Feeling Blue, Seeing Red.

I always believed true intelligence was the ability to see both sides of a complex issue, the ability to understand the strengths of the other side’s arguments but still be able to justify your own position based on the irrefutable logic that formed the basis of your decision. Recent events have opened my eyes to certain undeniable truths about Republicans. I believe in the values of the Democratic Party with a passion that belies my lack of active involvement in the party but I am beginning to have an appreciation and maybe even some admiration for the tenacious ferocity of the republican opposition. Remember this was a party (the Republicans) that was in disarray just 12 months ago, after being handed their asses in an electoral beat down of near epic proportions. Republicans were reeling from the incredibly awful Bush presidency; also they oversaw eight years of wanton greed and unprecedented public spending. To cap things off, the democratic candidate was a once in a lifetime transformative figure whose message of change from the corruption and ineptitude of the previous administrations resonated everywhere. He was going to bring a new way of doing business to Washington. My initial belief was that the conservative movement might have been finished as a viable American institution, but somehow from the ashes of this unmitigated disaster rose a dogged and fantastically stubborn opposition with gravity defying instincts.

The first salvo and in many ways the spine of this opposition, was formed by one man, a controversial, somewhat racial conservative radio shock jock with a history of outspoken (depending on interpretation, and in my opinion) bigoted views. Rush Limbaugh was the first conservative to voice what they were all thinking when he said “ I hope he fails” back in January. It was hardly a unique sentiment and in the grand scheme of things was an inconsequential statement from a man with a history of making politically insensitive comments at the most inopportune times, but it had the unforeseen effect of giving voice and strength to a fledging opposition reeling from a series of bad defeats. Not long after that the Sean Hannity’s of the world stumbled onto the fact that within the smoldering ruins of the republican movement that was a strong and dogmatic core that was willing to go to far lengths to show their displeasure at the recent turn of events. Within months the conservatives had rallied around the tea parties, opposition to the bailouts, originally started under Bush if I must mention but I digress, the opposition rebranded itself from Republicans to Conservatives. Republicans you see were part of the problem. They were part of the causes of the previous mess and spent as recklessly as the conservatives are currently accusing the Democrats’ of spending. Conservatives on the other hand were all for fiscal responsibility, balanced budgets, lowering federal deficit spending and reducing the debt burden. Conveniently forgotten were the incredible liberties afforded large corporations and wealthy individuals during the reign of the recent past Republican congress. Somehow despite the fact that the play was still being acted on the same stage with the same cast of actors, we were supposed to focus on the fact that the scenery is different and act like we do not know the plot to this particular bit of chicanery.

Since then Republican opposition to every democratic imitative has only grown more dogged and entrenched. Obama was for Chicago winning the bid to host the 2016 Olympics, Republicans were for any city, anywhere but Chicago, proving their hate for Obama was stronger than their love for America. A line quickly formed; there was no shortage of Republicans willing to give the presidency the finger, for the love of the country of course. Democrats and in particular Obama could do no right, if he won the Nobel prize, he was undeserving, if he went on Diplomatic missions he disgraced the country by bowing to foreign leaders, proposed healthcare reform legislature quickly degenerated into debates about “death panels” and accusations of socialized medicine, whatever that hell that means. Either in spite of or because of all this, Republicans seem to have their swagger back, they have voted almost unanimously no to every bit of legislature proposed or passed this year. They have somehow regained their mojo and I most say that while I would never subscribe to their belief systems, I find their resilience in the face of what looked like certain decimation back in January, admirable.

New Beginning

At some point in the wee hours of December 31st, the space of time known as 2009 will crease to be. This year, as long as it has been; with all that transpired in it was but a speck in the desert of time. Earth was formed about 4.5 billion years ago and there has been some form of life on earth for a billion years. So even in the context of human existence the space of time measure by January 1st, 2009 to December 31st was nothing. Yes, 2009 brought might have brought sorrow, laughter, joy, love, abundance, starvation, disaster and misery to many. It was filled with all kinds of achievements for some people and will for ever be remembered by others for the crushing disappointments that they suffered. The truth is that while it is helpful and very useful, to partition space into bite sized segments that allow us to manage our small footprint in the sands of time, the demarcation is entirely artificial. Lots of people will make resolutions to be a better this, that or the other. They plan to stop doing this or that; and will make sure that in 2010, they achieve this. I say bravo! But why wait until 2010? The spirit that drives you to want to change for the better, to want to be a better parent, worker and friend why does it need a jump-off date. Why not start today? Nobody has been guaranteed a specific length of time, there is nothing in the wind that will make you anymore resolute on January 1st. than you are today. The important thing is that like a good storekeeper, you have taken stock of your inventory and found yourself short of something, you most make immediate arrangements to replenish or if you never had, to start carrying. The world’s history is populated with unrealized dreams, it is littered with ambitious programs crammed in odd fitting boxes, that ill-fitting box is time. Believe me, it is not for the dawn of the new year that you wait but for the steel in your spine to solidify. The chance to make amends is not infinite, the continuum of your possibilities’ last only so long as that opportunity still presents itself, the certainty of change makes it necessary that we take advantage of the here and now, it will not always be possible to measure your progress by the results of your efforts, if that is the case then all that is left to you is the sincerity of your intentions, how sincere could you have been if you waited just one more day when you could have done it yesterday? So whatever the desired change is, whatever the accomplishment, why not start, now? I am of the belief that the change we desire is much stronger than the change that happens to us, one happens without our consent and the other is the direct result of our strength and inner fortitude, our refusal to succumb to the dictates of circumstances. You are a winner, you have to go to bed believing that and wake up saying it, you have to learn to let your inner beast out, the incredible hulk that lurks within you does not believe in January 1st, it wanted to be unleashed like yesterday. Funny; you have probably heard this so many times it has lost meaning but a journey of a thousand miles truly does start with a single small step. One of the most beautiful pieces of art in existence is Michelangelo’s “The David” carved out of a single block of marble it is an incredible mark of human achievement. Let me; let someone else tell the story, “on august 16, 1501, Michelangelo was given the official contract to undertake this challenging new task. He began carving the statue early in the morning on Monday, September 13, a month after he was awarded the contract. He would work on the massive biblical hero for 3 years.” September 13th, just another day, and he kept at it for three years, with only primitive chisels and hammers to work with. You already have your own block of marble, why not get to work? Your masterpiece is waiting inside, all you have to do is raise that hammer, aren’t you excited? Why would you want to put this off for another day?

Edu Nnadi

Words and Phrases From 2009

1. Twit – A waste of 140 characters.

2. Stimulus Package – Used by married couples to entertain themselves after dinner.

3. Bail Out – You know the call. It’s me, Fred, I’m in jail……..

4. Socialized Medicine – Experienced by guests at “puff, puff, pass” parties.

5. Obamacare – Much better than Obama don’t care, I tell you that.

6. Unfriend – When you stop seeing your "friend's" status updates in Facebook, you have been....

7. Recession – Happens to most men’s hair line after 30.

8. Blue Dog – Security dog that prevents the owner from entering or leaving the house.

9. Health Insurance Reform – Much like the “Reformed Catholic Church” most of the difference between that and the old insurance law lies in the semantics.

10. Bing – Useful if you can’t spell Google.

11. Swine Flu – A good excuse for any occasion.

12. Deficit Spending – A good example would a any mortgage payment made on Nevada real estate.

13. Bonus – Shared by bankers in the dead of night at a candle light meeting.

14. Too Large To Fail – A non performing member while with a willing spouse.

15. Public Option – The only option after your vehicle has been repossessed.

16. Foreclosure – Much like foreplay, it is the beginning of more interesting things to come.

17. Tweeter – Not to be mistaken for a twitter, immediately informs you the idiot has no idea what they are talking about.

18. Cash For Clunkers – All monies spent on your ex.

19. Peace Prize – Bought on the way home from the bar.

20. Kim Jong il – Elder brother to Menta lly il (Hat tip to Letterman for that piece right there).

There, that’s all of it, did I miss any?