Why We Do the Work We Do

Six times a year, the RAC staff has the opportunity to work with incredible groups of high school students from across the country at our Bernard and Audre Rapoport L'Taken Social Justice Seminars.  A few weeks ago, at our first L'Taken of the year, one of our participants, Andrew Turell from Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains, NY, delivered a remarkable speech concluding his group's visit to Representative Nita Lowey's office.  Andrew's speech did not merely tie together the five separate issues on which his peers spoke.  Andrew's speech eloquently reminded us all how important his voice and the voices of his peers are.  It reminded us all why we must engage in social justice and constantly fight to make the world better.  It reminded me why it is that I love the work that we do--

"I would like to end with a quotation made famous by Robert Kennedy.  He said: 'Some men see things as they are and say why.  I dream things that never were and say why not.'  We are the future of this country--the future doctors, the future businesswomen, the future parents, the future artists, and the future statesmen.  We all have dreams about how our country can become even greater, and our work towards those dreams begins today.  Like Robert Kennedy, we will not accept the present when there is the potential for better.  We will not accept precedent when the logic is flawed.  We will not accept mediocrity when Americans deserve excellence.  Our work begins today, and we appreciate Congresswoman Lowey's support."