Flying high

Yes, I see all of the qualities you mentioned in him. I also see a phoney. He’s both. My sense is that he’ll be more dedicated to the principles he espouses than he could ever convey. He is still B.S.ing. He’s really limited by stuff that’s stuck in our collective consciousness, the flag waving, the anti-terrorism, the pride. I don’t think he truly resonates with this stuff, but he’s trying to accomplish something much more radical than the country is ready for. So, he’s B.S.ing.

We have a mayor here in Chicago. He is an old school politician. His dad was THE “Boss”. He exerts political control with iron rule. He and his dad were both Tauruses. And, the absolutely amazing thing is how our current mayor has repaired so many of the things his father was responsible for abusing. He has cleaned up Chicago. He has very quietly turned Chicago into a green city. He has beautified Chicago. And, he’s done most of this under the radar.

This is what I see with Obama. He’s trying to work WITH the things he’s simultaneously trying to change. This is his strength. But, he’ll have to be carefull about not compromising himself and his beliefs. And, at some point, the rhetoric can die down and he can talk to the nation as if he’s talking to a friend and not from a pulpit. When that happens, I’ll see him as more real and less phoney. Yes, Tina, he IS still a politician. That’s the part that should change. If he REALLY wants to be an example for change, he can start by redefining “politician” and do so with the way he speaks. We’ll see.

Until I see people actually taking their own responsibility for their happiness and tuning out the politicians, I’ll always see elements of the Nuremburg rallies in these “events” that people seem to love experiencing.

Geez, Tina! There’s nothing to “forgive” yourself for! I’m very apolitical. Yet, I was caught up on election night. I was deeply moved by the entire event because I could sense the shift in mass consciousness. It was McCain’s speech that made me sob. He was SO honest and real. Obama wouldn’t allow himself that same freedom of expression because of the responsibility he was accepting. And, that’s the dichotomy I was addressing. John McCain had to LOSE before he could drop his mask and shine. What an incredibly beautiful moment! But why does it only happen when “we have nothing to lose”?

Hope is a beautiful force. The more REAL it is, the more grounded, the less chance for disappointment. And, throughout history, the disappointments have brought out so much ugliness. Look how we treat the outgoing president. Mussolini was hanged. Sadam’s staue was toppled with glee. There’s a Madame DeFarge in all of us. And, she’s there because we give away our responsibility and power. That’s the element we need to hold in our consciousness alongside the hope. Not cynicism or hope, but applying the test of honesty to the hope.