Today is world AIDS Day. It used to mean something in Savannah ... now its a tiny collection of people who still believe.
Most don't care and that shows.
When we started ... it was something. Hundreds marched the streets of the city with store owners yelling at us ..."Go Home! This is killing my business!" We ended at Club One Jefferson and the famous Lady Chablis performed for everyone to say thanks. We moved to Forsyth Park and hundreds lit candles for hundreds who had died. Bubba Hope showed up one night dragging a six foot high cross and singing "Jesus Loves Me". My friend Robert Bush joined in and soon 300 people were singing it. Bubba drug his cross away right after we finished.
The last one I went to was at the J. C. Lewis Health Center and it was a tiny little collection of patients, parents and people paid to be there ... a pale comparison of what it used to be. What was once significant has become ... insignificant.
When there is no vision the people perish. When there is no leadership, there is no vision. Show me the leadership.
Back then ... we believed.
We believed we can change the world. AIDS can end. Homelessness doesn't have to be. The sick can be made well. The dead come back to life.
And we showed the world that we believed.
But the world didn't ... and beliefs can be co-opted ... politicians, clergy, used car salesmen and drug dealers are all working in collusion to co-opt dreams.
And they've won.
Except ...
There are some ...
who still ... dare to "Dream the Impossible Dream ... to fight the unbeatable foe ... to bear the unbearable sorrow ... to run where the brave dare not go ..."
I know a lot of them.
My favorite version of the old musical Man of LaMacha" is actually an adaptation by Graham Greene (one of the greatest writers of all time) in his book, "Monsignor Quixote". An alcoholic Priest ... still believes ... wrongs can be made right ... broken hearts can mend ... the world will be better ... though your arms are so weary ... and your body is scorned and covered with scars ... he still believes that we can reach the unreachable star.
In a deep conversation at my kitchen table the other night, I was saying how much Savannah has lost in the last several years. A decade ago it was cutting edge, leading the nation in so many things, and today a lot of federal and state policy is built upon what Savannah did then ... and Savannah doesn't take advantage of it now. So money is lost that should be here ... AIDS goes on ... homelessness has more than doubled ... the sick wander the streets ... the dead sholve themselves in our faces.
It makes me wistful.
While the world baptizes itself in mediocrity ... with politicians, clergy, used car salesmen and drug dealers shoving the heads so many under its waters ... willing to be submerged in ... accepted by the many because who really gives a shit about the few?
Though the few grow larger every day.
We gaze stars.
That furthermost one ... yeah ... that's the one.
Hey! Mediocrity! Members of the Elect! Clergy! Used Care Salesmen! Drug dealings!
Watch us ... touch this.
Then watch my finger.
