Tannishblog

I came late to the realm of American politics. Like most of my generation’s lost souls of middle class mediocrity, drugs and other gratuitous pursuits were more important. Such was the mind set of youth in the seventies and eighties: Sex, Drugs and Rock n’ Roll. All that changed for me in 1999 with my first look at George W. Bush’s infamous smirk. Immediate antipathy. The ascendancy of the humanitarian-impaired Bush Dynasty is a by-product of willful political ignorance of people like me. America still suffers that disease. A wide swath of the population turns it’s back on a broken political system in disgust, thereby ensuring continuity of our electoral dysfunction. It’s a self-perpetuating cycle.

One thing I’ve learned in my crash course in American spin-doctoring, is that one party rule is bad for America. In the Democratic post-mid-term euphoria, I’ve already heard rallying talk of getting a Democrat in the oval office, thereby completing the coin flip and having the other party rule all branches of government. I cannot suspend disbelief enough to think this would be any better than what we have just corrected. I’m convinced that the Democrats and an organization are just as corrupt as the Republicans, that when given the ropes our Progressives will as surely hang themselves as the Regressive party has done.

No. A functioning government is one that is forever at it’s own throat, eternally vying for gain in a volatile struggle of debate and (dare I say it) compromise. (As a side note, I believe that 2007 will be the year our congress will actually work again.) We need the bickering, the whining, and all other symptoms of a dynamic-yet-polar, barely civil consensus to disagree vociferously. That is how the American system works.

That is why I will seriously consider our emerging candidates carefully - even the Republicans.

No Friday Night Zen this week. Our daughter was performing in her high school’s jazz band last night. A long and enjoyable concert. She impressed me with what she’s learned the only a half year. Being a failed rock musician, I’m especially tickled at her new skills on the electric bass. (note to self: sort that thought under "Living Vicariously.")

They practice a lot, asking much out of the kids. Niles North Fine Arts Department has a reputation to uphold in the fine arts department, and they take their ambitions out on the students. The students rise to the occasion consistently and last night was no exception. While not quite a polished performance, it was impressive. Mostly the sound tech crew needs work. I’m confident all will be resolved for the next performance.

So my Zen lesson was to support the consequences of my actions in the form of supporting my offspring and the community I choose to live in. Also to ponder the amazing capacity of humanity to pursue non-violent expression and to build community. How refreshing!