Farewell Mario

In 1984 I was watching the Democratic Party's convention and was captivated by the Governor of New York. What made Mario Cuomo so captivating was not just his rhetorical eloquence it was also his compassion and the hope he displayed.  As the son of Italian emigrants, he did not forget how his parents struggled to build a new life in this country or the generosity that has made this country so great. In his speech Mario Cuomo made his rise to prominence sound like a metaphor for the rise of the middle class, and he reminded us that the rise of the middle class was made possible by the New Deal, labor unions, and the G.I. Bill. This was as remarkable as it was wonderful. At a time when Ronald Reagan had abandoned the New Deal for a philosophy of me, Mario Cuomo was still talking about we. Mario Cuomo was still talking about caring communities where neighbors looked out for each other and lent a hand in times of need; he was still talking about a generous country that embraced those neighborly values, and he was doing it at a time when Ronald Reagan, with his defense of selfishness, had reached the peak of his popularity.

Thank you, Mario. You were right about what makes this country great. It is at its best when it offers opportunities to all and struggles to right its historical wrongs. It is at its best when it rewards the hard work of the many rather than trying to satiate the greed of the few. It is at its best when we all accept the responsibility of serving our country and our fellow citizens as well as serving ourselves.