Politics 2000

Remembering 9-11 on Patriot Day is a bit like thinking about your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. Recalling your spouse on your anniversary. Pondering new beginnings and deciding upon resolutions on New Year’s Eve. Spending time with your family on Thanksgiving. Keeping in mind fallen soldiers on Memorial Day and all who served on Veterans Day. Sending cards to your parents on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Helping others with your annual holiday spirit on Christmas.

Once a year is better than nothing but the best way to honor those lost and respect those left is to think about them for a moment each day. Resolve not to forget. Then resolve to live your life. Live being true to yourself. Live doing or saying what you think is right. Most importantly, live without fear, as those gone would want for you.

Having a so-called truce between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain today was nice but–to continue the warfare verbiage–it was a bit like generals of opposing factions agree not to shoot at each other while not stopping all their legions from doing the same. I couldn’t tell the difference between vitriol yesterday and vitriol today.

One theme I heard a lot was, “Today we are all Americans, regardless of party.” Sure, that’s technically so. However, progressives haven’t felt very included the past eight years. Conservatives weren’t jolly during most of the 1990s. As I’ve said previously, there’s no way for the president to represent all Americans in more than name only. Once he makes a decision, he alienates millions of citizens. If he doesn’t make any decisions, he alienates millions of people. There’s no way around it so the only reason to maintain the facade is political. Meaning that voters like to think people are coming together.

Look around the blogosphere tomorrow. See the sharp divides. Tell me how they’re going to reconcile 60 days hence. I think it’s impossible. History shows us one side in a conflict–political or otherwise–must be crushed into surrender before lasting change happens. The U.S. has had 16 years of political stalemate. That’s a long time. I can’t imagine we’ll remain in neutral much longer.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS