So I was talking about the two conventions the other day and I said that Hillary dressing all in white was meant to symbolize Good vs. the evil Trump. I was reminded of “Touched by an Angel.”
Trump had already been branding Hillary as evil, and his followers — and others — are convinced that it is so.
There are some of us who are beyond good and evil and see the illusion even in so-called good, but others -- knowing that -- also recognize that there is a difference between sattva and tamas. A spiritual seeker must be able to make that distinction.
At any rate, perhaps all elections are framed to be in some way about good vs. evil, but when they are explicitly so, it can be very dangerous for humanity.
I was a little surprised to see Mark Sumner, a good writer whom I admire for his incisive observations of political columnists, came out and unequivocally declared that Trump is evil. It is generally not popular on the left to label things “evil.”
To the liberal, usually agnostic, that smacks of some mythological or symbolic possession And Manichaeism has always been seen as a distinct feature of conservatism or Republican party-ism.
But atheist or agnostic or wherever you are on the religious spectrum, you can find other words for “evil” that are more scientific sounding, words like narcissist and psychopath which are being batted about with increasing frequency, as are the comparisons to Hitler and Mussolini.
I have never seen two more polarized figures on the political stage anywhere. They surely embody two very different, extremely polarized Americas.
But observing from a [safe] distance, I look at the picture of the world each wants to create and I too cannot help but think that it was right for Hillary to dress in white. Whatever evil lurks in liberalism, it is of no comparison to that which roars in fascism.
There are many who said after watching the whole extremely professional, well orchestrated, sophisticated presentation of the DNC and its lineup of superstar speakers, that they were seeing Hillary in an all-new light -- as genuinely good, as a good mother and grandmother, a caring woman, a person who worked indefatigably, persistently for the welfare of others, who cared about the children of others. The embodiment of femininity as not just good, but as the very essence of good — motherly love.
Women all over America, and men too, cried. The late-night comedians could only make feeble jokes. History was made: A woman had been nominated the presidential candidate. It was truly — from the Hindu point of view — a “Devi” moment outdoing even Indira Gandhi, who wore saffron saris in Hindu towns.
Whether it was only effective propaganda or the revelation of an actual truth -- no doubt it is somewhere in-between -- a clear choice was delineated in everyone’s mind: Good vs. Evil. And remember: tamas means to see good AS evil.
But more than that, the Good was identified with the FEMININE, and evil with Trump, the incarnate bully, the living caricature of the insipid and frustrated man-child ego,
It is time for Devi to have an incarnation. It is time for the men-children to grow up.