Winter Thoughts

The winter solstice offers the perfect metaphor for hope and renewal. As the longest and darkest night concludes, it is immediately followed by the return of the light. What seemed to be the depths of despair gradually yields to the advent of  renewed hope. So, too, when perhaps we gaze upon a darkened horizon, we also can be lifted by the promise of a sky soon to be alighted with infinite possibilities.

Obama's Lost Opportunity

As the Electoral College is set to decide whether to ratify the results of November's presidential election, let's take a moment to reflect upon the outgoing administration and the Obama legacy.

The principle accomplishments of the Obama's presidency are certain to revolve around his role in the recovery of an economy which was teetering on the brink of total collapse, the subsequent reduction in the unemployment rate, and the enactment of the Affordable Care Act which provided health insurance to millions of previously uninsured Americans thereby reducing the overall net cost of healthcare. While these fetes are laudable and noteworthy, a closer look at the totality of these past eight years reveals more disappointment and lost opportunity than accomplishment as the chief characteristic of this political era.

In the wake of the Bush/Chaney years, it was the hope (indeed, the promise) of the new administration to address some of the misdeeds, questionable decisions, and excesses of its predecessor. First on the list of remedial actions was the closing of the detention center in Guantanamo Bay which had held prisoners, without charge, for years many of whom were originally apprehended for bounty in their native countries with no connection to terrorism whatsoever. Instead of processing these cases through either civilian or even military judicial procedures, Obama allowed this facility to continue to function thereby, in effect, ratifying the illegal incarceration of individuals without the due process of law.

Another blight on the national record during the Bush/Chaney regime was the authorization of torture (euphemistically referred to as 'enhanced interrogation'), first brought to light through the revelation of its practice at Abu Ghraib Prison in Afghanistan and later shown to be widespread throughout the world at various 'black sites' (including Guantanamo Bay) in countries where human rights

restrictions were, at best, relaxed. The sanctioning of this unprecedented use of torture under theauspices of American authority was directly attributable to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and perhaps even higher within the administration. An essential element in rectifying a past wrong or, in this case, a violation of international law is to duly prosecute all of the perpetrators, especially those directing the transgression from a position of high office. Obama had the opportunity to do this but chose to 'look ahead and not behind' when confronted with the decision.

Obama's next opportunity at rectification of past ill-conceived policy was with respect to the so-called 'war on terror' originally launched in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and fueled by various hasty measures including but not restricted to the illegal invasion of Iraq (in violation of the UN Security Council Charter) as well as the enactment of the Patriot Act which expanded the government's ability to collect information on otherwise innocent American citizens. Instead of ending this seemingly endless war effort, Obama altered its character by focusing on the use of weaponized drones as well as the covert action of elite special operations personnel in lieu of increased ground forces in a now enlarged war campaign. This new program also yielded the use of extra-judicial assassination as a matter of official US foreign policy, clearly on display in the drone-induced murder of American citizen Anwar al Awlaki and, later, his sixteen year old son Abdulrahman as well as the much celebrated assassination of Osama Bin Laden. This policy became so commonplace that Obama's 'kill list' and his Tuesday morning review of same was a matter of everyday conversation as an element of the status quo. Obama's expansion of the Bush/Chaney policy regarding the suppression of dissent was evidenced by the invocation of the Espionage Act at an unprecedented rate in the effort to quiet the voices of whistleblowers and journalists alike as they sought to expose governmental and military excess, overreach, and wrongdoing. The cases of Julian Assange, Bradley Manning, John Kiriakou, Edward Snowden, and Thomas Drake are testimony to early and current efforts at silencing dissent first initiated by Bush/Chaney and faithfully continued (if not expanded) under Obama.

In all of the above cited examples, the Obama administration had the opportunity to right a previous wrong, correct an errant policy decision, and thereby change the course of direction in favor an arc
toward reconciliation and justice and, instead, chose either to stay the course outlined by the previous regime or, in fact, up the ante in terms of the proliferation of the original mistake.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the Obama years, however, was the lost opportunity to open a serious and potentially healing dialogue on the subject of race in America. The mere mention of race in certain quarters elicits cries of 'asserting the race card' as a way to inhibit and bring to an end any further exploration into this vital issue. I will, once again, remind my brethren that the race card has been in play in America from the original exploitation and eventual genocide of its native population, through the ugly and brutal institution of slavery, the subsequent era of Jim Crow exclusion and savagery, and into the modern day denial of equal access to quality education, entry into vital institutions, and the fair administration of justice. Unlike the aforementioned examples of lost opportunity, the failure to advance a meaningful national dialogue on race cannot be properly laid on Obama's doorstep. One need only look back on the Tavon Martin murder as evidence of both the promise of dialogue and the subsequent denial and avoidance of the matter altogether. When news of Tavon's killing became known throughout the country, President Obama made a national, prime time appeal to the American people by courageously opening his heart and sharing his experience as a black man growing up in a country often hostile to his presence based solely on the color of his skin. He famously declared that 'Tavon could have been me'. With this one statement, Obama was issuing an invitation to the inhabitants of this great country to open their eyes and their hearts to an experience known only too well by him and to empathically share it through his eyes in order to better understand the daily reality of the millions of kids, just like Tavon Martin, who must tread cautiously through a fearful landscape not of their own making. I was struck by the sincerity of Obama's implicit appeal, through the revelation of his perception as a black individual, to open a truly heartfelt and meaningful conversation on race and the real experience of being a person of color in modern day America. Instead of an embrace of this potentially pivotal moment, his announcement was met variously with suspicion, derision, anger, placation, denial, and indifference. An opportunity of groundbreaking dialogue and real communication on a national level was lost in the moment of so much promise resulting in a heartbreaking occasion. In its place, we resorted to our default position of denial, obfuscation, and resistance to the difficult task of healing a centuries old national wound. The presence of Barack Obama as our leader gave a never before seen chance to engage in a process of repair and renewal; a chance not likely to be revisited in the next four years. The conversation will, however, continue in the classrooms, clubs, multicultural organizations, churches, and in all the places where Obama's original promise will be kept, nurtured, and transformed in the hope-filled days to come.

The Election of Trump, Protest, and the Way Forward

It has been suggested, rather sarcastically, that we treat President-Elect Trump with the same degree of respect and cooperation that has been shown President Obama during the past four years. My initial emotional reaction to this is to agree wholeheartedly while almost immediately asking myself what are the residual consequences of responding in kind apart from the very transitory satisfaction of revenge. Perhaps a better response would be the continual positing of an alternative model of behavior by which we all might benefit.
As we enter what will surely be, in some respects, a very dark time in our history, a guiding light may be shown as we exhibit and embody the values and mode of being that we envision for the future. In response to the negative reaction in the wake the popular uprising throughout the nation by the peaceful protests of millions of outraged American citizens, I would suggest that this is a clear manifestation of the value of free expression in a democratic context. Indeed it is the duty of responsible citizenship to respectfully stand in opposition to policies and decisions antithetical to core values and the best interests of the global population. These spontaneous expressions are sending the unmistakable message that the election of Trump, a vile, contemptible, potentially dangerous, and radically extreme individual, is profoundly unacceptable. In addition to clearly stating opposition, we must not, at the same time, actively subvert the new administration in the manner that Mitch McConnell and the Republican flock attempted to do during the Obama years by relentlessly working to undermine his success but rather actively assert alternative answers to the questions of the day and to do so with an intention which is at once inclusive, respectful, incisive, and mindful of the future well being of our country and the world of which America is merely a part.

Reflections On The Yuletide Season

Recently, an old friend expressed to me her displeasure with the use of the term 'Happy Holidays' instead of the more familiar  'Merry Christmas' invocation. The following is my heartfelt response to her concern and to all those who are plagued with what they might consider to be the imposition of an inordinate amount of 'political correctness' during this festive season.
In the wonderful multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious country of the United States of America it will be 'Merry Christmas' for some and 'Happy Holidays' for others. Let's start embracing the concept of 'both/and' and stop thinking in terms of 'either/or'. The values of respect for diversity, genuine inclusiveness, and acceptance of our naturally evolving human landscape gives us all the opportunity to joyfully embrace the entire American family. The December holiday season is celebrated in a variety of ways, especially as we, as a nation, are becoming more diverse. Another aspect to consider is the value of opening our collective, Christian hearts to recognize and appreciate the richness of our different attitudes, customs, and ways in which we all honor the Divine. To do so is not an expression of political correctness but rather an expression of compassion, love, and our common humanity. I honor my Christian roots by joyfully celebrating the birth of one of the greatest prophets the world has ever seen and happily declare 'Merry Christmas'. While I don't especially like the idea of X-ing out 'Christ' with the rather insipid pronouncement of 'Merry/Happy Xmas', I also appreciate and recognize the wide range of spiritual traditions better expressed by a simple wish of 'happy holidays'. One does not preclude the validity or existence of the other. Again, it's a 'both/and' proposition. I have a strong feeling that JC would want it that way!

The Fate of the Democratic Party

The battle lines for the mind and soul of the Democratic Party going forward just got a lot clearer today. Rep. Keith Ellison just announced his candidacy for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee. Together with Howard Dean, these two candidates present unambiguous choices in terms of the future direction of the party. Dean, a staunch supporter of HRC and a former chairperson of the DNC has been a consistent voice for the mainstream, centrist policies which have characterized the Democratic Party for the past four decades. Ellison, a Sanders supporter and the first Muslim in congress, has been a vocal and eloquent spokesman for progressive ideas and policies for the past 10 years and was recently named by Sanders to consult with the DNC in order to help shape the Democratic platform in this year's election by providing alternatives to the party's past penchant for maintaining the status quo.
The choice could not have been made more clear: more of the same as represented by Dean or the beginnings of a new move forward as will be championed by Ellison. The millions of supporters of the real change promised by the Sanders' candidacy were largely disenfranchised by the DNC's stubborn insistence on clinging to a 'safe' course by nominating HRC. It now has been presented with the opportunity to correct this massive error of judgement and embrace a new wave of progressive activism and, in so doing, reshape the Democratic Party into an institution which more accurately reflects the will of an emerging, positive, forward thinking, and hopeful electorate.

A Final Statement and Plea Before a Election Day 2017

The fact that this election is a close contest is at once a sad testimony to the Democratic establishment's decision to steadfastly hold onto the status quo by nominating the only candidate sufficiently unpopular (if not downright hated) to actually lose to a person as vile and loathsome as Donald Trump while simultaneously an indictment of a political system in desperately dire need of a paradigm shifting change of direction. It is my fervent hope that we will survive this state of turmoil, division, and collective confusion only to reemerge at a time in the not too distant future to reclaim, reassert, and rediscover our shared and common humanity.

Game 7, Joe Maddon and the Reinvention of Baseball

Let us all celebrate the great game of baseball as represented last night in the concluding game of the 2016 World Series. It was truly a game for the ages with so many of the outstanding aspects baseball on full display. But as we do so, let us not mistake the Cubs victory for a vindication of its 'genius' manager. Be clear that this historic victory was accomplished in spite of Joe Maddon; not because of him. The overuse of Chapman throughout the Series became evident in this final game as the closer was thoroughly extended to his physical limits while showing heroic courage to get through the 9th inning thereby allowing his team to eventually prevail. Earlier in that same inning, his manager once again asserted himself unnecessarily when he called for a safety squeeze bunt by the power hitting Baez on a 3-2 count, 1 out, and a runner on third. Predictably, the slugger missed the attempt, struck out, and retreated to the dugout shaking his head as the scoring chance was squandered. I'm wondering if Baez had been called upon to bunt at all during the course of the year, let alone in this most crucial juncture of the biggest game in the recent history of the franchise.....a classic example of a manager overreaching to the detriment of his ball club. Baez was much more likely to put the ball in play with a hard ground ball or a sacrifice fly than with a one-time-only chance at a successful bunt. Maddon seems to fashion himself as a self-styled genius of a game that often requires only that the manager step aside and let the game flow unimpeded. In brief, Joe Maddon needs to learn that the great game of baseball does not need reinvention.