A reader congratulates Matt on his participation in the recent “I have a dream” art show in Chicago.

Matt responds:

Thank you.

I was honored and humbled to be asked to be part of that program.

As you know, it started in Spain, and through seeing the enthusiasm of people outside the United States for a speech that took place in Washington, D.C., and the passion, the inquisitiveness, the honor that the world has given this speech and event—I don’t think that aspect is recognized in many quarters.

The U.S.A. is looked at by many different cultures.I have found that when you really know people, they will make a statement about what they really believe.  Every aspect of what goes on in the United States is perceived and topical to other countries.  It strikes me as very important that one speech could be singled out and examined by so many different cultures and nationalities.

We’re always hearing the negativities about the problems we have, but the working-through of the problems, as difficult as they are, really singles us out as a great experiment that is for the most part working.

And that is not only in the U.S. but all around the world.  So we must keep in mind that it matters.  We have to keep developing.

As I said in my remarks to the people at the event, the breaking-down of the color barrier for the Presidency is one event of many.  The next one we have, will be the realization that a woman could very well be a President of the United States.

The day of the election in which Barack Obama prevailed, I got phone calls from all over the world from friends of mine, not only congratulating the man, but congratulating the United States on the symbolic leadership of people of good faith accepting the best leader, regardless of color.

So we’ll keep moving, four steps forward, two steps back.  We’ll get there sometime.

Matt