Saturday, May 10, 2008

A SABBATH DAY MESSAGE

The Democratic Convention isn’t happening until late August. That means that if Hillary and her minions can just shut up, the rest of us will have a lot of time to sit back and enjoy life post-civil war. We can call it the “Reconstruction Era,” and use the time to get to know each other again and reconstruct our old alliances. I’m looking forward to being just another Democrat, not one who is characterized by my race, age, or income level. But candidly, I’m looking forward even more to taking time away from Presidential politics. Call it taking time to enjoy a Sabbath day – or in this case, a Sabbath season. Call it taking time to enjoy some fresh air.

While the Party elders will be knee deep in reconstruction, I plan on returning to my own pursuits. My second novel is coming out shortly before the Convention. It is entitled “Moses the Heretic” and it deals primarily with religion generally and Judaism in particular. But it also relates a lot to politics, including issues of contemporary political significance. Perhaps, then, if I wish to enjoy some truly fresh air, I need to put my own writing aside and read the thoughts of someone else – a person who wrote in a distant time and place, where the political disputes had little to do with our own. I think I have found just the person. Lately, I’ve been ruminating about the ideas of Confucius. He may have been one of the first Empathic Rationalists in recorded history and in many ways reminds me of modern Reconstructionist Jews. Confucius, you see, combined an ethic based on compassion for one’s fellow human beings and the silent awe of the transcendent, with the appreciation for the value of traditional rituals. He was humanistic without being affirmatively “atheistic.” He was, from all indications, a mensch.

My interest in Confucius involves trying to tease out a coherent philosophy that ties together the various strands of his thought. But to most of us, Confucius is known primarily though a series of seemingly unrelated quotations. These quotations have come to be seen as the pinnacle of wisdom for literally thousands of years; their relevance never dims, let alone ceases.

Accordingly, I would like to share one of these quotations. It has special relevance for those Democrats who are supporting the losing candidate in any of the primary elections, Presidential, Senatorial, or Congressional. I am thinking in particular about the 20 to 30 percent of the Clinton voters in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana who claim that they would consider voting for McCain instead of Obama. You’ve probably heard this adage before, but it bears repeating, because time and time again, human beings refuse to heed this advice:

Confucius says, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”

7 comments:

YoungMan said...

Confucious Say.....

Accordingly, I would like to share one of these quotations. It has special relevance for those Democrats who are supporting the losing candidate in any of the primary elections, Presidential, Senatorial, or Congressional. I am thinking in particular about the 20 to 30 percent of the Clinton voters in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana who claim that they would consider voting for McCain instead of Obama. You’ve probably heard this adage before, but it bears repeating, because time and time again, human beings refuse to heed this advice:


Confucius says, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”

Dan, why would u or the Obama cult need two graves if as in your previous post you say "Please don't let youngman rain on our parade. He's got to vent now, because deep down, he's smart enough to know that the politician he really shouldn't want in the White House -- a progressive who is about to get things done! -- is poised to get elected."

If he were so poised.....there'd be no need for the second grave.

Two asides

1) Listened to the Lakers-Jazz on the radio up from LA last night...the new guy DEFINITELY is no Chick Hearn, possibly not even a Robin Flicker

2) Good Luck to Novick. If he wins the primary, you will be even more rantingly delusuional and entertaining btwn now and November than u have been in the last three months.

3) Fellow Obamacans. Dan lived with a WestVirginian 20+ Years ago. Isnt that grounds for cult termination? :) After a 40 point shellacking on Tuesday, it'll all be the fault of the unedeucated Goobers and Gomers who could be cured of their ways with more taxes for education adminisnistered by DOJ lifetime bureacrats who will the bring the change that they are to the ignorant who cant seek it for themselves.

Daniel Spiro said...

Youngman,

You forgot to mention that when I met said "West Virginian," she was a student at Wellesley College, after having attended the American School in London. I think that entitles her to membership in the "eggheads, elites, and black people" category (even though she wasn't black).

Seriously, Hillary really needs to stop with this pigeonholing. I know it doesn't make her racist, but it is unseemly nonetheless. We certainly have no clue what type of coalition either she or Barack can put together for the General Election, especially once they had an opportunity to choose a running mate.

Mary Lois said...

Don't miss this column. It gives a well rounded picture of the political scene of today as opposed to what people determined to keep fighting the last war believe it to be.

YoungMan said...

mary lois

i take frank rich as seriously as you take rush limbaugh.

Dan, the democratic running mate is either strickland or rendell. If that's the choice, maybe maybe Obama wins.

T

Daniel Spiro said...

I've been thinking about Strickland as a running mate. He did make a comment about Barack's appeal being "fluff" en route to supporting Hillary, but then again, I think he can deliver Ohio. And he wouldn't hurt in Pennsylvania either. Rendell would deliver Pennsylvania, but Barack is already ahead in Pennsylvania, and he is behind in Ohio (according to the polls in Real Clear Politics).

I had originally thought that Webb should be the guy, but now I'm re-thinking if it shouldn't be one of the guys from the "bitter" states.

And how can you compare Rich to Rush? Seriously, I realize our politics are different, but Rush truly is as loathsome as they come. I do, however, listen to him sometimes, as I try to listen to voices on all sides.

YoungMan said...

Dan

I buy the times every week for the crosswords,most of which I can complete, but slower than Billy from Hope.

You hate Rush more because u realize he's more effective than Frank Rich. David Brooks has gotten so disgustingly PC, if it werent for Billy Kristol (not Soapy Crystal).

If I lived in VA in 2006)other things being equal) I'd had have a hard time voting for Allen given his stupid comment which made the Senate 51-49. Webb would also be an excellent choice (one that would et my attention more than Strickland, Rendell, or Weasely Clark), but I'm not sure it swings his state or the others he needs.

Ok the other "worst case" scenario, McCain holds CO, NM, NV, OH, VA, FL, loses NH.

McCain 270 > Obama 268 :)(switch PA for OH (271>267), Bush-Gore redux) Doesnt get any worse than that since he leads in NM, NV< VA< NH, OH.

BTW are u a Nats season tcket holder?

Daniel Spiro said...

Nats season ticket holder? Alas, no. I think I'll save that for retirement. Hopefully they'll be good by then.