It's so good to have hope again, isn't it? Not only in the president-elect, but in our fellow and sister citizens. That's the most exciting part of the whole deal for me: a glorious majority of this country decided not to base our lives in fear; instead we raised their glasses to hope. Not amorphous, nonsensical, fairy-dust-covered hope. Despite what his detractors say, President-elect Obama (oh, how I love writing those words!) has actual policies, actual plans, actual relationships with informed, intelligent, aware people around the world whose views and expressions of opinion I (usually) agree with and believe in. The election of Obama isn't just about feeling good; it is about supporting positive action through the use of logic, the examinination and understanding of uncomfortable facts, and through encouraging the general populace to be aware of both the problems we face and the effort and sacrifice that will be required to fix them. It appears this nation is finally willing to face up to not only the worst in people, but also to believe in the best in them.
We have chosen to be led by an empathetic realist, someone with lofty goals whose feet are on the ground. Will he make mistakes? Yes, many. Will he grow cautious, meander toward the center, be too careful and conservative for my tastes? Probably. He's a pragmatist and a masterful politician, which means he knows how to work with others to get things done. That means he'll likely be willing to give in, waffle, even pander at times. But he's also a diplomat who knows how to express his points of view eloquently while making others feel that they have been heard and understood. His calm, collected, rational approach is what we need to salve a weary nation and invite a wary world to engage with us again in positive ways.
The international reaction to his election shows how eager and hungry they are to do just that. Diplomacy doesn't mean caving to the desires of everyone with whom we engage, but it does mean having the willingness to listen and show respect. Fear-mongers will tell you that meeting with others with open eyes, ears and mind bespeaks weakness, that only bullying and threatening with a bigger stick will result in the crushing dominance over all that the U.S. has been ordained by God Himself to have. Seasoned politicos, peacemakers and world-class leaders will tell you that this is not so.
As for God's (or Allah's, Yahweh's, Buddha's, Ganesha's or the Flying Spaghetti Monster's) opinion on the matter, I do admire what a guy named Jesus asked about the matter of bigger sticks: "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Humility, a desire to look for the best in others and the willingness to see our own faults first are all basic to most organized religions as well as to most non-religiously based ethical systems. To break bread together and speak with all manner of men and women openly, respectfully and honestly—these are some of the most universally acknowledged ways to build lasting bonds and to create positive change.
How lovely it will be to have a leader who not only knows, loves and respects the Constitution of the United States so well that he teaches it, but who also understands the basic tenets of common human decency so well that he believes we have a responsibility to each other and to all of humanity, not just to those within our borders or within our parties. How beautiful.
