Bitchin'

by pissed off patricia

Did we have fun last night or what?  Even with the speeches scrubbed of too much vitriol, the message was there.  We Americans who have been watching have not liked what we've seen over the last four years.  President Carter doesn't like what he's seen happen to the country he led.  President Clinton so eloquently described in detail how and where the wheels came off the country he led.  They didn't fuss and fume. They told us what went wrong, how and why.  They made the points that we wanted them to make, and it was done professionally with educated and managed language.

Al Gore used humor and experience to let us know that he remembers what happened in 2000.  He hasn't forgotten, you haven't forgotten and why should we forget?  If we don't remember and learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.  That's sage wisdom that endures.  Only a lazy fool says let's forget about our errors.  That's not what American's have done in the past.  We bank our mistakes and learn from the interest. 

It must be so difficult for the speakers this week to leave their anger behind the curtain.  Anger is the result of hurt, and we're all hurting.  We become frustrated when we hear someone boast that bush makes a decision and sticks by it.   The insanity of that remark is so obvious.  Anyone who does not reevaluate his or her decisions from time to time allows no possibility for improvement.  Anyone who does not accept the possibility that his or her plans may have to be changed as situations change doesn't show determination. They show stubbornness.  Stubbornness is not an altogether admirable trait.  It's one thing to be strong in times of adversity but it's quiet another to be stubborn to the detriment of the cause.  A strong leader is not afraid to change courses.  As regular Americans, we often change courses as our lives progress.  Events require readjustment and change.  A wise man will recognize his mistakes and adjust accordingly.  Only a fool will continue down a path toward destruction to avoid the perception of weakness, when it is so obvious that a change of direction is needed. 

There's a general belief that you don't change presidents during a time of war.  Another way of stating it is that don't change horses mid stream.  I would argue that if the horse you are riding cannot swim but refuses to return to shore while the other horse recognizes the depth of the stream and begins looking for an alternate crossing, the second horse would be the horse of choice for most intelligent riders.  Sure, during the change you may become drenched, but at least you won't drown.  You realized the situation changed and you've made an unscheduled change of plans in order to survive.  If you had stubbornly stayed on the first horse, you might only be remembered as determined by the inscription on your headstone.

While we enjoyed the speeches last night, I think each of us hoped with all our hearts that other Americans would hear the messages, feel the hope, and realize that changing horses mid stream is not a foolish notion. It's a requirement for the rebirth of peace and the future of American democracy.