Childish Things

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/22-2

Childish Things

by Robert C. Koehler


snip//

And so, ". . . the time has come to set aside childish things." Perhaps these words represent more than some requisite raid of the scriptural quote vault. Perhaps they even go beyond the obvious and well-deserved chastisement of the anti-science, comic-book-deep ("Axis of Evil") presidency of George Bush.

The quote comes from 1 Corinthians 13:11. Two verses later, the passage continues: "But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love" (American Standard Version).

Is it possible Obama meant the connection - meant that Superpower America has to become a more mature global presence by making love, rather than merely threat, bluster and short-term financial and strategic interests, part of the equation of geopolitics?

Simply asking such a question will horrify many people, I'm sure, because "love" in popular, sentimental usage is kind of like weakness. To speak of love is not to speak in what we think of as the language of power, the language of government - the language of "realism."

But perhaps the failures of the Bush presidency have prepared the way for the nation to understand the failures of realism as currently constituted, as manifested these last eight years by the neocon cabal that called the shots; and to be open to something new.

"And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more."

Like I say, what if he means this?

I share the skepticism of many progressives, who see, for instance, in Obama's Clinton-era cabinet appointments and his statements about "winning" in Afghanistan, the actions of a political centrist beholden to the powers that be, who will do little to disturb the military-corporate status quo. Under such a leader, the "Bush legacy" could simply go back to the shadows, where it used to operate, outside public scrutiny.

The moral of such skepticism is that we as citizens must stay as active and involved in positive change and the creation of a culture of peace as we were during the presidential campaign. I agree, of course, but I also believe there is now a man in the White House - that house that slaves built - who knows the time has come to set aside childish things, like fear, revenge, racism and war.

[HillWilliam]

1. It is always far simpler and far easier

to lead from the front with love rather than to beat from behind with fear and threats. The fundies and the authoritarians don't get it. The abused always, always rebel and throw off the yoke of oppression.

[bemildred]

2. My impression is that Mr Obama is very careful about what he says.

The inability of the Mighty Wurlitzer to get any traction in finding ways to whittle him down is no accident. The speech was very allusive throughout. I would think that he expected at least his religious audience to know.