This will be a short, unlinky, and straightforward diary. It's really more of a question for those who don't support Obama, and also for those that do: Can you stand it? And by that I don't mean can you stand your candidate not being ahead or can you stand the joy that his supporters are feeling right now. Those things are ephemeral and nonessential to the future we want to create. What I think is essential is whether we can stand being unified.
I just finished watching C-Span's coverage of Obama's speech to a hockey-game sized crowd (his analogy, not mine) in Nashua, New Hampshire. Afterwards, C-Span reporters asked people in the crowd about their reactions and also spoke to viewers who called in. One after another, I heard people identify themselves as independents and Republicans. One after another, I heard them say they were uncertain before but now they will be supporting and voting for Barack. Why? Because what they are hearing is about unity and they are sick to their very souls of living in a divided nation.
They are tired of business as usual in Washington, and they are tired of politicians demonizing the "other side" and one another in order to win. They are beginning to realize that when that happens, nothing gets accomplished in Washington for the people--that we need each other, and that we need to be united in order to tackle the enormous challenges we have in regard to health care, education, economic inequality, and Iraq. They are beginning to realize that when there are two sides that are engaged in a "cataclysmic fight to the death" over who will win power and control, only the politicians win. The people always lose. And the people lose because they are divided and see each other as adversaries instead of as fellow citizens. They lose because, as long as they see each other as adversaries, they will put obstacles in each other's way instead of working together. They will put obstacles in each other's way thinking that's the right thing to do because the "others" can't be trusted. And when they spend their time focusing on how to beat the "others," their energies get diverted from working together to make a better future for all.
So, my question, which I pose as a challenge to myself as well as to you, is this: Can we accept the Republicans who want to join us? Can we stop call ing them Rethugs and Repugs, and worse? Can we move from focusing on beating them to welcoming them as part of a larger whole? Can we stop demonizing them? Can we stand the fact that Obama is capable of inspiring all of us to work together for the future we want, not just the Democrats? After focusing for so very long on our disgust, disillusionment, and anger at Republican arrogance, manipulation, and downright criminal behavior, can we accept that they now want to join us for the sake of the common good?
It's not winning the presidency that will be our challenge this time around. It's giving up the notion that some of our fellow citizens are our enemies.