i ask myself what message shall i share with you this special day, this fifteenth day of May, this sacred day when Horton the elephant heard...  well, as Dr. Seuss wrote:

On the fifteenth of May, in the Jungle of Nool, In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool, He was splashing . . . enjoying the jungle's great joys . . . When Horton the elephant heard a small noise.

and what was that noise?  -- it was a very small person, a Who, saying "Help!"  And Horton the elephant, a creature of very large size, listens to that small person.  As Horton says:

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

This makes me think of the little children that i "teach" [really i just facilitate].  How big is a two year old next to a four year old?  How big is a baby?  The older ones tower over the younger ones, and we teachers help bring awareness to the older bigger ones:

• so that they learn to not hurt the younger ones,
• so that they learn to listen to the younger ones,
• so that they learn to give the younger ones space to be.

This is a beautiful process -- seeing children develop self-esteem, a strong feeling of who they are and what they want, so that they can happily give other children the space to be themselves just as fully.

While working with the little ones during the past couple weeks since the Politics of Trust seminar, i have been meditating on the word "trust":

for me, "trust" starts with a sacred space, a sacred silence -- with a negative.  for me, "trust" starts with someone NOT forcing me to participate in something against my will.

And i feel as tiny as a Who -- like a helpless baby is next to an all-mighty four-year-old -- when i stand next to the U.S. Congress.  And while being so small, what is the very small sound that i wish to make on this sacred day?  i return to the heart of my opening and closing statements during our weekend together:

i believe with all my heart that the decentralization of our beloved country would be a very good thing for we Americans...  and for all the people of our beloved Earth.

Several of you told me that "decentralization" is a negative concept, which focusses on what is being de-emphasized.  And you directed my attention to the "positive" concomitants of decentralization...  in other words, what would be emphasized when and if we decentralize.

You may think that the state governments would be emphasized, but most of all, i believe that American communities would be re-invigorated.  Indeed, one of you suggested the phrase:

The Organic Rebirth of the American Community

Taking this all to heart, i thank you all, and i am pleased to rechristen the Amendment:

The Organic Rebirth of American Communities Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Congress Shall Make No Law.
All Federal Activities Shall Be Private.
These United States Are And Of Right Ought To Be Free And Independent States.

Thank you.  i send my love and best wishes.