It is heartening to see the enthusiasm exhibited by the overwhelming number of citizens that recently swamped local caucuses. A yearning for change is in the air. Eight years of emerging fascism has rotted the country, sapping our people of morale, vision, and courage. The coming election has created a sign of hope, given at a moment when hope is hard to find.
It is easy to give up on hope. One need not think too deeply, nor explore too widely, before one encounters solid reasons to despair. None of the major candidates are free of corporate sponsors. None of the candidates have lifted a vision of a major economic reshuffling on par with FDR’s New Deal. None of the candidates have spoken about reducing our military and its presence throughout the world. None of the candidates have pledged to rescind the odorous executive orders that allow the executive branch unitary powers. Like I said, it is easy to give up on hope.
But as this campaign moves towards its end, there are, I believe, two nuggets of wisdom that we need to remember in terms of what truly makes for change. The first is the simple reality that no one person can secure us or restore honor to our country. None of the candidates qualify as a savior. They are each fragile creatures beholden to the very system that they claim they want to change. Beware of leaders whom the elites fund.
The second nugget of wisdom is that true change is the result of “we the people” uniting through sacrifice and solidarity. There is a story of FDR meeting with a group of concerned citizens who were passionate in their desire for some specific legislation. FDR listened, affirmed, supported, and was basically on their side. But when asked if he would champion the fight, he declined. He sent them out of his presidential office with the instructions, “Now go, and make me sign this legislation.” In other words, you citizens, you need to stir up the energy that will create the political desire to sustain real change.
And so it is with us: no matter who it is that excites you in this campaign, the true power, and our only real hope for change, is in our capacity, as the people, to practice solidarity of purpose, alongside a willingness to sacrifice whatever it takes, until the vision comes to be. In other words, hope is in the air, and the caucus overflowed because there is, once again, a sense that we the people do indeed have power and purpose. There is a sense that the time is now to start with incremental steps towards a vision of a different America. One that is much more in line with the idealism of democracy. Remembering this moment, let us strive to make the vision become our reality. |
