To many, this brave new world seems dehumanizing and inhospitable.It
is not surprising, then, that there is a yearning for the "good old
days" as a refuge from the problems of the present. But by turning
away, we blind ourselves to the continuing, evolving presence of the village
in our lives, and its critical importance for how we live together. The
village can no longer be defined as a place on a map, or a list of people
or organizations, but its essence remains the same: it is the network
of values and relationships that suppport and affect our lives.
One of the honors of being First Lady is the opportunity I have to go
out into the world and to see what individuals and communities are doing
to help themselves and their children. I have had the privilege of talking
with mothers,
fathers, grandparents, civic clubs, Scout troops, PTAs, and church groups.
From these many conversations, I know Americans everywhere are searching
for--and often finding--new ways to support one another.
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