What I believe

[cilla4progress]

America may be a lost cause

Obama is a truth-teller

[Scootaloo]

1. Depends on your view of America

If your image of America is the image from the mid-20th century, this world-striding colossus that wrestles down all comers and roars in barrel-chested masculine ape supremacy, whose economy is the biggest factor in everything in the world, and whose culture overpowers all shores it touches... then yes, those days are behind us.

Hell, we were only there in the first place because of how screwed over everyone else was at the time. Being the undisputed champion when your rivals are recovering from massive land wars, spiteful breakups with colonial powers, and a fascist dictatorship calling itself communist... it's not much of a championship title, I don't think.

if however you mean America as a pleasant, healthy place for people called Americans to live... Well, it's a little shaky, but definitely salvageable, if we're willing to take action to preserve and protect now, instead of waiting until stuff falls over and saying "oh, well, whoops"

[cilla4progress]

4. Thank you for your thoughtful post!

I am veering between despair / giving up, and hope. I hear a speech like Obama gave today and it gives me hope. I believe he is authentic. I love the way he teaches us, brings in history, and sticks to his principles. I do see the politics, and he has disappointed me in some positions, but I still see a man who shares my values, means what he says, and speaks truth to power.

You?

[Scootaloo]

5. I try not to overdo it.

He's hardly my dream candidate, but I'm like, "Yeah, he'll do for now."

What I hope is that after his second term, he works towwards sitting on the Supreme Court. His education and good sense will be better-used there than in the ocval office, if you ask me.

[cilla4progress]

8. Interesting perspective!

Thanks.

[freshwest]

6. +1

[cilla4progress]

2. and this is coming from a pagan:

I believe Obama is christlike. In the way I believe he is MLK-like and Gandhi-like and Mandela-like and Lincolnesque.

So take that!

[freshwest]

7. +1

An apocalypse is just a change, not an end of all life. The end of an era is not the end of the world. Even it is was, TEOTWAWKI can be a good thing. It will be the end of the world as we know it. What follows is just not known to us now, but can still be good. And I enjoyed this thread and your thinking processes here. See you around.

[cilla4progress]

9. High praise - thank you.

And I agree (about TEOTWAWKI...<cool!&gt . Sort of like the Mayan prophecy.

Speaking for myself: I need to remain open; the goal is non-violence; we are all connected.

Thanks!

[cilla4progress]

3. and also

Obama is a Zen master. He doesn't do well in negative frameworks. That is part of what kicked off the recent 3-week dystonia (?). He is more Zen / Buddhist in his approach: this is my way; there is their way. You may choose. Unattached from valuing either way. It is what it is.