The Morning After
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
What it will take now is us being true to the call for civic responsibility, decency, humility. To living within our own means so that there is room, clean air, fresh water, hope for every other. Mutual regard trumping self regard. The end of arrogance.
It will take all of us, because no one man can transform a country.
6 comments:
With a country full of Vivians, we can, I know we can.
This morning I received a mail from one of my friends who thoroughly disagree with me. She finds the man I see as beautiful both on the outside an in, to be two faced, deceiving, misguided, and other words to that effect. At first I was appalled, thinking, no, no, NO, I cannot bear this, how can I have a friend with that attitude! Then I calmed down, thinking that really, all is perception. Whereas I was walking on air, thrilled from the top of my scalp to the tip of my tiny, little toe, she was sad and alarmed. We are both right of course, because we both judge the world from our own, personal perception. And this perception overrules all. And we are both wrong in a sense, because reality is only one thing, the WHAT IS right here, right now. Thrilled or alarmed, both are merely superimposed images on what is.
And the WHAT IS right here, right now, is that a new president is elected. That is the fact of it. I pray that this man, elected by the American people in a fair, democratic election, will do some good in the world. That is all we can hope for. That you and I and my friend and Obama and McCain, will do the good we are set here to do. The prayer goes for all of us.
Grete
Grete, I pray with you. And you are so right (you are always so wise) about perception. I read more deeply, listened more carefully, during this election during any other. I tried to know things, pretended that I could. I worried deeply about issues that arose in both campaigns, tried to find some proof of absolute rightness.
There is no absolute rightness. No one candidate that will hit every single desired mark.
In the end, we saw an America Tuesday night that was by and large united by a desire to be more decent, more outreaching, more careful, more environmentally sound. There is much this new president will have to learn, much any new president would have to learn.
But we as Americans have to help. In my own beautiful Philadelphia, the impeccable Mayor Nutter, who is so smart, and who cares so much, is announcing a series of important cuts today because the budget cannot handle the services a city like ours must provide.
Libraries are said to be targeted. Recreation centers. The very things that children need to grow up whole.
What is left, then, is the rest of us—to step in, to take notice, to raise money, to volunteer.
The government is not going to be able to do it all.
Grete, I loved hearing from you again.
Beth -
“What is left, then, is the rest of us—to step in, to take notice, to raise money, to volunteer.”
I think this summarizes what the president-elect’s campaign was all about, and what made it so successful and congruent throughout. This singular focus - If you hurt - I hurt; if you’re happy, I am. So I’d better work really hard for you - for me to be happy! And by making you aware of your own strengths, you can truly take care of your own happiness. Which again reflects back to me. A continual movement from you - to me - to you again.
Alice Walker, in an open letter to Obama, put it this way - We are the ones we have been waiting for.
And this message is valid far beyond the boundaries of The United States of America!
Grete
What an incredible time we have ahead. I feel as if I were gifted with a whole new box of paints, and permission to create anything I like.
A friend of mine commented that he feels like the Germans must have when the Wall came down. And so a wall has been torn down here. A miracle!
I agree, it is up to all of us. That is the beauty of this time, people will rise up from the bottom and give to create new beauty, a new history. Thank God!
Dear Grete,
If only many of my fellow countrypeople were as hugely informed about our democracy, our process, as you are. You amaze. Thank you for your postings.
And Kris, so nice to hear your voice here, too.
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