Please join me for prayers (or sending good karma) for a role model

of mine.

Former Congressman Frank McCloskey (D-In - the "bloody eighth district) was a former student and friend of my late father, was my mayor when I was growing up, and served in Congress. He is now suffering from cancer. Cut short from his last Vision. Over a year ago he was set to spend two years in Kosovo - not for career advancement, not for monetary opportunity, but because he was still an idealist and one who made things happen. He was to spend two years working with communities to build capacity for democratic participation. Democracies (regardless of what this current administration used to sell the past two wars) do not just "spring up". To be real democracies they require participation of the citizens. That requires that citizens understand their role, and learn how to assert themselves into the process. Frank understood that this takes work on the ground, with citizens, to build local capacity and agency.

Unfortunately, shortly after he left for Kosovo, he fell ill. Returning to the states, they found cancer. To get needed treatment he needed to stay in the US. Since that time it has been my greatest hope that in the planning and preparation for this project, that Frank had helped to instill a vision for this project that it was able to continue even though he could not be the person on the ground - making things happen.

Please join me in a moment of reverence for a progressive leader, who helped reshape a community (Bloomington, In) and provided a strong progressive voice in Congress for more than 10 years - representing both liberal Bloomington and rural more conservative southern Indiana. The following article - gives some annecdotes that share who Frank is - especially his stint as Mayor in the changing 70s you can hear the difference of a leader embracing these changes compared to some communities in resistance.

http://idsnews.com/story.php?id=19168

To Frank, you continue to inspire those that you touched directly and indirectly. May you find more healing. May your family find the strength to support you through this time and find the support that they need. May those of us who you have touched (directly and indirectly) continue to be inspired and when we can expend our energies for causes that serve human and civil rights, and that help us and others to more greatly realize our capacity to assert ourselves through the process (or through our professional and/or civic lives) to promote a greater community (local, regional, national and global) for all.

the soul of an existing Democrat so that SOMEONE WILL PLEASE carry on your vision.


Hugs, prayers, karma and anything else I've got to Frank...and wishes that he find a peace that doesn't seem to be available in this life.

to offer prayer for such a man.

*

What a good human being. :-)

And yours too, salin. Thanks for that tribute. :hi:

and I hope that more will join in sending prayers, good Karma and best wishes to Congressman McCloskey and his family.