Mindful Musings #28

The last few weeks have been horrendous in our country's history: angst among the parties, Congress' hostage taking, deaths of over 30 special forces in Afghanistan, stalled economy, and the stock market plunges have created a mallais to the body politick of the U.S.

I have tried to remember, in my own lifetime, what events have punched a gut-level blow to our citizens' well-being and the events that come to mind are the JFK assassination, the civil unrest and riots during the 70s, and last but not least, 9/11. I'm sure other events come to mind as well, but for shear sadness as a nation, the majority of people who lived in 1963, were completely devastated at the loss of our young president. Granted, it was a different time, but the memory remains in many of us who were around back then.

This debacle over the last few years of debt, the loss of jobs, and the crushing economic recession we are experiencing makes it possible for our president to govern from the center of the political spectrum. He not only has to deal with that but a basic hatred by many of himself, personally. Some are racists, while others doubt his legitimacy in spite of the fact that he was elected fair and square. People were yearning for a break and a renewal after the 8 years of the George W. administration and Obama became a savior for them. Yet, 2 1/2 years later he is being depicted as weak, impotent, and caving into demands from the other side. As a liberal, I am disappointed in his stance but I'm also a realist and have a deep respect for President Obama, not because I voted for him, but because he deserves his full four year term and another to enact programs he feels will help the country. The amount of second-guessing this president is unbelievable. He's been called every name imaginable and he continues to keep his cool and speaks mostly in positive terms. He is trying to maintain and lead the government in every way possible, under clearly negative resistance.

I wish, as I have stated in the past, that President Obama would become more liberal/progressive but maybe what he is doing is correct for a nation, such as ours, in such turmoil financially and socially. He is dealing with the Tea Party, which as petulant children, refuse to meet him half-way. His own party often disses him and the wall street bunch are not enthralled with our president.

There is no doubt we are in dire straits but there is also no doubt that this president is handling the country with fairness and strength. His idea of strength is not to muscle in and make demands but to listen to all sides and come up with a conclusion. For this thoughtful introspectiveness he is criticized as being too slow, or leading from the rear. His style is not shoot, then ask questions as was the Bush administration. I have no doubt that we would not be in Iraq, today had Obama been president. There is also no doubt that President Obama has made mistakes in his governing but all presidents do. I'll give him a pass on some events and lack of completion of what he promised during his campaign. I believe if given another term in office, Obama will be able to expand his programs and bring the country on a level footing. It is time for the voters to elect more cooperative candidates unlike the Tea Party types who are only positive in their philosophy of saying "NO".