Comments on: President-Elect [Your Last Name]

By: McKenzie

McKenzie — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:09:18 +0000

When I was at Portland State I taught a class called Participating in Democracy. We talked about the fact that democracy is both a noun and a verb, and that to achieve it requires effort on our parts. Extraordinary, really, the extent to which people expect that any one person could jump into the presidency and make significant changes in four short years. And that somehow we are then absolved of all responsibility other than to have voted for him/her, or not.
So thank you, Christine, for opening this up for us to talk about.
All the best to you.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:19:34 +0000

Bravo.
You are so right on with this. The whole idea of “us vs. them” has been the hardest thing of all for me during this election. Even from family members, like it’s some big game.
I’m trying to break the chain. Freedom!

By: Tess

Tess — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:25:17 +0000

Damn! Damn, damn damn! I found your site through Mind Sieve, one of my regulars. I really don’t have time to read another blogger, but Christine, you are good, good, good. Gonna have to add you to my Google Reader!
I thought this post was excellent. I’m from the UK, so clearly didn’t vote, but there was a feeling this was our election also.
I see you quote Seth Godin in a previous post. I’ve just finished his latest book, “Tribes” in which he exhorts all of us to get out there and lead. Absolutely right, and links in with your post title and what you say about the Tweeter.

By: chrissy

chrissy — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:23:20 +0000

Christine, Wonderful post, thank you. I had similar experiences. Just last night, I was at a convenience store and asked the cashier what he thought of the election. I was still oozing with joy, and want to share it with everyone I meet. He shrugged and said that “they are all the same”. The man behind me said, “you like Obama?” I said, “Yes.” He began ranting how he was the anti-Christ and his destiny was to end the world through nuclear war. I was a little scared but I listened and told him how I respected his opinion and I agreed that this is a scary time. I asked him to please pray for peace instead of talking about the end of the world. Interestingly, I had just come from an incredible meeting with 2 very successful artists who I had just met and agreed to help me with a book I have been working on for years. I felt like the election opened doors for artists, writers and I was going to step up and contribute. This meeting I had was a huge break. In a matter of an hour I had gone from an awesome brainstorm session with brilliant artists to a very intensely afraid man who’s world was rocked in a really bad way by the election.

By: ChickiePam

ChickiePam — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:58:49 +0000

Hi Christine,
As you know, I’ve been though a place a great personal challenge lately. When discussion was about the election (before the election) my comment was always that my attention had been elsewhere for some months and that I’m not a very politically active (or savvy) person anyway. I really did not know much about the issues and had no clear idea of who I would vote for when the time came to do so. But I felt like my place in the election was to hold space. So that is what I have been doing. I have held space for the highest good of our country. Did I vote? Yes. Won’t talk about it beyond that. I’m still holding space for what is perfect and right and good for our entire country. I know in my heart that the elections are a result of that knowing. And that’s all I need to know. As I heal and am able to have energy for things like politics, I will still most likely stay out of the debates and continue to hold space. SOMEBODY has to do it!

Pam

By: Sunrise Sister

Sunrise Sister — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:58:58 +0000

What a wonderful post and responses to it! I believe we are required to be the peacemakers in our own day to day lives. We have to listen to each other.
We cannot let political opinions keep us from loving our neighbors or from supporting inclusion of all races and religions in our lives. It would be easier to just lock ourselves away and ignore the “rest” of the world – but I don’t think “easy” is our “assignment.” Thanks for the post!

By: trista

trista — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:28:27 +0000

I’m still shocked by the magnitude of emotions post-election. This only highlights how much all of us want and need a change.

The worst thing we can do is expect one man to be responsibile for all of it.

Obama enforced the idea that this election and all ensuing change is about the people, that it starts with us. He is wonderful at inspiring and empowering individuals…. but we’ve forgotten and/or never knew what empowerment is, don’t have any frame of reference. We’ve been taught and got away with handing over responsibility to someone else (gov’t, corporate entities, etc). As we relearn about our own power, hopefully we will have a few that can show us what authentic empowerment for the good of all looks like.

By: Allison

Allison — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:37:40 +0000

I wish some of my so-called friends would read this blog. I am a conservative living in a liberal area and it is pretty much second nature for me to love and respect my friends who disagree wildly with me politically. How do I do it? By keeping my mouth shut. I made the mistake of telling a couple of friends that I’d voted for Bush in the last election (because, for me, national security trumped the environment) and after several months of getting the cold shoulder, I accepted that I’d lost two friends. I voted for McCain this time around and am expecting to lose a few more friends. It’s too bad because, when politics are not being discussed, I much prefer the company of liberal-minded people.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:28:41 +0000

I think the moment we stop being able to respect, listen to, and befriend people with different views is the moment we stop growing. If we were all the same this would be a damn boring place to exist.

By: Angela

Angela — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:12:24 +0000

I think this post on Obama links in so well with your last post where you made a point about waiting to be rescued. I think a lot of people want to be rescued by Obama – they want the change to happen without them having to go through the difficulties that are inherent in any change that leads to growth. That’s why I loved Obama’s acceptance speech the night of the election – he intentionally made the point about people’s own power putting him there – I can’t remember the exact words but it was in terms of people themselves being responsible for the change – owning their own power. I’m not american, I’m english and living in Canada but there’s something about Obama that really inspires me to be a better human being – as others have said, to be the change we want to see in the world. It’s only by everyone doing that, that change will happen – when we stop wanting to be rescued and do the work that grows each of us and the communities we live in.