As the days toward the elections fly by, I am thinking I may need something from all of the feminists, the humanists, the progressives, the people who are in the center and all to their left. I am sincerely worried that IF Hillary wins there will be a collective sigh and everyone will take a break. Maybe the battle will be so bloody, so vicious, filled with nasty hurt that all of us will want a break from politics; as if our elected representatives are supposed to take over and we can go out for cocktails.
What got me thinking about this is the news of considering a draft and the grilling of Candidate Romney about his five sons not serving the country in a war he supports. My thinking is that a draft will set the country on fire - my shallow mind wants to celebrate that a draft might finally get us off our asses. But my wakeful mind felt shame that we are not so incendiary over the economic blackmail we hold over the heads of America's poorest citizens (and some seeking citizenship) to fight Bush's oil war. What is the condition of our interior fabric when drafting the wealthy would finally draw us to the streets. Ah ~ so it is complacency or relief that someone else is doing the heavy lifting.
I am surrounded with people who believe that if Obama or Clinton is elected President all will be fixed. Whew, job well done. No one would think that if we were putting together a committee or a company. We would know that the choosing and seating of people would be only the beginning. Specifically I am worried that if Hillary is elected (as I believe she will be) all of the people who mobilized to get that done will be happy, be relieved and go on political holiday.
Now we have seen what a maniacal idiot can do in the White House. Let's never again have the conversation that it doesn't matter who is in the White house. That object lesson is done, delivered and received. But it is going to take a vigilant nation to undo it. It is going to take the citizenry to require and support Congress in diminishing executive power, strike the patriot act, end the war, return the troops to their families, re-order national priorities and offer a diplomatic handshake to the world.
The percentage of women in Congress is 16.1 %. Pelosi becoming the speaker did not change that at all but I heard dinner table conversations across the country where smug conservatives said to their progressive family members, upon her appointment, "Well I hope you are happy now, stop your complaining about women in office." A woman speaker only means that we don't have to battle the traditionally male ownership of that chair.
So roll up your sleeves. Campaign for your candidate. Once elected, let the work begin. Maybe you will have a ship captain who wants to go where you want to go, but this ain't no resort cruise - its a working freighter. Only an idiot believes, "Mission Accomplished."
how about a compromise: have a party, go on a cruise AND keep fighting the fight, all at the same time. is that acceptable?
Posted by: k bosch | August 16, 2007 at 06:04 PM