All the political kvetching of late has made me think it is the newest season of malcontent. Just as it is for those who cycle in and out of the dark moods of bipolar, there are so many folks now who seem to have slipped out of the manic cusp of chanting “Yes We Can” and are now in a sustained collective rhythm of whining “Clueless Obama Doesn’t Get It” — as if that is somehow helpful.
Sure Obama, his administration and even Michelle have made some pretty consequential missteps. But shouldn’t we have expected this? They are human. They are allowed to make mistakes and to suffer regrets and/or grow from the choices just like the rest of us imperfects who are trying every day to do the best we can to get it right.
Maybe what we didn’t expect to happen was how quickly Obama’s fan base would flip their mood, throw him under the oil plumes and then display his grotesque, oiled, impotent feathers, making him look as vulnerable and pathetic as the pelicans whose survivability also remains uncertain.
It’s not just that Obama speaks a different language — civilized intellectual discourse — it’s that Obama speaks in the language of spiritual political leadership, and that is a significant problem. It is such a foreign concept to the kvetchers they probably would even consider spiritual political leadership an oxymoron. Couple this ignorance with the fact they haven’t seen an example of true spiritual political leadership in their own lifetime it is no wonder the kvetchers wouldn’t be able to recognize it. Even if it smothered them in étouffée.
What’s needed now is not another distraction from what really matters.
What’s needed now is an explanation of what really matters.
Freedom.
Peace.
Kindness.
Patience.
Forgiveness.
We need to understand that freedom means allowing everyone to choose what they want to do under the laws of this Land of Liberty.
We need to understand that peace means accepting what others want to do under the laws of this Land of Liberty.
We need to understand that kindness means we are tolerant of what others want to do under the laws of this Land of Liberty.
We need to understand that patience prevails whenever we listen with compassion to what others want to do under the laws of this Land of Liberty.
We need to understand that forgiveness is a process that allows each of us to begin again anew whenever we miss the mark.
These form the foundations of the language of spiritual political leadership, and are also a model of behavior that strives to seek justice, show mercy and encourages each of us to walk humbly in this Land of Liberty, this land of hope, light and opportunity.
Giselle M. Massi © August 18, 2010