The last page of my US Passport
Politics 101
I had to renew my US passport earlier this year, where the woman at the Passport center asked, “Do you want a regular passport or the non-standard 52 page passport?” Clueless at the time, those extra 20 pages would prove to be a lifesaver.
Awhile back my laptop and phone died during a flight where I began searching for something to occupy my wandering mind . Did I pack any coloring books, nope. What about real books? Nope, must’ve finished my last one already. Anything else of use in this bag? Eh, only anti-diarrhea medicine and advil. Well what about my passport?
Flipping through the pages, I reminisced about Guernsey U.K., Uganda, Ireland, New Zealand, Dubai, Nepal, Australia, Morocco, Belgium, Sri Lanka, Italy, and all the other places I’d been. Then, in-between the stamps, I noticed a quote printed along the top of each page. Thank God I opted for those extra pages in my passport.
It wasn’t until the very final page that I’d consume the next 2 hours my flight trying to understand the last quote:
“Every generation has the obligation to free men’s minds for a look at new worlds… to look out from a higher plateau than the last generation.” -Ellison S. Onziuka
First of all, who in the world is Ellison S. Onizuka, and secondly, what does he mean by obligation?
After I landed, I found that Ellison S. Onizuka was an American astronaut from Kealakekua, Hawaii, who died in the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger while being the first Asian American to reach space, and the first person of Japanese ancestry to reach space.
Next, I searched the word “Obligation.”
Obligation~Noun : An act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment.
To look out from a higher plateau from the last generation…
If you’re like me, you’ve been exhausted listening to political news over the past few weeks. Switching between News Channels is enough to remind you that things are indeed changing, and if that’s not enough, check your Facebook Newsfeed to catch up…
At times I found myself angry, other times sad. Occasionally I’d come across something that gave me a bit of faith; maybe things could get better? Even before the election I found myself wondering, which way is better, are we supposed to go “Left” or “Right.” Then just the other night when I unpacked my passport, I found myself looking at the last page again:
“Every generation has the obligation to free men’s minds for a look at new worlds… to look out from a higher plateau than the last generation.” -Ellison S. Onziuka
I’m not asking you to see things the way I do… but I would ask you to look “Forward,” instead of looking “Left” or “Right.” Look deeper than your own experiences to understand that even among all the campaigns and issues, beyond all the uncertainty and political changes to come, maybe we do in fact want the same thing?
We all want safety for friends and family, the opportunity to make some money, and to live a good life. No matter the political circumstance, doesn’t the root of the problem depend on how our experiences allow us see the the actual issue? After all, people will tend to believe the things they wish to hear.
I’m afraid I don’t have the wit to solve our problems or enough education to remotely understand how we got to this point, but I will propose a solution. If you see an act of violence or racism, be the person who brings us together, not pushes us apart. Injustice will exist regardless of what happens in the white house, but ultimately it’s the people who are responsible. Do not let the chaos in news drive us further apart, after all, “We the People” are ultimately in control. I’d be lying if I said I’m not fearful for the next four years, but it’s also an opportunity to consider a different view. Maybe this is the proof we needed to realize that we all have things we can work on?
The United States of America is not white or black, it is not mine or yours; it’s ours. Be willing to consider a different opinion even if you don’t accept that view. Our future will depend on our duty to free the minds of our brothers and sisters so that we can look out from a higher plateau than the last generation.
Be the difference that takes us to the highest plateau…
~Jimbo