March 25, 1968
by Amy
We’re back at the office now. Bea told me that everyone was talking about Coleman losing his cool during the conference. She didn’t go, and I was surprised that she knew about it that quickly. I figured Lesley must’ve said something, since it was quite the thing yesterday.
I told her I had no idea. I heard it. Yes, it seemed like a classic moment of someone needing to cool it. But since Coleman wasn’t even supposed to come to the conference, I had no idea what was going on.
Such a fountain of information, I am.
Dave Dellinger came by the office and hung around for a while. He met with Glasses before going back to New York. I love Dave. Quiet, calm and confident. Not arrogant. And he never loses his cool like Coleman. At least, not that I’ve seen or heard. Principled. That’s the best word to describe him. He rests his entire well-being on principles. He lives his truth with such humility that he embodies the Movement. He’s not talking about it – he is it.
He’d hate for me to say that. He’d probably be mad at me. But it’s true. You can believe in a principle to such an extent that you become it. Every aspect of your life is the principle in action.
It’s the kind of thing you see in religions like Buddhism or Christianity. Or some of the activist collectives that try to integrate their beliefs and lifestyles. Some succeed, many don’t. I think it’s the reason why many people flock to the Movement instead of political campaigns.
You can’t live the principles of a political campaign because so many of them have no principles. They’re stuck on the outcome rather than the method.
Living by your principles is probably the hardest part. Not just externally but internally as well. It’s not just what you do. Who you are is a statement of your principles. You are your principles embodied.
