It was a 'Senator, we'll see you in the White House' sort of applause...

[Carolina Voice]

It was another beautiful southern late fall night. But, fortunately it didn't feel like a late fall night. Parking at USC in Columbia, South Carolina was horrendous as it is at most college campuses across the country. But the walk from the parking lot was quite pleasant and the spirits friendly.

As we left our car parked blocks from the spot that I thought held the chapel, I glanced back to make sure there were no Tarheel identifiers visible. We were now deep in Game Cocks territory... about as deep as you can get, and being a Tarheel fan wasn't seen as a strong asset here. I had been down that road once on Duke Campus and that taught me a lesson. I thought I could get away with the one UNCC sticker as they are considered 'too small to worry about' by the big guys.

The event was held at Rutledge Chapel on USC Campus and was part of the Lecture on Peace and Justice 2006 series. Former NC Senator John Edwards was the speaker for the evening and the topic of his discussion was Restoring the American Dream: Fighting Poverty and Moving More Americans to the Middle Class.

Although I didn't know exactly where Rutledge Chapel was located, I knew the general direction. A student told me it was next to the large house where the president lives (I guess they don't call that the White House) and that it was in the horse shoe and no cars were allowed in the horse shoe. (The President's wife must have a heckava getting the groceries from the car to the house then.) It hasn't been so long since I was in college that I couldn't remember some fundamental rules... If you don't know how to get somewhere, you just follow the herd and try to blend in... so that's what I did. I don't think anyone noticed that I was 'slightly older'.

Once inside Rutledge Chapel I found a seat... one of the few remaining and settled in. As usual, I started talking with the people nearby about OneAmerica and what they were missing. The nice couple next to me were Florida transplants and seemed quite interested in our little site. The chandelier in the chapel was gorgeous. I could imagine it had been there a long time. The hosts and hostesses were beginning to open folding chairs and one lady kept commenting that she hoped the Fire Marshal didn't come by. They opened chairs in front of the front row, in the aisles, in the wings and everywhere one would fit. There were nice red carpeted steps up to the platform where the podium stood. So, they allowed people to sit on the steps. They were spotlessly clean. Then, some students were allowed to sit around the stage area where the Senator was to speak. Yep, I think we were packed and ready to go. I could just imagine the person in the 'center' of the auditorium needing a drink of water. They could move everyone in the entire auditorium. And there is usually someone who will do just that. But this was a genteel group and they wouldn't think of such behavior. So, all was well. I would estimate there were between 400 and 500 people in the crowd. And, they hadn't announced it to the public for fear of not being able to accommodate the crowds.

Soon, Senator Edwards entered with a couple of other men and he was introduced as the speaker for the night. This was a speech like no other that I have heard the Senator give. Don't misunderstand, all of his speeches are great, but this one was 'deeper'. He talked with a deeper, more compelling, gut wrenching conviction than I had ever heard before. He talked about how the adults of today always believed if they worked hard and applied themselves they could make something of themselves, but it was much harder for the youth of today. He talked about how the Pell Grants had been cut and student loan rates were too high and it made it harder than ever for students to be able to afford college.



He talked about how it was shameful that the victims of Hurricane Katrina were still suffering with no relief in sight... and how it was the students who jumped at the opportunity to help last spring.



He told us how many things were impelemented to benefit the rich and leave the burden of paying to the middle class .... and how the secretary might be paying more taxes than the boss. How the disproportionate share was an unfair burden and pulling the middle class down. The applause was loud and long.

Perhaps most importantly he talked about the importance of regaining respect for America on the world stage. He talked about how raw power alone didn't make you a great leader. The world had to see you as a great moral leader.



It was a most moving speech. The audience, regardless of age was totally enthralled by what the Senator was saying. At times when he raised his hands into the air, it didn't require a lot of imagination to see him as another Martin Luther King or certainly another great leader. It was quite a contrast to what we are accustomed to seeing from the White House. It conjured up the warmth, the pride, the passion of the Kennedys and Camelot. It made you saddened that our children can't remember that era but encouraged that they could be on the verge of living the modern day version of it.

As Senator Edwards' speeches go, this one was rather long, lasting around an hour, but not one person in that audience was ready to leave. I don't think I would be overstating it at all to say it was a spiritual experience that we all shared but without any reference at all to religion as we know it today.

Much too soon, the Senator finished his remarks. He had been interrupted several times with a rousing round of applause. Now, the Senator had spoken and the audience was about to speak too as they all came to their feet in a heartfelt standing ovation. The applause was loud and long. It lasted much longer than courteous applause and was much stronger. This was an emotional applause of agreement. Senator, we'll see you in the White House sort of applause. So shall it be.

As I walked back to the car, the air had gotten a little cooler, but not cold. But, the heart had gotten a little warmer. I began thinking how proud I am to be an American and how we ARE better than this as I began humming America the Beautiful and thinking of what 2008 could hold.



Senator Edwards and Carolina Voice aka CarolinaGirl