The following essay was taken from Deepak Chopra's website http://www.Chopra.com/wordsfromdeepak.
I think it sums up an essential process taking place, and as he states, one that is history repeating itself. Here is the essay:
Sometimes politics has the uncanny effect of mirroring the national psyche even when nobody intended to do that. This is perfectly illustrated by the rousing effect that Gov. Sarah Palin had on the Republican convention in Minneapolis this week. On the surface, she outdoes former Vice President Dan Quayle as an unlikely choice, given her negligent parochial expertise in the complex affairs of governing. Her state of Alaska has less than 700,000 residents, which reduces the job of governor to the scale of running one-tenth of New York City. By comparison, Rudy Giuliani is a towering international figure. Palin's pluck has been admired, and her forthrightness, but her real appeal goes deeper.
She is the reverse of Barack Obama, in essence his shadow, deriding his idealism and turning negativity into a cause for pride. In psychological terms the shadow is that part of the psyche that hides out of sight, countering our aspirations, virtue, and vision with qualities we are ashamed to face: anger, fear, revenge, violence, selfishness, and suspicion of "the other." For millions of Americans, Obama triggers those feelings, but they don't want to express them. He is calling for us to reach for our higher selves, and frankly, that stirs up hidden reactions of an unsavory kind. (Just to be perfectly clear, I am not making a verbal play out of the fact that Sen. Obama is black. The shadow is a metaphor widely in use before his arrival on the scene.) I recognize that psychological analysis of politics is usually not welcome by the public, but I believe such a perspective can be helpful here to understand Palin's message. In her acceptance speech Gov. Palin sent a rousing call to those who want to celebrate their resistance to change and a higher vision
Look at what she stands for:
* Small town values - a nostaligic return to simpler times disguises a denial of America's global role, a return to petty, small-minded parochialism.
* Ignorance of world affairs - a repudiation of the need to repair America's image abroad.
* Family values - a code for walling out anybody who makes a claim for social justice. Such strangers, being outside the family, don't need to be needed.
* Rigid stands on guns and abortion - a scornful repudiation that these issues can be negotiated with those who disagree.
* Patriotism - the usual fallback in a failed war.
* "Reform" - an italicized term, since in addition to cleaning out corruption and excessive spending, one also throws out anyone who doesn't fit your ideology.
Palin reinforces the overall message of the reactionary right, which has been in play since 1980, that social justice is liberal-radical, that minorities and immigrants, being different from "us" pure American types, can be ignored, that progressivism takes too much effort and globalism is a foreign threat. The radical right marches under the banners of "I'm all right, Jack," and "Why change? Everything's OK as it is."
The irony, of course, is that Gov. Palin is a woman and a reactionary at the same time. She can add mom to apple pie on her resume, while blithely reversing forty years of feminist progress. The irony is superficial; there are millions of women who stand on the side of conservatism, however obviously they are voting against their own good. The Republicans have won multiple national elections by raising shadow issues based on fear, rejection, hostility to change, and narrow-mindedness
Obama's call for higher ideals in politics can't be seen in a vacuum. The shadow is real; it was bound to respond. Not just conservatives possess a shadow - we all do.
So what comes next is a contest between the two forces of progress and inertia. Will the shadow win again, or has its furtive appeal become exhausted? No one can predict. The best thing about Gov. Palin is that she brought this conflict to light, which makes the upcoming debate honest. It would be a shame to elect another Reagan, whose smiling persona was a stalking horse for the reactionary forces that have brought us to the demoralized state we are in. We deserve to see what we are getting, without disguise.
Chopra, Sept. 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Palin as McCain’s VP nominee candidate?
By Y.G.
It is appalling and outrageous how Amy Holmes(a Republican and reporter contributor to CNN), virtually said, or actually praised, Sara Palin as one who exemplifies the great All-American PTA woman and mother. “She kills Caribou, skins them, and eats them for dinner”.
How can a pro-life individual kill other beings for no reason at all other than blood sport be viewed as a joiner much less one that can inspire the world to peace. This is ludicrous.
The fact is that here is a woman who kills for thrills, not for survival of her family.
What kind of judgment does John McCain show-by having video campaign footage of her shooting automatic rifles –this kind of candidate is supposed to change the view of countries around the world that America wants to bring all together and change the image of this country as war makers in the world today. Her behavior does not indicate anything other than that of gratuitous violence for violence and enjoyment. Ironically, at the same time Sara Palin is killing animals for fun, veterans, and those returning from combat have an unprecedentedly high suicide and PTSD rate because they are engaged in a misleading war requiring them to at times kill innocent people.
John McCain’s choice of her is insulting to both men and women in this country, who have fought hard to bring diversity and concern for their fellow Americans. Harmonious co-habitation is not what the Christian right reflects. This country is capable of regressing to its most primitive level (she believes in creationism, no sex education in schools-instead abstinence). This is incompetence-with the HIV and sexually transmitted diseases in this country, that she would think teenagers have the ability to control their impulses demonstrates that she is both out of touch with CDC statistics, and urban youth problems today.
If the diverse peoples of this country (all faiths, etc) believe that she exemplifies the best of women or men leaders, then we are in serious trouble.
Pro-lifers and the Christian right represent intolerance and monotheism-not diversity or tolerance and acceptance of ones neighbors.
Pro-choice on the other hand represents that you have choices, and acknowledges that you have the ability to choose the path you wish.
Regarding reform:
Reform should represent a baseline competency for any individual wanting to be a leader today. It is just due diligence. However, possessing such a quality does not in and of itself mean you are a good leader (much less VP) material.
The Republican Party is inflating her experience and abilities. Alaska is mostly homogenous population, and a small one at that.
She is not the most popular governor in the country. She was rated the highest vote of confidence level within her state. Small N compared to many other states. And she was not voted for by the populace of other states. So this is erroneous being stated.
Regarding the Commander in Chief qualification issue: Foreign policy experience is not enough. It is the judgment and decisions made regarding foreign policy-and we have seen J. McCain’s decisions-which support Bush. So, no good judgment there.
She also is skeptical about global warming- this is a no brainer-and represents the tip of her myopic iceberg mentality-that she is unaware of the devastating ramifications to the peoples of the world-including the U.S. Therefore to me she is dangerous as being so ignorant and dismissive regarding GW.
Finally, women in this country who voted for Hillary Clinton, did so because of her views, and values. Most of the women in this country would not have voted for her just because she is a woman. Those that did vote for her solely because of gender I imagine are a small minority.
Also, on Keeping them honest-Anderson Coopers Show- there was a segment where Obama’s reference to the 5mil income issue-Cooper said that actually John McCain meant it as a joke.
Joke or not, in these times for John McCain to say (even jokingly) such things) demonstrates that he is insensitive, and indifferent, and ridicules the plight of many today. So Obama was right and John McCain is not out of touch however, just plain unsympathetic and hypocritical.
It is appalling and outrageous how Amy Holmes(a Republican and reporter contributor to CNN), virtually said, or actually praised, Sara Palin as one who exemplifies the great All-American PTA woman and mother. “She kills Caribou, skins them, and eats them for dinner”.
How can a pro-life individual kill other beings for no reason at all other than blood sport be viewed as a joiner much less one that can inspire the world to peace. This is ludicrous.
The fact is that here is a woman who kills for thrills, not for survival of her family.
What kind of judgment does John McCain show-by having video campaign footage of her shooting automatic rifles –this kind of candidate is supposed to change the view of countries around the world that America wants to bring all together and change the image of this country as war makers in the world today. Her behavior does not indicate anything other than that of gratuitous violence for violence and enjoyment. Ironically, at the same time Sara Palin is killing animals for fun, veterans, and those returning from combat have an unprecedentedly high suicide and PTSD rate because they are engaged in a misleading war requiring them to at times kill innocent people.
John McCain’s choice of her is insulting to both men and women in this country, who have fought hard to bring diversity and concern for their fellow Americans. Harmonious co-habitation is not what the Christian right reflects. This country is capable of regressing to its most primitive level (she believes in creationism, no sex education in schools-instead abstinence). This is incompetence-with the HIV and sexually transmitted diseases in this country, that she would think teenagers have the ability to control their impulses demonstrates that she is both out of touch with CDC statistics, and urban youth problems today.
If the diverse peoples of this country (all faiths, etc) believe that she exemplifies the best of women or men leaders, then we are in serious trouble.
Pro-lifers and the Christian right represent intolerance and monotheism-not diversity or tolerance and acceptance of ones neighbors.
Pro-choice on the other hand represents that you have choices, and acknowledges that you have the ability to choose the path you wish.
Regarding reform:
Reform should represent a baseline competency for any individual wanting to be a leader today. It is just due diligence. However, possessing such a quality does not in and of itself mean you are a good leader (much less VP) material.
The Republican Party is inflating her experience and abilities. Alaska is mostly homogenous population, and a small one at that.
She is not the most popular governor in the country. She was rated the highest vote of confidence level within her state. Small N compared to many other states. And she was not voted for by the populace of other states. So this is erroneous being stated.
Regarding the Commander in Chief qualification issue: Foreign policy experience is not enough. It is the judgment and decisions made regarding foreign policy-and we have seen J. McCain’s decisions-which support Bush. So, no good judgment there.
She also is skeptical about global warming- this is a no brainer-and represents the tip of her myopic iceberg mentality-that she is unaware of the devastating ramifications to the peoples of the world-including the U.S. Therefore to me she is dangerous as being so ignorant and dismissive regarding GW.
Finally, women in this country who voted for Hillary Clinton, did so because of her views, and values. Most of the women in this country would not have voted for her just because she is a woman. Those that did vote for her solely because of gender I imagine are a small minority.
Also, on Keeping them honest-Anderson Coopers Show- there was a segment where Obama’s reference to the 5mil income issue-Cooper said that actually John McCain meant it as a joke.
Joke or not, in these times for John McCain to say (even jokingly) such things) demonstrates that he is insensitive, and indifferent, and ridicules the plight of many today. So Obama was right and John McCain is not out of touch however, just plain unsympathetic and hypocritical.
Welcome
This blog is for those who want to send a message to others in the hopes that we can make a difference. This began as a discourse between friends and a desire to voice our thoughts about the presidential candidates and election. In case there is any doubt, let me be clear, I am a Barack Obama supporter. But that doesn’t impair my judgment in what I see as true hope for our country and others in this ever-shrinking world. I invite you to read the thoughts contained within and share your ideas.
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