Whew! It's finally over. President Obama has won a second term by popular acclaim. But it's been a terrible road getting to election day. I can't think of another situation that brings out such rancor in people who are normally of such good will.
I've had difficulty these 4 years of Obama's tenure trying to respect the man and office but not liking some of the policies that were coming out of the white house. I love his style, I love his wry approach, he is a disciplined man, his wife is strong and he has raised two lovely daughters. I sense, however, that his inexperience has gotten in his way big time. He didn't come to the office through business, political family or wealth. There's no training to be the leader of the free world. You get noticed, you are approached with an offer, you are groomed for a few years and you do what your party handlers tell you to do. They don't run a person for office unless he's able to do the job as they want it done.
- Nixon couldn't get elected if he had a nomination from God Himself, yet, he was. (Humm, maybe it was God Himself who nominated him?)
-John Kennedy didn't want the job, but his father was in too deep and forced his sons to comply. If Kennedy had continued to retirement we have no guarantee that he would have been a great president. It was only his death that catapulted him into political sainthood.
-Ronald Regan was an actor, not a politician. He was chosen and groomed for the job because of his acting and PR skills. And despite claims of sainthood by conservatives, he did a fair but not great job. He did what his party paid him to do.
-Poor George Bush was a failed businessman who was selected precisely because he knew nothing and would accept a shadow president to run things. (his brother Jeb was approached first and he turned them down).He was a christian, which the party needed for their conservative base. So a whole legend was written about his converstion at a Billy Graham crusade, witnessing to soldiers, praying over a sick bed. Then he got feisty and thought he could really do the job and a campaign to slap him down was started in the name of the dreaded liberals. His second term was bought for him and he was warned to behave, and he did. Good old folksy George.
-Barach was smooth, smart and the right ethnic configuration for the agenda and so was brought along for just this period in history.
It's no accident of fate that these men who had no experience were run for president. The powers that be want an obedient servant, not a thinker.
And here we are in 2012, electing a president. I can't begin to understand the viciousness that's been spewed out about Barach Obama. Accusations of being a muslim (why would he keep it a secret? It's no crime to be one, and why would he affiliate with the Baptist church way before thinking of public office?), of being an illegal alien, of redecorating the white house in muslim colors, wearing a ring inscribed with arabic prayers... and much much more.
Over and over, we've been told that 'true' Christians shouldn't vote for him because he sanctions abortion and gay marriage. I was told that by voting for him I was putting myself in serious jeopardy with God. And no amount of reasonable discussion made a dent in those people's minds. They want someone to hang their discontent on and the president seems like a good hook.
I have a theory. I think that when a person has emotional or mental issues, it's so painful that they'll look for somewhere else to hang their depression and anger. Can't do that to a person they know, but can do it to a celebrity or petty cause that won't face them every day. Its called 'transference'. Hating a president is an emotional tool to let off steam. It happened to George Bush. And I haven't got a single doubt that had Romney been chosen to win (predetermined?) there would have been something that these disgruntled, unbalanced people would fasten onto. Probably his faith. Or his wealth.
And something I've noticed is that when a person gets so over reactive to a political figure or a cause it's not just politics. This extreme need to control comes out in every other area of life - marriage, parenthood, friendships and work.
So it occurs to me that I have to get ahold of myself and not be too hard on those who hold these rabid reactions toward political and religious figures. There's more at work than politics. And as God has forgiven me my screeds and over reactions I need to be patient with others.
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