America won an election last night, not one party, not one people and certainly not just one man. We have demonstrated to the entire world that the most basic principles, which have guided our democracy from the dawn of the modern era through our darkest nights of racist fears and political fanaticism, still shine bright in our hearts and minds. They still guide this nation toward a better horizon and yes hope not only matters; it is still very much alive. The United States has not just shown the world that we can lead but that we are sill the world leader in change for the better.
There is no possible message that terrorists, religious extremists, or political demagogues can express which drowns out this clarion call for positive change. That summons is merely symbolized by Obama because he is but one clear and eloquent voice expressing what is in the hearts and minds of many. However the DEMAND for change comes from the electorate and last night the people unequivocally spoke and let no one mistake the message.
Many still fear change, conservatism is predicated on resistance to change, in fact it is a part of the definition of what it means to *conserve*, however, now is a time to heal wounds not irritate or infect them with the toxin of social bitterness and poison of revenge. McCain is an honorable man and one that can work to demonstrate how to move away from the extremes and back to a constructive opposition, one that defends a principle of checks and balance in governance that not merely keeps the party in power honest, but through dialectic synthesis find solutions not recognized initially, better than mere compromise and sometimes even better than were ever imagined when the legislative process began.
Nevertheless make no mistake about it, we are a seriously divided nation still and now is the time for leaders to step up and demonstrate to all our citizens and the world that our leaders lead by setting an example. McCain helped set that example last night.
Now we must all work together to heal the wounds that afflict this nation. The winners need to be gracious to the losers and not forget that we are together one people and the losers need to move beyond the bitterness, blame and self delusion that contributed greatly to their defeat but more importantly undermine their ability to contribute to constructive change protecting their interests through the integration of ideas.
We are not a people trapped in stereotypes and the whole world should heed never to mistake their clichés for the truth about America. Change has come and where it leads is clouded in the pragmatics of politics but what it promises to lead to is far better than where we have been of late. A time of mindless hate is slowly coming to an end and hope is a worthy anodyne for healing the wounds still festering and threatening to cripple this nation but hope is only a beginning not an end and hope dies swiftly without meaningful action to uphold it.
Hope is not the message; the message is one of hope. Hope that peace in this world will be made a reality in our time. Hope that the crimes of the past do not control our choices for the future. The hope that invention can once again be made the bulwark of technology and growth does not mean more must suffer for a few to advance.
Hope in itself is not a message; it is the substance of the message which brings hope. Obama and the Democratic sweep mean that once again we will take a seat at the table of nations and discuss issues climate and energy with rational positions and honest negotiations. We will advance the science of health with a promise to make those benefits available equitably. We will reverse this economy of depression left to us as a legacy of failed economic policy and replace it with a period of growth and prosperity, which is the ultimate means of defeating extremism.
When we destroy the despair of global poverty we will defeat the source pool of terrorism plaguing our world because this is a battle that will never be won by force of arms alone or even in combination with legitimate diplomacy, without the effective amelioration of the conditions which harbor and incubate terrorism like an anaerobic affliction of all humanity.
The message is that we have not forgotten the war on terrorism because we want to close illegal prisons, end our irrational use of torture or remove our forces from the illegal, strategically incorrect and unjust occupation of foreign lands, the hope is that we are going to change our methods and confront the enemy in ways they can no longer easily predict, confront, and even benefit from. The war on terror is not over and for the first time in many years there may even be a chance for victory, a victory the whole civilized world will share against the dark madness of those filled with hate and fear for change.
The message is that America once again represents world leadership moving toward a better world worth hoping for. To make that hope a reality we must also remember that we are still a deeply divided nation and the map tells the story. A clear majority won the election yesterday but those that lost are very united in their resistance and opposition.
Some issues may not be reconcilable like abortion and fundamentalism but others are truly on the table. For example when it comes to economics I think we are entering an age of pragmatism not the economic adventurism many fear. Yes, we are going to change the rules on health care and the fact is that change is needed. So now is the time to negotiate the details not to try and obstruct all change. To make healthy change happen the losers of last nights election will need to lick their wounds and swiftly return to the table.
Now is the time that moderate forces within the Republican Party should stand up and lead without allowing the more obstructive forces within the party a chance to undermine the movement of the party back to the center. Now is the time for Democrats to remember to work with opposition moderates and listen to them. We must work together to put this nation back on a rational fiscal course respecting once again the importance of things like a balanced budgets, social programs, education with meaningful assessment, adequate but not excessive market regulation and oversight, as well as the importance of real intelligence and boots on the ground, not just toys for remote control combat.
It is time for the defense objectives of this nation to answer once again to higher standards than hegemony and hooliganism rationalized in some minds by the actions of the criminals we oppose. The message of hope is also a warning that we will not retreat from the real war on terror and if any on the other side wish to consider their options, right now may be a time to negotiate surrender because make no mistake, defeat is not now, nor ever will be an option for this nation.
Obama will return to global action soon with the most powerful coalition of force imaginable. There will be no stone unturned. Terrorists can run but they can no longer hide. The removal of occupational force does not mean a retreat from the war on terror; it means a change in tactics that is actually an escalation and one that offers far more promise of success than the archaic models begun with neocon atavistic policy.
The message of hope is one of practical victory for the most important challenge to the security of this nation facing us today. I fully expect McCain and many on the right to join in changing the strategy and tactics for this struggle because our fates are inevitably and inextricably intertwined.
Change is not merely in the air, it is not merely on the horizon, as of right now we are metamorphosing in a manner that only a true transhumanist can appreciate. It is not just the "times" that are a changing, we are, and the election yesterday is not just proof, it is but the first example of much more to come.