I’ve noticed since the inauguration of President Obama an uptick in the rhetoric and even lightly veiled threats to the president and our country. I am sure that many of you have heard the chatter from the likes of Sean Hannity, Alan Keys and Rush Limbaugh as they argue that President Obama must be stopped at any cost. Mr. Keys claims that we either stop him (President Obama) or this nation will cease to exist.

First, let me say that I do not wish to exists at any cost. If I must cast off all that I am, and myself become an abomination to myself and others, I would rather that I not have been born at all. And likewise for this country, if we yield to the vulgar nature of fear and loathing to continue our existence then have already forsaken all those things we claim to be, and we make a mockery of the creed “One Nation Under God”.

Secondly, it seems equally clear to me that “we” must push against the current of hate and rage, with all the vigor of our beings, that all that we have worked for may not perish from the face of the earth. Yes, this country is at great risk right now, but not anything president Obama has done, but rather from the lips of those who oppose freedom when the candidate of their choice is not elected. Where were these voices the last 8 years? With very few exceptions, those clamoring the loudest to that we are on the wrong track, are the very same ones who sold and embarrassed themselves for the conductors of this path. Where was their outrage then?

Thirdly, we must confess that we are a country of morally dishonest people when it comes to politics and the whole national scene. We take up truths that line up with our predetermined position or affiliation. Many know the truth but they are too afraid to say it. The truth is, that President George H Bush (the father) was a good president. He corrected the fiscal policies for President Reagan, that led to the last major recession. President Reagan was a great leader, but his polices were very flawed. President Clinton benefited from President Bush’s fiscal policy, but had the good sense to build upon them. And as the years pass and the media spin wears off, President Carter will look better and better. While not right on everything, he was right on so much, that we as a nation were just not ready to hear.

And today, this clutter of lies and extreme positions continue. The big news this week was about the New York Post cartoon. And while I personally found the bit in poor taste given that a woman died, it did not offend me otherwise. The stimulus package was written by House, amended by the Senate and finalized between the two chambers. President Obama had little to do with the lesser items (pork) in the bill, but rather campaigned for its quick passage for all the big things in it which we all (should) hope lessens the fallout of this crisis. Can you imagine the chaos over the next several months if many a state government simply ground to a halt? Those who argue against this bill know this the truth, and so do those that argue for it. And yet, here we are being pulled into this controversy about what someone put in the New York Post. Come on people, we’re taking about the New York Post, not the Washington Post. NAACP, don’t we have better things to do?

So, the question in my mind is just how do we change the conversation? How do we affect change, such that we speak and act upon real issues and not rhetoric and blind ideology born out of fear of those different from ourselves?

We write.

We write upon this gigantic blackboard called the Internet. We write to newspapers large and small. We write to the radio stations that broadcast programs that prey upon our fears and promote incivility. We write to our legislators and congress persons. We write article, opinion pieces and letters to national and local magazines. We write anywhere where we have the right to express ourselves and our shared belief of a better existence here in this life. We write the truth, no matter how painful it may be, whether it benefits us personally or not, and whether it offends or not. We must have faith in the truth, and that by its inherent power; we will be delivered from this current climate of bitterness and deceit.

Lastly, let us remember that nothing is impossible for those who have faith in what is good and just. Whether we see it in the flesh or not, does not matter if we live it in our own lives.

ADJ

Please visit www.towrestlewithdarkness.com to purchase the book To Wrestle With Darkness on sale now for $2.99 and to see other works by the author Alan Jones.