Has our country finally entered "the new age"?

It's hard to imagine that anyone could be thinking of anything besides the outcome of the election at this point in time. Historic, moving, enlightened, hopeful, gratifying ....... well, I could go on.



Out walking before sunrise this morning, enjoying a lightness in my steps which wasn't there yesterday (possibly something to do with my new pink Crocs covered in "diamonds" ...... but I think it's more than that), I felt the tired elation of staying up late to hear the hopefulness and wisdom of President-elect Obama's acceptance speech (recording it to listen again today). Of course we have a long way to go but now is the time to revel in this moment in history. Those of us who voted for Obama are the catalysts of this historic moment. I want to feel it, reflect on it, and promote it.

I couldn't help but reflect, also, on McCain's concession speech. Had he chosen to run a campaign with a graciousness similar to that of his acceptance speech, might he have won the election? Definitely a possibility. The fact that he chose to go low-level with fabrications, anger and the usual misleading accusations helped him lose. I'm not complaining. In fact what pleases me is to recognize that it's clearly not the direction most of us wanted to go any longer. We're onto the fear mongering to get votes .... the out of context 6 second soundbites to misconstrue ........ and the pubescent grimacing and rolling of eyes during debates. Level headedness has conquered the right wing's continuing attempts to spread panic in order to gain votes. Isn't it about time.

As for the red eyed Ms. Palin, her return to Wasilla cannot come fast enough, although I pity Alaska for their choice. The Republicans made a stab at appealing to their fringed far right and to women, and women saw through it. Palin and the Republican party's attempt to set women back decades has failed. The fact that they showed us their true agenda is enlightening and powerful.

Our country now needs to take steps to unify and to heal, and President Obama will be the one to lead us in that direction. It's a new chapter in our country's story. So many memories come to mind: Martin Luther King, John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy. A chapter of hope which began with the horror of slavery. A chapter of change which began with the fear and cynicism of the far right and is ending in the rich ambition of promise.



Here is my hope: that this is the end of apathy. I hope that our country as a whole will now embrace change, grasp the path to a higher road and now truly enter this new age of Aquarius which was promised to us.


Blessings and peace.

What happened to the notion that "change is in the air"?

"Bobby is seen through the eyes of twenty-two characters. The hope, excitement and notion that a change is in the air, which Kennedy ignited in us all, black and white, rich and poor, young and old was extinguished that evening in June. From young men in their late teens to early twenties, facing the possibility of shipping off to Vietnam, to the retired doorman of the Ambassador, who has greeted the likes of every U.S. President from FDR to Johnson. From the hotel staff to the guests whom occupy the suites, to the "Youth of Kennedy Volunteers", all ages and genders are represented in screenplay."

- From the synopsis of "Bobby", 2006 movie

The movie "Bobby" is on HBO this afternoon and I'm taking a break from my hectic schedule of taking bubble baths and eating bon bons to watch. There's another line in the movie,"Now that Dr. King is gone, no one left but Bobby." The film features many news clips of Bobby Kennedy, including people who were thrilled to just "lay their hands on him."



This got me to thinking about today's political climate. What happened to the audacity of hope we were feeling which now seems to have turned to the repetition of despair? Repetition of the fear and despair felt four years ago and eight years ago. Four years ago we were thinking, "how could this happen again." Eight years ago we were aghast at what was happening directly in front of our eyes: the installation of a President of the United States who was not elected by the people, but by the Supreme Court.

Forty years ago (and I remember this, thank you very much), there WAS change in the air. There was hope in people's voices and energy in their spirits. Where is that now? Perhaps I'll see a tidbit tomorrow night when I go to Obama headquarters to offer my services. To date I haven't seen much of it. In fact lately, Democrats already seem to be ramping up for their next defeat. We're watching the polls and instead of feeling "change in the air" we're saying "how can people be so stupid", "how can the polls be so close", "how can the Republican lies be working again?"

Forty years after the assassination of Bobby Kennedy a black man is in the running for President and we have lost our hope? What has happened to the collective liberal soul? What has turned us to such wimps, so ready to believe the Republicans who tell us we are the establishment and THEY are the mavericks.

Have we become our own self-fulfilling prophecy? We so believe we're not going to take back this election and install the audacity of hope that our collaborative liberal conscience has already shot us down the rabbit hole?

It's a dead heat right now. Watching the political ads for Robert Kennedy, Jr. make me wonder why the Democrats are not putting out similar ads right now. They are talking about war, pollution and social change. Hello? Have I heard that somewhere lately?

Say it with me now: President Obama.