The Night Before the Day Before
Very late on a Sunday night is not exactly an ideal time to channel surf through basic cable but at least I could postpone trying to sleep. I confess that I’ve been feeling more and more anxious about the elections as I’ve been feeling more and more anxious about the state of our nation and despairing for our future.
Would the headlines on Wednesday morning bring the shock and gloom of loss - two more years of unchecked Presidential power, arrogance, incompetance and stubborn ideology? Or would enough votes be cast for change to make a real difference in government?
I remember previous election eves of anxiety about the outcome. How could we endure four more years of Nixon’s enemy’s lists and dirty tricks? At home with a young child, I watched almost every day of the weeks and weeks of Watergate Hearings. All those hours of testimony and revelations peeling back the layers of secrecy and presidential paranoia finally led to that image of Nixon’s awkward farewell from the steps of the helicopter that would take him into virtual exile. Then came Ford’s paternal comfort and integrity followed by the election of Jimmy Carter.
I remember wondering how we could possibly afford four more years of Reagan’s social and economic policies, only to be disappointed again when he was followed by Bush I. On Election night in 1992, those of use who had gathered at the home of one of our seminary professors began to feel almost giddy with delight as “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow” sounded out as our celebatory anthem.
I remember the frustration with hanging chads and legal challenges and stunned disbelief that someone so unqualified and unsuited for leadership was actually going to take office. I remember the agonizing dread in the months before the Iraq invasion of realizing he was going to take us to war in Iraq as if the consequences of death, destruction and turmoil amounted to nothing more than losing a video game. I remember wanting to believe that Kerry could make a difference and convince enough people to vote for an approach to governance that did not involve fear-mongering. In the midst of the continuing disaster that Iraq has become - for the Iraqi’s, for the Middle East, for the world as well as for the US - of the continuing erosion of constitutional protections in favor of presidential authoritarianism, of the continuing growth in divisions between very rich and very poor, - and so many other reasons for a progressive person to despair - I began to read about various Democratic candidates across the country and the growing anti-war, anti-Bush poll numbers. Did I dare hope that the results of this election would be different?
Now, on the eve of the eve of another election, I was using the remote as a tranquilizer, trying to find some escape. Instead, I found CSPAN and two huge helpings of Hope. To be more precise, I listened to two people preach sermons of Hope. First the author of “The Audacity of Hope” spoke at a campaign rally in St. Louis and then the Man from Hope spoke at a rally in Memphis.
Watching these two men speak, I marveled again at the ability of one person to gain and hold the attention of a large group of people with the simple power of speech. Obama represents a new generation of leaders, a hope for the future. Clinton is now in the role of elder statesman, still able to influence and motivate. Neither spoke down to their audiences or pandered with slick slogans. Obama spoke of faith and the ordinary people who had inspired him. Clinton was the charismatic guest teacher, explaining social and economic and political concepts - and even genetics! - in ways that anyone listening could understand and know why they should care. Each was at times serious and funny. When Clinton said that Republicans were the party of stay the course who tried to label Democrats as the party“cut and run,” but instead, Democrats want to “stop and think.” I laughed out loud. They spoke of the need for us to work across party and racial lines for the common good. Each has that intangible but treasured commodity called Charisma. Neither pandered to our fears and despair but encouraged optimism for the future. Neither promised easy or simple solutions but acknowledged the hard work to be done and risks that must be taken and sacrifices made to make a difference. They speak hopefully and inspire Hope.
I turned off the TV and slept. Maybe, just maybe, this time Hope will be declared the winner of this election.
Would the headlines on Wednesday morning bring the shock and gloom of loss - two more years of unchecked Presidential power, arrogance, incompetance and stubborn ideology? Or would enough votes be cast for change to make a real difference in government?
I remember previous election eves of anxiety about the outcome. How could we endure four more years of Nixon’s enemy’s lists and dirty tricks? At home with a young child, I watched almost every day of the weeks and weeks of Watergate Hearings. All those hours of testimony and revelations peeling back the layers of secrecy and presidential paranoia finally led to that image of Nixon’s awkward farewell from the steps of the helicopter that would take him into virtual exile. Then came Ford’s paternal comfort and integrity followed by the election of Jimmy Carter.
I remember wondering how we could possibly afford four more years of Reagan’s social and economic policies, only to be disappointed again when he was followed by Bush I. On Election night in 1992, those of use who had gathered at the home of one of our seminary professors began to feel almost giddy with delight as “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow” sounded out as our celebatory anthem.
I remember the frustration with hanging chads and legal challenges and stunned disbelief that someone so unqualified and unsuited for leadership was actually going to take office. I remember the agonizing dread in the months before the Iraq invasion of realizing he was going to take us to war in Iraq as if the consequences of death, destruction and turmoil amounted to nothing more than losing a video game. I remember wanting to believe that Kerry could make a difference and convince enough people to vote for an approach to governance that did not involve fear-mongering. In the midst of the continuing disaster that Iraq has become - for the Iraqi’s, for the Middle East, for the world as well as for the US - of the continuing erosion of constitutional protections in favor of presidential authoritarianism, of the continuing growth in divisions between very rich and very poor, - and so many other reasons for a progressive person to despair - I began to read about various Democratic candidates across the country and the growing anti-war, anti-Bush poll numbers. Did I dare hope that the results of this election would be different?
Now, on the eve of the eve of another election, I was using the remote as a tranquilizer, trying to find some escape. Instead, I found CSPAN and two huge helpings of Hope. To be more precise, I listened to two people preach sermons of Hope. First the author of “The Audacity of Hope” spoke at a campaign rally in St. Louis and then the Man from Hope spoke at a rally in Memphis.
Watching these two men speak, I marveled again at the ability of one person to gain and hold the attention of a large group of people with the simple power of speech. Obama represents a new generation of leaders, a hope for the future. Clinton is now in the role of elder statesman, still able to influence and motivate. Neither spoke down to their audiences or pandered with slick slogans. Obama spoke of faith and the ordinary people who had inspired him. Clinton was the charismatic guest teacher, explaining social and economic and political concepts - and even genetics! - in ways that anyone listening could understand and know why they should care. Each was at times serious and funny. When Clinton said that Republicans were the party of stay the course who tried to label Democrats as the party“cut and run,” but instead, Democrats want to “stop and think.” I laughed out loud. They spoke of the need for us to work across party and racial lines for the common good. Each has that intangible but treasured commodity called Charisma. Neither pandered to our fears and despair but encouraged optimism for the future. Neither promised easy or simple solutions but acknowledged the hard work to be done and risks that must be taken and sacrifices made to make a difference. They speak hopefully and inspire Hope.
I turned off the TV and slept. Maybe, just maybe, this time Hope will be declared the winner of this election.
Labels: cable, Clinton, election, Hope, Obama, presidents, speech
posted by Three Seas | 4:10 PM
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