Post Thanksgiving Gratitude

My Thanksgiving Shared Gratitude.....from this "Pilgrim's" (which is Pellegrino in Italian) Progress....

Dear Friends & Family:

This Thanksgiving.......
I am grateful for: the Indians/Native Americans...I know it’s a cliché but they did it again, if only in spirit and symbolically: the “Atlanta Braves” proposed move here (to Cobb County) brought together the most diverse thanksgiving feast of a coalition that I have ever seen or been part of (including the “right, left and center”, “black, brown & white”, “liberal, conservative & moderate”, “Democrat, Republican,Libertarian, Green”) all working together to try and get the county leaders to take a little time and properly vet and negotiate this deal...giving me an opportunity to get to know and begin to get rid of my prejudices and preconceived notions regarding those who may have different beliefs or have different labels than I do. So, I also give thanks to my new “conservative” friends who looked past the labels to work together in unity and who want to continue to work together for the benefit of all people. And to my recent and long-time Cobb Coalition & CIA friends and supporters, thanks for your friendship, support and for what you do for me, my family and community, and all people ! (One of my greatest inspirations and motivating influences for this work is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and I am reading and recommend his last book, entitled “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community”, which is so timely and appropriate, it could have been written today.)
I am grateful for: My area Cobb County Commissioner, Lisa Cupid, who had the courage and dignity to stand up to the bullying tactics of the other elected Commissioners and “big money” interests and told them what every reasonable person knew: two weeks during the Thanksgiving holiday period to vet a billion dollar proposal from the Braves is not reasonable therefore she was the only one who voted “no” to moving the project forward with such haste, little notice and information, standing on the principle of transparency and citizen involvement. Thank you Lisa for trying to give everyone a seat at this “Thanksgiving” table and saying no to corrupt back-room deals!
I am grateful for: anyone who takes action and stands up for their principles, in a civil and non-violent manner, from the Dreamer Youth to the Tea Party activists. Action vs apathy always wins in my book.
I am grateful for: Rita Starr, Brande Watson and the Cobb Coalition for facilitating and sponsoring the “Healing Our Nation” workshops here, which will hopefully continue and taught me how much we are all conditioned to be divided by race, culture and labels. (For those who cannot attend the workshop or want a preview and outline before attending, her book, “Understanding the Impact of Race & Prejudice”, is great and I have copies for sale and loan.)
I am grateful for: the parents & family of Trayvon Martin who, while seeking justice continually in light of their great tragedy and the travesty of injustice that ensued, still exhibit a spirit of forgiveness and healing and activism which inspired the Cobb Coalition to initiate nine lines of action to heal the community, ensure color-blind equity in justice and opportunity for all segments of the community. (These lines of action include: Youth Development, Economic Development, Court Watch, Criminal Justice System Reform, Law Enforcement Collaboration, Voter Engagement, Legislative Advocacy.)
I am grateful for: Antoinette Tuff, who prevented the McNair Elementary School mass shooting by using her wisdom, faith and heart to connect with and talk down the shooter, and proved to me and the world again the power of non-violent intervention in the face of the worst possible scenarios, reinforcing the validity of that approach successfully used by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement who successfully initiated and won a revolution without ever firing a single shot! (Don’t worry gun-owners, I am not advocating taking away your guns Winking smile.)
I am grateful for all of you reading my message this far and not deleting it yet Smile....I am still learning the art of brevity. And thank you for being on this list because it means we have some positive connection and all such connections are important in this “network of mutuality”. (By the way, I usually send out a shorter text greeting too but I lost all of my phone numbers when my grandson drowned my phone so if you want me to have your number stored please send or text it.)
I am grateful to my close friends and mentors who I speak with regularly (though not often enough) and and who help guide me in my “pilgrim’s” progress (you know who you are).
And last, only because it is the foundation of all the above, I am grateful for my wife, Vesta, and family of ten (really 14+ counting grandkids...), who keep me grounded (ok, at least they try toSmile) and support me in my labors of love.
Holiday Cheers & Loving Regards,
Rich & the Pellegrino Family
404-573-1199