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William769

(56,708 posts)
Sat Nov 30, 2024, 02:53 PM Nov 30

Hope is not up for debate

Hope is what gives us the courage to take on our greatest challenges to move forward together. We live in cynical times I know that, but hope is not up for debate because all there is, is hope.

I am not going to dwell on the past election, I am going to be focused on the next one. Why? Hope.

I am going to be 61 years old in five days. I had many dark days in that time, the biggest one was when I had full blown AIDS 19 years ago. They told me I would not leave the hospital, but I had hope. It took me three years to go from full blown AIDS to being HIV Positive. It took me another 10 years to get my viral load to be undetectable. During that time and continuing to this day, I have never given up hope.

So, I will end with this. HOPE

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hope is not up for debate (Original Post) William769 Nov 30 OP
Thank you for this post. K&R c-rational Nov 30 #1
... William769 Nov 30 #2
Thank you, William 769 wendyb-NC Nov 30 #3
Your strength is remarkable! brer cat Nov 30 #4
People like you make it possible. William769 Dec 1 #12
Happy Birthday William769 Sun-Moon Nov 30 #5
& thank you for the wishes. William769 Dec 1 #13
Beautiful post. greatauntoftriplets Nov 30 #6
Thank you. William769 Dec 1 #14
I love this post. LisaM Nov 30 #7
That picture beside you name William769 Dec 1 #15
Yes, I agree. LisaM Dec 1 #19
Recommended. H2O Man Nov 30 #8
Agreed. William769 Dec 1 #16
Happy early birthday, William! Dem2theMax Nov 30 #9
Thank you. William769 Dec 1 #17
William769............. Upthevibe Nov 30 #10
By the way, the original book that this movie comes from... OldBaldy1701E Nov 30 #11
OldBaldy1701E .......... Upthevibe Dec 1 #20
Thank you. William769 Dec 1 #18
"Hope" is the thing with feathers - Cha Dec 1 #21

LisaM

(28,971 posts)
7. I love this post.
Sat Nov 30, 2024, 05:22 PM
Nov 30

It was the Republicans who muffed AIDS research and (IMHO) caused lots of unnecessary deaths. But eventually even their negligence failed and we moved forward to contain the disease. They can not win forever.

William769

(56,708 posts)
15. That picture beside you name
Sun Dec 1, 2024, 10:00 AM
Dec 1

Her husband turned the tide on AIDS. I have been so proud of both of them.

LisaM

(28,971 posts)
19. Yes, I agree.
Sun Dec 1, 2024, 12:50 PM
Dec 1

I didn't agree with everything Bill Clinton did. But the years he was President were by far the best years I have ever gone through. One reason I was (and remain) so pro-Hillary was that I saw hope for a repeat of those years.

H2O Man

(76,159 posts)
8. Recommended.
Sat Nov 30, 2024, 05:29 PM
Nov 30

Rev Jesse Jackson's "Keep Hope Alive!" speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention ranks with the greatest of all time. It is a roadsign to the direction our party needs to head in.

Dem2theMax

(10,574 posts)
9. Happy early birthday, William!
Sat Nov 30, 2024, 05:37 PM
Nov 30

I'm so glad that you fought so hard to be here to celebrate it!

And thank you for what you wrote. We all need to be reminded to keep hoping. It's taken me weeks to get past the feeling of numbness, and the shock of the result of the election.

I have noticed that I now have moments of peace and moments of Hope. I know that that will build back up over time. We all need to allow ourselves the grace to get through this in whatever way works for us. Some people need a little more time.
Whatever, however, whenever we get there, we need to do what you said. Hope.

Upthevibe

(9,408 posts)
10. William769.............
Sat Nov 30, 2024, 05:44 PM
Nov 30

Here's a clip from one of the best films in the history of cinema (IMHO):

OldBaldy1701E

(7,238 posts)
11. By the way, the original book that this movie comes from...
Sat Nov 30, 2024, 06:05 PM
Nov 30

Is broken into four sections, each named after a different season, thence the name of the book, 'Different Seasons'. The story is called 'Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption', and it appears in the section called Hope Springs Eternal.

This was one of his most famous works as three of the four stories have been adapted to film:

*The above story, which was shortened to 'The Shawshank Redemption' for the film.
*'Apt Pupil', which was made into a film starring Brad Renfro and Ian McKellen.
*'The Body', which was renamed 'Stand By Me' for the film. Stars Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Cory Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, and Kiefer Sutherland.

(On a personal note, I like them all but the one that has not been made into a film yet is my favorite one. 'The Breathing Method' is a great story. It might also bring back a few memories. I recommend it.)

Cha

(307,278 posts)
21. "Hope" is the thing with feathers -
Sun Dec 1, 2024, 03:39 PM
Dec 1

That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me."

Emily Dickinson 1819

Mahalo, William

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