madelyn-dunham-dies-of-cancer/

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/obama.grandma/index.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27522679/

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/elections/national/Obamas_Grandmother_Dies_On_Eve_of_Historic_Election.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/03/obama-on-grandmother-and_n_140698.html

http://news.spreadit.org/obama-grandmother-diedobama-grandmother-deadmadelyn-dunham-death/

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/11/barack_obamas_grandmother_made.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/04/america/obama.php

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/obamas-grandmother-dies/