I give my congratulations to American president-elect Obama, may god be with him in a very tough job.
My wish for the coming four years, the coming twenty years, the coming one hundred years, is that each American as well as each inhabitant of planet Earth will take the opportunity to strive always to correct his vision towards that of unity rather than that of partisanship.
That's not an easy thing. The devil in this universe is obviously a little man in the heart of each of us, telling us that "evil" is out there. It's in the other person, it's in the other group, it's in the other nation. Lord forbid we should ever look into our own heart for the origin of evil and suffering, for this would be too fearful.
Still it can be done and it is being done, and in unity is salvation.
24 comments:
This may not be as important as the invention of the wheel, but it's fairly close. I never thought I'd live long enough to see this, and I'm very glad I have.
America is finally growing up, and we are all the better for it.
I would have no problem voting for an African-American president. Just not this one. His views and mine simply don't match up.
He's for abortion, I'm against.
He wants to "Spread the wealth" I want people to earn their keep.
Too much of his background is still unknown in my opinion. Is he actually a Muslim or not? Did he really stay in a church for 20 years where the pastor taught things he didn't believe in? Why was he OK with a known terrorist throwing his campaign party?
I have nothing against African-American's, but I do have plenty against Obama
Valkyrie, you sound just like my parents. I had exactly these same arguments with them over the last few weeks whenever I talked to them. The only thing is, they grew up in the segregated South, and I know in my heart that the only real reason they would never have voted for Obama is because, well, "he's a nigger". Their racial attitudes were in the air when I was a child, and I am very thankful and somewhat surprised that they didn't poison me completely.
I don't imagine that much will change under an Obama administration, at least not anytime soon. We'll still be stuck in Iraq for a while. Dealing with the economy will likely suck up a lot of energy and attention. Nevertheless, I'm happier politically today than I have been at any time in the last 12 years or so. I am just so tired of the hyperpartisan atmosphere. To me, Obama represents a chance to get past that.
I was afraid that there would be too many people like my parents. I was afraid that they would hide their natures until they got to the privacy of the voting booth. I was afraid that, when the weight of history was poised right at the tipping point, this country would fall back into ignorance and despair. I'm not afraid anymore. Obama gave us a shining, improbable symbol, and I think it is one that will live on for a very long time.
Will Rogers, that great American humorist and homespun philosopher, once said, "It's not the things we don't know that get us into trouble.
It's the things we do know that ain't so."
People aren't "evil", but some of their actions are. "Evil" is "actions that harm the innocent". Socialism qualifies. This election was a no-win situation for those who value individual liberty, since both "mainstream" candidates were unrepentant socialists who only disagreed over how much of what to steal from whom.
I will continue to live free since I withdrew consent to be "governed" by anyone long ago.
"People should not fear 'their' governments; governments should fear their people." Molon labe!
"In unity is salvation"
?!?
Really?
What sort of unity? One forced at gunpoint? Because that is the only unity governments offer.
And what is the result?
Neighbors who would ordinarily live amicably near each other ore force into war because one wants his children educated to believe God made the universe, and the other wants his children educated to accept natural selection. By forcing them to send their children to the same school, by yoking them to the same plow you set them at war with each other.
All mr obama (and Mr McCain for that matter) has to offer was order created through fear - of the policeman's club smashed into a face, of being locked in a cage for year after year, of friends and business partners driven away by the investigator's accusing questions.
You can keep your unity... I prefer the decent civilized notion of allowing people to live their own lives.
Spoken like a true Libertarian. Me, I'm basking in the rays of renewed hope. :o)
"What sort of unity? One forced at gunpoint? Because that is the only unity governments offer."
There's some truth to that, which is why I am less and less interested in politics.
"There's some truth to that, which is why I am less and less interested in politics."
I agree...but I find myself more and more interested in guns. ;)
"The only thing is, they grew up in the segregated South, and I know in my heart that the only real reason they would never have voted for Obama is because, well, "he's a nigger"."
I've spent the last 15 or so years in the south. The only segregation that I see is caused by where people live and how people act. I am by no means a racist, and I hate the word 'nigger'. I have several African-American friends, had one as a roommate in college, did all kinds of stuff with them. Some I like, some I don't like. Just like there are some Caucasians I like and some I don't like.
I can't speak for everyone but I don't judge people based on skin color, race, religion, age, handicap or the like. I judge them based on their actions, both past, present, and what they claim to do in the future.
I didn't like the things that Obama was saying, so I didn't vote for him. If the tables were turned and McCain was saying the stuff that Obama was, I'd have voted for Obama.
Despite the fact that Obama is president-elect, it is my right, and my duty to continue to protest and request change in my government.
"I will continue to live free since I withdrew consent to be "governed" by anyone long ago."
I agree with your statement, but, hypothetically, what happens when those in power decide to take some of your rights away? Free Speech? Right to bear Arms? Right to Life?
The answers to those inane question, valkyrie, are easy to find. Don't be so lazy. You wouldn't even have to leave home, unlike in the old days; you can sit on your fat ass at the computer and find them.
By the way, 9 times out of 10, when someone says "I'm not a racist, but" then they usually are a racist.
It was "I am by no means a racist" but that's no different. I can't believe you tried the old "I have several African-American friends" line, though. Sad.
So what you're saying, Anon, is that the only possible reason somebody could disagree with Obama is racism?
Nothing like that. I don't know how you could possibly have come to that conclusion. The point is that people who talk about not being a racist, and who use a variation of the line "some of my best friends are _____" (black/Jewish/Muslim/etc.) indicates that maybe they protest too much.
It's also funny that someone could have decided against voting for someone based on unanswered questions which were in fact answered. You don't, as I said, have to look very far to find those answers.
"maybe they protest too much."
That's possible, but it's easy to become skittish on such a subject, because there are so many accusations flying around.
Valkyrie- Rights can be respected or violated, but never "taken away". If anyone tries to violate my rights in a way that I feel endangers me, I will fight back. They depend upon cooperation or force to have their way.
One of my very favorite quotes is from Robert A. Heinlein: "I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." That is how I always intend to live my life.
Only racists make an issue of race. It is completely irrelevent except as a description, just like eye color or what kind of clothes someone is wearing.
But, then, what do I know. I am just a radical libertarian/anarchist/former presidential candidate. LOL
I am a racist. I discriminate between people all day long, every day. It's harmless. It doesn't hurt anyone.
Enter politics. When discrimination enters politics, it's a whole different ballgame. It isn't harmless anymore. Because politics is based on power. And that power is based on violence.
So I say: discrimination is okay, it's politics which make it dangerous.
After reading over all these comments, I've come to one conclusion about this:-
Texans are proof that the earth was first populated by aliens from outer space.
Valkyrie,
Don't mind the eternal innominate critic. Remember, Ron Weasley's family have a ghoul in their attic, but really it's harmless, and with time you get used to the clatter.
You and I have pretty much opposite POLITICAL beliefs, but similar base principles. I for one am convinced you're sincere in everything you said. I'm looking forward to commenting more and trading LOTS of ideas with you once I'm over that sad-damn cold.
P.S.: Cool screen name you've chosen there. Classy classic with a touch of poetry. (Or, maybe you're just in the U.S. military choppers? ;-)
One thing you gotta give Barack Obama credit for, is that he's already been cause of much interesting discussion on this here blog.
Nice to see so many libertarian minded people here. Kent, just visited your blog. Great stuff!
Here's a recent photo of Obama. Maybe it gives us some idea of what to expect from his presidency.
Thanks ttl!
Kent: That was an excellent answer to my question. Gave me a lot to think about. I also agree with your statement about only racists make an issue of race.
Pascal: He's been the cause of much discussion everywhere, which I think is very important for everyone. The more everyone talks, the more we become informed. And in this world, information is power. The more power the people have the less power the leaders have, which is how it should be in my opinion.
I actually got my name from an old (1980s) Japanese Anime called "The Super Dimension Fortress Macross". I didn't actually watch till the early 90s, but I was young at the time and didn't realize all the other cool meanings for the name, which I have embraced now. Norse Mythology as well as the classic music by Wagner based on it. But that is a discussion for another time.
Across this country, in many states, affirmative action policies were outlawed, and civil rights were outlawed, at the same time and sometimes by the same people who voted for Barack Obama. People claim they're for civil rights, but what they mean is the rights that apply to them, not those that protect others. Second Amendment. Abortion. Religious speech. We've come a long way in this country, it's true. A man of African descent has gained the highest, ovalest office in the land. But it doesn't mean we have unity, or even that unity's possible. He's going to try, and if those that disagree with him don't bend, it won't happen. If new consensus is shot like a moose in the Alaskan wild, we won't have moose cakes for dinner. We'll have more politics. More political jockeying. And who doesn't expect that? But "yes we can" vote the jerkwads out again.
A whiter note, now. I've been saying for years: One term in office, two terms in jail. What if we reversed that, and gave two-strike jailbirds a crack at government? Maybe then government would look like America at last.
I hear the white birds flying to the suburbs now. Whoosh.
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