Video Topic: Public Channel

Viewers of almost any age are likely familiar with Charlie Brown and one of his standard refrains: “Good grief!” When I first heard it as a young boy, it’s contradictory quality didn’t strike me. But today, even though I’ve searched its etymology and know better, I ponder it: ‘good grief.’ As in, grief that’s good? That serves a purpose? That might lead us to live more fully for having experienced it?

The Black Lives Matter movement, one of the most engaging in recent decades, is nonetheless dogged by a persistent if seemingly innocuous rebuttal: All lives matter. And of course they do. But the experience of African-Americans in this country has been and continues to be so markedly different than that of their white counterparts that we need to put a spotlight on that unique history–to provide a context that can make sense of the often senseless.

One hundred and forty-eight years ago–with the Civil War just ended–the first Memorial Day was observed in the national cemetery after which Arlington is named. Graves were adorned with flowers. Flags were displayed. Speeches praising valor, country and sacrifice were made. And while much has changed in the interim, this remains the same: we still salute valor, stand as our nation’s flag is raised…and bury our war dead. Which begs the question: for all we’ve learned and for all the advances we’ve made, what have we missed, what lessons await our understanding?