Dan Stein on Remembering Terry Anderson
Dan Stein on Remembering Terry Anderson
Terry Anderson’s tragic passing is an irreplaceable loss for the nation. He exemplified what is best about being an American citizen. Terry was always unwilling to accept compliments or accolades. He was not interested in honor, recognition or high position. He merely sought to tell the truth as he saw it, and to make a difference in the lives of those he cared about. In doing so, he exposed certain grim realities of decades of neglect and betrayal for the community he called home.
No one better exemplified the distance between the true interests of the African American community and the positions of the professional leadership in American politics. Terry was always the real deal, authentic, honest, straightforward and unafraid. Terry was not only a man of action, he inspired others to act. He did so because he gave others courage. When he stood up to speak, everyone listened, everyone heard and everyone understood. He was a man of uncommon honesty and integrity. He spoke from his heart and did so in a way that Americans needed to hear.
No one can ever replace Terry. He made a huge difference for America and the neighborhood he sought to save from the uncaring hand of our political system.