I just finished watching the first two episodes of HBO's John Adams and it was an interesting documentary to view on the same day as Barack Obama's magnificent speech reminding us what the Founding Fathers left unfinished when they declared independence from Great Britain, and thus began the United States of America, in 1776.
It also saddens me to see how far from civility our politics has veered since that time.
Of course there were disagreements, some almost impossible to reconcile, but through it all the representatives of the colonies remained civil, all of them searching for the best possible course of action to save their land, their families, and their liberties from a despotic king. They all had enormous courage, knowing they could be hanged for their bold actions, but they went ahead anyway, believing there could be no other way.
At one point in the documentary, after a contentious vote, one of the representatives said the expected and politically correct "God save the king." At which, Thomas Jefferson, normally quiet during the proceedings, said "God damn the king."
I thought, of course, of Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's long time pastor whose "God damn America" has reverberated across the airways these past few days, threatening to sink Obama's candidacy for the presidency.
At a time when it was treason to damn the king, Jefferson's frustration with the behavior of the crown led him to utter these words that could have sent him to the gallows. Yet today, when we think of Jefferson we do not hear these words. We hear only the words of the Declaration of Independence, which he penned shortly afterwards.
I'm sure Jeremiah Wright has said many inspiring words, as Barack Obama reminded us today. Yet his entire ministry has been reduced to a few frustration induced angry and passionate sound bites, shown endlessly on television by the corporate media as they seek to destroy the candidacy of the first viable African American presidential candidate.
How disgusting political campaigns have become in this once great country! How utterly contemptible it has been on the part of the media, which seeks ratings in the tarnishing of this young orator and lawmaker, and the crazed right wing big mouths of this country, who care nothing for the country and its people, but think only of themselves, their power, and the ascendancy of their failed and empty ideology.
Barack Obama gave a brilliant speech today, one that will be read by students of history for hundreds of years. Whether or not he wins the nomination, whether or not he survives the Clinton attempt to wrest it from him by political innuendo and intrigue, whether or not the people choose another empty headed Republican president who cannot match the intellect and spirit of this man, Barack Obama has shown us the best of America. He has shown us we can be better, stronger, kinder, more hopeful, and more united. He said things today no one has said before, and no one could say better, and he has lifted us up even as his enemies try desperately to bring him down.
The petty radio personalities, the envious Clinton strategists and supporters, and the desperate right wing nuts will continue to mock and denigrate him, but it is too late. Whether or not he becomes president, he has called us to be a better people, a better nation.
It will our great loss if we do not choose him as our leader.
