I think that I have been blessed to see what it is like a few days before great events happen. I wonder what the framers of the Constitution saw and experienced, what the the mindset and feelings where of the people involved in the first Apollo mission, what fear and wonder the crewmen of Christopher Columbus ships felt... what where those days like just before history was made and the world was changed. In those days before history was made, important tiny decisions where made. The little things that they decided moved them closer to the golden moment, the one immortalized on the pages of history. The great moments in time are marked by those decision: to for go comfort, release fear, to take steps of faith.
But what about all the other moments in history... when people faced their Rubicon... but did not cross over. How many countries and lives could have been helped and changed if people crossed over. How many Rosa Parks did not sit down? How many Wright brothers stopped before they went to Kitty Hawk? How many Arthur's have stood before the cold stone of facts and refused to pull at the sword of hope. We will never know, but what I have seen these last few days in Ghana, is that decisions do make history.
The people of Ghana stand at a doorway right now. They have decisions to make, doors to open, and these things will determine what happens. The 2008 election in Ghana have been peaceful so far, but now they are moving into their third round. As I sit here, I wonder what history will say about these days. Will the past be defied? For the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa history will an African nation rise to the heights of democracy and allow a second change of power to come peacefully? No one but God knows, but today we are writing history. The next few days men from both political parties will make decisions and these decisions will bring change!
I hope and pray that the words of Kwame Nkrumah will be listened to: "Countrymen, the task ahead is great indeed, and heavy is the responsibility; and yet it is a noble and glorious challenge - a challenge which calls for the courage to dream, the courage to believe, the courage to dare, the courage to do, the courage to envision, the courage to fight, the courage to work, the courage to achieve - to achieve the highest excellencies and the fullest greatness of man. Dare we ask for more in life? " Address to the National Assembly. 12 June 1965
"Freedom is not something that one people can bestow on another as a gift. Thy claim it as their own and none can keep it from them."
