Friday, May 16, 2008
Fear more of the same
From the RoundTable blog
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Ginny Brock
Brock is a longtime resident of Smith Mountain Lake.
So here we go again. Election year, time to choose the new leader of the pack. On one hand, we have the Democrats, who in time-honored tradition are self destructing left and right, and on the other, Republicans, who have no need to destroy themselves. They just have to sit tight and watch the Dems implode.
This behavior on the part of the Democrats is so predictable that it's becoming seriously boring.
There's another surge going on besides the Iraqi debacle: muddy water, racing through the gutters of the Democratic campaigns, picking up the debris of politics-as-usual, sending it barreling toward the November election. Blanketing hope.
So what's new? There are seeds of change in the air, and a genuine voice for change carrying the promise of the restoration of American pride, our history of leadership, tolerance, strength and compassion. Seeds striving to root in the soil of despair.
Sadly, by the time we reach November, this voice could be swamped by the mountain of trash cascading toward it.
Who can stop it? Without sound leadership in the Democratic Party, this surge will not be stopped, and we will reap the consequences. We know them well. Greed, heaped upon the greed already entrenched in Washington, more killing and destruction in Iraq and God only knows where else. Economic destruction at home.
Are we, the people, too immature to manifest the promise of our magnificent destiny? There is a ray of hope that we are not.
It lies in the will of Americans to throw out the old politics and politicians. It requires the rebirth of a people, disenfranchised by their government for too long, their voices, thoughts and belief in the validity of their values and their desire that these values be practiced in Washington.
Hope lies in the passion of ordinary people ready to change direction. They are the majority of American citizens -- people willing to back an exciting voice of change, with a strong and resolute determination to run this country the way our forefathers expected it to be run.
That voice for change is out there, but it's hard to hear over the specious cries of Muslim and racist tags hung on Barack Obama that are untrue. As they are repeated over and over again, there is a chance this voice will not survive. If it does survive this onslaught of politically spun garbage, it will survive anything the world can hurl against it.
It's a troubled world. It needs strong leadership. America must be heard and must lead with clarity. The clear voice, the gift of speech, the gift of oratory and the multi-culturistic thinking that this young Democrat can bring to bear can do it. Coupled with the experience and expertise of proven American statesmen, Democrats, Republicans and independents, in a Cabinet of his choice, the diplomatic channels will open up again, allowing that voice to reach every corner of the world. This candidate, using his remarkable brain, instincts, knowledge, inclusiveness and composure, will turn this country and the world around.
How does he survive? By verbally striking a woman? Does he try to match her shrillness, slashing her roots, her race, her gender?
He does none of the above. Obama does what he's doing: soft peddling the attacks Clinton launches against him, at the risk of being seen as weak. He defends himself using humor, and he retaliates with his gift of speech, speaking not to her, but to Americans who are tired of political slime. If he fails, we elect the status quo, we kill hope for four more years.
But this, too, believe it or not, is not all bad. At the end of that time, the ideas we're hearing now from Obama may well survive in the form of a strong, viable third party that most of us can back.
A new party. It will comprise the best elements of liberal and conservative thinking, a blend of freedom and discipline both at home and abroad. It will encompass the greatness of this country's past and the hope of its future. It will allow us all to be reborn with the inalienable rights promised by the Constitution.
But for now, we have to deal with the situation at hand. Don't let your voices be drowned by the ambition of politicians on both sides. One set who would maintain the unacceptable status quo, the other, chasing dreams of dynasty. We've tried them both. They didn't work.
This country flourishes on new ideas. Use your voice. Don't be afraid of change. Be very afraid of what we have.
