Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Conniesbirth Address

Four score and eight years ago her parents brought forth on this continent a new humanist, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal and deserve equal justice.

She has engaged in a great civil life, proving that she, or any person so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met at a familiar, nearby restaurant to celebrate her birth date and that life. We have come to celebrate a personal friend and universal wonder who has continued to bring dance, music, children, justice, joy, honor, peace and delight to a world of friends, family, causes, practices, WESPAC, The Connie Hogarth Center for Social Action at Manhattanville College and emails. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this person. Her brave, gentle and powerful life has consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what she has accomplished here. It is for us, the dining, rather, to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from her, our honored friend and spirit, we take increased devotion to the causes for which she continues giving her full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that we friends, under whatever god, universe, humanist or spiritual belief, shall have a new birth of enthusiasm -- and that Connie Hogarth shall be celebrated forever.

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