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Diane Durston's Comments after Bill's Speech

Delivered at the "Get Into the Swing" 2008 Durston for Congress Kickoff Event
at the Dante Club in Sacramento , on January 27, 2008.

I've been riding this tandem bike now for 38 years. Sometimes I've been in the front seat. For this leg, however, I am happy to ride behind. Because of our 38 year history I would like to say a few words on this occasion.

In 1950 Edward R. Murrow aired a weekly radio broadcast called "This I Believe". Famous people like Helen Keller and Albert Einstein were asked to share their personal philosophies about life. When a housewife called in to ask why only famous people were sharing their personal philosophies, the show was expanded to include average citizens. It was aired weekly for four years. Eventually these philosophies were compiled into a book called "This I Believe". In March of 2003 this project was revived. There is a new book with essays from the original version and essays from people famous, and not so famous, living today. You can hear these essays on NPR or read them in this book.

I share this background information because I want to read a few excerpts from an essay my daughter, Annie, wrote called "Doing the Right Thing" It seems so relevant to this campaign. This is what she wrote:

I believe in doing the right thing. Even when it is inconvenient, costly, messy, alienating, and just plain hard. In fact, especially when it is inconvenient, costly, messy, alienating and just plain hard. In order to even have any chance of every doing the right thing it seems that one must commit to this belief with a staunch fervor that supersedes all other desires. One has to get a good grip on this belief and not let go, as enticing opportunities, convincing people, fatigue and disillusionment tug on the other end. To believe in doing the right thing, one must believe that there is such a thing as the "right thing" which is almost like referring to the truth.

Doing the right thing is often about doing what is best for other people. Sometimes it's what's best for an individual person: staying after the end of a long shift in the emergency room to treat the patient that has been waiting too long. Sometimes it's what's best for people as a community: spending your day off trying to convince lawmakers that guns kill people and we need legislation to protect people. Sometimes there are two, mutually exclusive right things: Should I go golfing with my son today or work on a campaign to try to bring other fathers' sons home from Iraq. In that case, I think you're in the clear-guaranteed to be doing the right thing, what ever you decide.

Fortunately, though guidebook be lacking I believe that doing the right thing is something that can be taught, less through words than actions. As a parent, every time you go back to the store to return the extra change the cashier accidentally gave you or stand and tell the truth while uncourageous people scoff, your children are watching. And that's about as good a guide to life as anything you'll ever find.

This, my father taught me, so this I believe.

Bill has a theory about truth. I have a theory about courage. I believe that individual people who exhibit exceptional courage inspire each one of us to be more courageous so together we can act on our beliefs to create a more humane and compassionate society. As committed as I am personally to ending the war, advocating for universal healthcare, and restoring our democracy, I did not want Bill to run for Congress. But I have found I have become more courageous because of his courage. So I would ask you to do whatever you feel you can to be part of this movement that will change the direction of America . Our children are watching.