Although Hillary talked of Greek tragedies and catharis at the Democratic National Convention, what happened here in Phoenix last night reminded me of another Greek concept as applied to McCain. Hubris:
Hubris, sometimes spelled hybris (ancient Greek ὕβρις), is a term used in modern English to indicate overweening pride, self-confidence, superciliousness, or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution. In ancient Greece, hubris referred to actions which, intentionally or not, shamed and humiliated the victim, and frequently the perpetrator as well. It was most evident in the public and private actions of the powerful and rich. The word was also used to describe actions of those who challenged the gods or their laws, especially in Greek tragedy, resulting in the protagonist's downfall.
Just after Obama finished delivering his acceptance speech in Denver, we saw a storm of epic proportions in Phoenix. I hoped McCain had battened down the hatches of his many houses as he rode it out last night.
Ironically, the religious right wingers were praying for rain to interfere with Obama's acceptance speech:
Focus on the Family Action pulled a video from its Web site today that asked people to pray for "rain of biblical proportions" during Barack Obama's Aug. 28 appearance at Invesco Field at Mile High to accept the Democratic nomination for president.
As we all know, the weather in Denver turned out to be more beautiful than anticipated. The Gods smiled on Obama.
For the religious right, what they got instead was a storm of "biblical proportions" in Phoenix last night:
Powerful thunderstorms ripped through the Valley Thursday night, bringing heavy rain and winds reaching 100 mph that broke the windows of a condominium, shutdown two runways at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and downed hundreds of trees.
The storm dumped almost an inch in parts of Mesa, while almost 2 inches fell near Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.
Scattered debris forced the closure of Sky Harbor's north and central runways. By around 7:30 a.m., only the central runway was closed. Street sweepers were working to clear the runway, and the airport had reported no major delays for travelers Friday morning.
"It was the most frightened I've ever been in my life," resident Marilyn Barrows said.
It was uncanny. I had just finished watching the Obama speech and was listening to the post punditry when I looked out my window, and first saw an incredible lightning storm. Within minutes, we were under a deluge of rain, hail, flooding, and hurricane force winds. We lost power for over 12 hours. Two large trees crashed into my house, and there is still a dangling power line on my property. The rest of my neighborhood in central Phoenix (not far from the McCains) is like a disaster zone.
We just do not get storms like this in Phoenix--ever. We live in a desert climate, and are well into a decade long drought. This storm came out of nowhere. My neighbor who has lived here 30 years said it was the worst she had ever seen. The chimney on her house was blown apart and one of her trees in her yard was blown a block away. Everyone seems to be okay though. As the storm approached last night, I was able to leave a comment in one of the open threads before the power went out about how ironic it all was and that the Gods were not happy with McCain. I don't usually believe in this stuff, but it was an ominous sign--add that to the approaching hurricane Gustav and you have to wonder what the hell is going on here.
Just some food for thought.