A Tide in the Affairs of Men
Yesterday’s decisive win by Barack Obama garnered more attention worldwide than any other US election I can ever remember. It was front page news around the world, and celebrated far beyond US borders. The cynics in the crowd have dismissed his message of hope as mere empty words, but they underestimate how much people need to be inspired. Someone told me today that a hardened cynic is simply one who recognizes reality. But a better definition would be someone who insists on “debunking” hope, inspiration, and the human spirit, and then wonders why nobody wants to be around him.
It’s right to be skeptical of empty promises from shallow, weak people, but Obama does not fit that category. He has shown good judgment in his campaign, as well as intelligence, common sense, and remarkable restraint in the face of constant character attacks. This restraint led Dr. Stanley Fish to liken Obama’s response to that of Jesus in Milton’s “Paradise Regained”, the calm centre in the storm that rages around him. A message of hope from a man of character goes a long way to inspiring others to be better versions of themselves. It is individuals full of hope, not policies, that change communities and countries for the better. It’s the only thing that ever has.
Americans recognized their opportunity yesterday, this tide in the affairs of men, and took it at the flood.
Amen!