Rise Hillary, Rise!

Posted on April 26, 2008 by garychapelhill

Hi everyone, I’m Gary and I live in Chapel Hill, NC and hopefully I can fill people in a little with what’s going on here on the ground until the primary May 6. I wanted to start with some pictures I took at an event I attended last week at Wake Forest University with Hillary and Maya Angelou. I read Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings when I was in my 20’s, and it is one of the few books I’ve read that made me cry while I was reading it. If you haven’t read it, go buy it NOW! Seeing her in person was truly inspirational. Her smile lit up the entire chapel, and was reflected in Hillary’s smile:

This event was really a great chance to get beyond the stump speech of a campaign rally as the two women sat down and had a conversation. It lasted almost two hours and both of them were radiant throughout. Anyway, thinking about Angelou’s book I kept thinking to myself, “I know why Hillary is running”. She’s doing it , like the caged bird, because she has to. She’s doing it because this country needs her. She’s doing it because the alternatives are shockingly inadequate for a country as great as this one. Rise Hillary, Rise!

This one is my favorite. It is a little blurry, but it is beautiful. Coincidentally, this was file named DSC_0044 by my camera. Could it be a sign of who is going to be President #44?

Filed under: General

« Saturday: Follow-ups Super Surrogate Chelsea Clinton in Indiana »

29 Responses

  1. riverdaughter, on April 26th, 2008 at 12:35 pm Said:

    Beautiful, Gary! Just beautiful. :-)

  2. garychapelhill, on April 26th, 2008 at 12:36 pm Said:

    thanks : )

  3. sarah, on April 26th, 2008 at 1:04 pm Said:

    OMG

    Those pictures were wonderful, and so were your comments. I know why the caged bird sings.

  4. Marirebel, on April 26th, 2008 at 1:14 pm Said:

    Wow!

  5. bostonboomer, on April 26th, 2008 at 1:16 pm Said:

    Gary, Thanks so much for sharing your photos and your thoughts. The pictures are wonderful! They talked for 2 hours? I wish I could have been there.

  6. edwardian, on April 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm Said:

    Gary – Wonderful images and a fantastic report! Really appreciate your sharing this experience with the rest of us Conflucians. Indeed, ” Rise Hillary, Rise! ” :)

  7. tabbycat in tenn, on April 26th, 2008 at 1:40 pm Said:

    Wonderful post Gary. I like your 44 omen. :)

  8. garychapelhill, on April 26th, 2008 at 1:43 pm Said:

    Maybe it wasn’t quite 2 hours, but at least 1 1/2 and she stayed afterwards to talk to and sign for everyone who waited. I got her to sign my I heart Hillary t-shirt : ).

    I think the most moving part was when Hillary talked about no child, male or female, regardless of race, having to grow up thinking they could not be president because of this campaign, and that is what keeps her going.

    you know, I don’t understand why uplifting messages like those of Maya Angelou are not being presented as representational of the african american community while obvious partisan smear campaigns like those of rep clyburn are pushed upon us.

    Clinton praised Obama on his groundbreaking campaign, Maya Angelou talked about how her daughter supports Obama, but that is OK, because we can disagree and still retain civility. Clyburn and Obamaco could learn a thing or two from her.

  9. sarah, on April 26th, 2008 at 1:44 pm Said:

    Alice Palmer, longtime loyal indy gal, who Obama ousted off the ticket along with three other Dems, in a hardball Chicago political ploy, has come out for Clinton.

    Alice was beloved by her constituents, and not only did he not do right by her, he showed what a low class guy he is. Read about it and spread the word.

    “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!” coming into the light.

  10. ufa, on April 26th, 2008 at 2:03 pm Said:

    Very nice, Gary. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

  11. Ohio, on April 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pm Said:

    Via No Quarter…

    HELP: We need signs in Indiana Obama has signs everywhere please visit Clinton Store purchase signs http://www.hillarystore.com/signs.htm

    Send To Ken Atkins
    Hillary for President
    404 E Main St
    New Albany, Indiana 47150
    Phone# 812 949 2008
    Than You

    Do what ever you can please. You can recycle your old signs as well.

    Or you can buy from Demstore.com or Hillarygear.com. But ask if they have it in stock and when they will deliver. Demstore can be slow.

    FYI

  12. Ohio, on April 26th, 2008 at 3:07 pm Said:

    IGNORE my last post re: Indiana signs.

    RD, would you delete the above post?

    I posted too soon. Waiting for confirmation.

  13. Felis, on April 26th, 2008 at 3:19 pm Said:

    thanks so much, Gary, this is wonderful and v. uplifting.

    I hope Maya Angelou writes another poem for Hillary and reads it on her first day as Prez just as she did for Bill

  14. gqmartinez, on April 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pm Said:

    I love these posts!

  15. kiki, on April 26th, 2008 at 4:16 pm Said:

    Gary, this i great, thanks so much!!!!

    oooh, I love the 44 omen……………

  16. judith, on April 26th, 2008 at 4:29 pm Said:

    I saw this a week or so ago somewhere and relaly enjoyed it. Maya says her daughter supports Obama and she respects her choice.

    Really lovely video and I am going to wacth it again – thanks for posting it!

  17. judith, on April 26th, 2008 at 4:32 pm Said:

    hey all – I dont remember where I saw the video up – it wasnt youtube – but Gary is so right.

    Thanks Gary

  18. Pat Johnson, on April 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm Said:

    Judith, that video might have been on the Taylor Marsh site. I saw it too.

    Gary, thanks for sharing. These are beautiful!

  19. Felis, on April 26th, 2008 at 5:37 pm Said:

    Just read the wonderful letter Maya Angelou wrote in support of Hillary. Made a printout immediately. Something to keep me going strong during this biased campaign coverage and read over and over. I respect her so much and second every one of her words.

    thanks for posting the link, CL.

  20. jacilyn, on April 26th, 2008 at 7:21 pm Said:

    People like Maya make this a victory for women regardless of the outcome :)

  21. tdraicer, on April 26th, 2008 at 11:40 pm Said:

    But I thought Hillary was racist, Everyone at DKos says so, and they are all proud members of the Reality-Based-Community. Right?

  22. judith, on April 27th, 2008 at 12:23 am Said:

    thanks Pat….

  23. tucsonlynn, on April 27th, 2008 at 1:30 pm Said:

    Thanks Gary, keep it coming!

  24. Northshorewoman, on April 28th, 2008 at 7:29 am Said:

    Thanks. Very nice. Now I hope all Democrats will get on board and call for a debate in every state — left. Why doesn’t Sen. Obama want to debate Sen. Clinton? Every state deserves a televised debate and the rest of us deserve to watch. Campaigns are fluid and much changes from one debate to another, one state to another. He and Sen. Clinton have only debated 4 times, not 21. My personal opinion is that he sees that where the tide has turned, and it is where voters are demanding answers, not hope, inspiration, and/or his most prolific response of — me too — to Sen. Clinton’s responses to questions asked. and he can’t deliver. He is going where he hopes his vagaries will not be tested, anywhere that Sen. Clinton and national media are not in the same room with him. But, as MA resident, I know how important it is to understand if there are any nuts and bolts behind inspiration. I supported Gov. Patrick, whose ability to inspire prompted me to give inspiration over substance a chance for the first time in my life. I WAS WRONG! One year later, inspiration is not translating into legislation. As you-all consider the two candidates it is my hope that you will vote substance (Sen. Clinton) over inspiration (Sen. Obama). I’m sticking with the policy wonk (Sen. Clinton)! Edited excerpts from Joan Vennochi column, Boston Globe, March 30, 2008: …Gov. Patrick is ready to write a new chapter in his political life. From “Together we can,” it’s “Me, me, me.” The Gov. traveled to N.Y. to shop a proposal for an autobiography the same day state legislators took up casino gambling, A CENTERPIECE OF HIS ECONOMIC AGENDA. A trip on that day for that purpose proves one thing: politically speaking, the great communicator is deaf…The House isn’t as opposed to gambling as the final tally indicates… there’s a much bigger war at stake. It’s not over slots. It’s over change – the kind Patrick promised voters as a candidate for office…It’s about Patrick’s ability to advance an agenda…[Note: On a state level I could afford to be wrong. On a national level, I cannot.]

  25. Hillary’s Voice » From today’s postings 4/28/08, on April 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm Said:

    [...] Rise Hillary, Rise! (by garychapelhill at The Confluence) I wanted to start with some pictures I took at an event I attended last week at Wake Forest University with Hillary and Maya Angelou… This event was really a great chance to get beyond the stump speech of a campaign rally as the two women sat down and had a conversation. It lasted almost two hours and both of them were radiant throughout. Anyway, thinking about Angelou’s book [I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings] I kept thinking to myself, “I know why Hillary is running”. She’s doing it , like the caged bird, because she has to. She’s doing it because this country needs her. She’s doing it because the alternatives are shockingly inadequate for a country as great as this one. Rise Hillary, Rise! Click through to see the photos.  I received a message recently from a doofus who told me that NO ONE is supporting Hillary Clinton any more.  I told him he should get out more. [...]

  26. Carol, on April 28th, 2008 at 3:05 pm Said:

    Gary,
    I wish I could have been there, but thank you for sharing those moments. I met Senator Clinton in the rope line in Harrisburg, PA. I live in Maryland and went to PA 2 weekends to help campaign. It paid off. She is so inspiring in person.
    Carol

  27. Wanda, on April 28th, 2008 at 4:50 pm Said:

    In California and backing Hillary 100%! All of you that can still vote – please DO and vote for the person that can turn this country around – and that’s Hillary!!!

  28. Gary McGowan, on April 30th, 2008 at 5:27 am Said:

    Thanks, Gary. Inspiring pictures and comment. Thanks so much.

    How was this covered in your state’s press?

  29. ghost2, on April 30th, 2008 at 11:17 pm Said:

    Gary,

    Did you know that your post made the ‘hub’, as in HillaryHub? Great post, by the way.

    Congratulations!!

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