In Memoriam: Another Side of Colin Powell

In light of his death this morning, you'll no doubt be hearing a lot about Colin Powell in the days ahead.  He truly was a significant figure in our nation's history over the last decades.  Folks will write about his long military career, including his work as the Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; his efforts as the first African-American to serve as Secretary of State will be written about extensively; his willingness to cross party line when that seemed to be in the best interest of the county.

You may not have always liked what he did, nor the positions he took on various issues.  But you would be hard-pressed to ignore his loyalty to these United States.  All that will be written about, talked about.  

But I'd like to take a moment to focus on Powell as a Dad and grandfather.  His family spoke of him as being "remarkable and loving"--he was also very astute, recognizing how important that sense of closeness, that willingness to show a child love, truly was and is.

Powell once said:  "All children need a laptop. Not a computer, but a human laptop. Moms, Dads, Grannies and Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles - someone to hold them, read to them, teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the experience, rituals and knowledge of a hundred previous generations. Loved ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes, and their dreams."  For all his wise words over the years about leadership and loyalty and obedience, maybe his words about laps are the ones we most need to hold on to.