5-13-15 hopeful signs

Jogging through historic Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, NY, just now, past the grave of Samuel Wilson, aka "Uncle Sam," symbol of American patriotism, I wondered if the flag was flying at half-staff in honor of Eddie Gray of Baltimore, the latest in a tragic parade of young black men violently killed through the use of excessive force, and I thought about how growing up as a child in this city, built largely by white European immigrants, including my proud Irish grandparents -- where there were no people of color in my neighborhood and I never even spoke to a black person until I was a junior in high school --  just this past month two young men of color have announced their candidacy for the Mayor of the City of Troy and I take this as a hopeful sign that the "home of Uncle Sam," is moving forward .