A Matter of Life & Death
The lines at the arena formed hours before the event was to begin. A standing room crowd of 22,000 waited inside Houston’s Toyota Center, home of the NBA Rockets. Several thousand more milled around along barricaded streets outside.
A 62 year- old grandmother had stood in line since lunch with 3 of her of her grandchildren. It was now well into the dark of night. She spoke, “I voted for Bush last time…but I’m for Senator Obama now. He represents change. We owe that to the coming generations.” The candidate stepped on stage around 10 pm. to the delirious shouts of the multitude, “Houston, I think we’ve achieved liftoff.”
A group of people from my church is watching Bill Moyer’s timeless “Power of Myth” interview series with Joseph Campbell. Last night Campbell passionately observed, “I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.”
In his radio address this past weekend President Bush made these comments in regard to his unconstitutional Orwellian named “Protect America Act,” “Because Congress failed to act, it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack. At midnight, the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence will be stripped of their power to authorize new surveillance against terrorist threats abroad…and we may lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack on America.”
Here is a portion of Senator Obama’s Houston speech. “We haven’t had leaders who can inspire the American people to rally behind a common purpose and a higher purpose….
I want to end a politics based on fear that uses 9/11 as a way to scare up votes instead of a way to bring the country together against a common enemy….We are going to lead by example, by maintaining the highest standards of civil liberties and human rights, which is why I will close Guantanamo and restore habeas corpus and say no to torture… You can elect a president who has taught the Constitution, and believes in the Constitution, and will obey the Constitution of the United States of America….All these things are possible, if you are ready for change.”
Before I proceed, let me be clear that I am not currently a supporter of Obama. I was an Edwards guy who respected his clear, decisive, confrontation of the collusion between government and corporation. I have been a critic of Obama feeling that he is offering bromides in the place of steely resolve. I have clearly missed something that Clinton’s & McCain’s “experienced, ready to lead on day one” campaigns have also missed.
Joseph Campbell reminds me of that spine tingling summation Yahweh gave to the children of Israel in sealing his covenant with them. “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
That’s what Obama has tapped into on a spiritual, mythical, instinctive level. The Bush regime has zealously cultivated a dastardly culture of death. Right now, Obama is our hungering and thirsting for life in the flesh. The elation, the streaming tears, the devotion, the sacrifice of Obama adherents reflects a cosmic truth. It’s not about solutions, it’s not about policies, and it’s not even about political allegiances. It’s a matter Life and Death.
