Long, dark night

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

Maybe right now wasn't the best time to start reading Bill Clinton's book. It just reminded me, through stark contrast, what we have been living under the last four years as opposed to the eight years before that.

So many things jumped out at me as I read the stories and looked at all the photographs. I knew the bush administration was closed-off, but I had no idea to what extent. The Clinton administration was so open. It sounds corny, but it seemed so alive, so vibrant in comparison to this administration. This one hides behind a thick wall of secrecy. A cloud cover that never moves.

I also hadn't really realized how little bush has traveled in his time in office. Clinton went all over the globe and was received so warmly. Parents in other countries naming their newborn boys Bill Clinton _________ (last name)? Wow. And all the pictures of him with children in Bosnia, children in Uganda, touching them, looking at them, talking to them. I've not seen that in four years. Why?

The photo of Clinton walking arm in arm with civil rights champions such as Coretta Scott King and Jesse Jackson and others to commemorate the Selma Freedom March. Bush would never do such a thing.

He cannot be in a crowd of normal, everyday Americans who haven't been carefully pre-screened. He cannot just go out amongst Americans. How did it come to that? Terrorists and crazy people existed when Clinton was in office, and he certainly had his share of hateful kooks who wanted to get near him, but that was what the Secret Service was for. It didn't stop Clinton from being among everyday Americans without having them all checked thoroughly in advance. When bush does go overseas, he does not mingle among the people there, either.

It's a little easier to deal with when you have a group of people here at home who intensely dislike the president. That's always been the case, and always will be. But it does feel so strange to think most of the rest of the world feels that way about the president. Especially after eight years of the president being so well-liked in the world. It certainly helped things plenty when we had a president most of the world looked favorably upon. Despite all the right-wing posturing and strutting, we aren't the only country on this ball of rock and acting that way only hurts us in the end. There's not a thing wrong with the strongest nation in the world being more of a quiet strength for all to look to and take hope from and less of a bully all cringe from and sneer at.

Everything's seemed so dark, and I'm not just talking about September 11th. It's been everything else, too, big and small. As most of you who are on this board know, there is almost too much to enumerate. Almost. From the kids I taught who couldn't get glasses through the Lions Club program anymore because of bush budget cuts in 2002 to the horror, the stark and almost unbelievable horror of a war we have waged against another country for no weapons, no threat. About a year ago when people would ask me why I was against bush, I would feel overwhelmed at the question. Where would I start? It was all so enormous. Such darkness.

I was driving to Austin Sunday morning to see some old friends and attend a conference there. I love to listen to the radio stations in different parts of the state, so I was dialing around and found a live church service. The minister was talking about taking a very early morning walk, and he described the birds singing. He said suddenly the power, the simplicity of what they did every day struck him. It was still dark. They hadn't yet seen the dawn. They had no evidence it would come again today, yet they were singing praises for the dawn that wasn't there. Singing in the dark. He asked the church members to think about the amazing amount of hope it took to sing in the dark. I could hardly see to drive down I-35 anymore, my eyes were so blurry with tears. Singing in the late night, hopeful the dawn will come again.

I know no matter what happens on November 2, we will find an end to this long, dark night. We must.

[troubleinwinter]

1. I traveled to China with a friend one year ago.

One rainy day, I sat on a patio, drinking tea, relaxing and talking to our personal guide, a college student.

He looked me in the eye, and said, "Do you like war?" I said, of course not, and asked why he would think such a thing. He said all the Americans seem so happy that Bush started a war.

Then he said, "The Chinese people LOOOOOVED Bill Clinton!" I asked him why. He said "Because of what he did for the American ECONOMY!"

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Yep

exactly what I'm talking about. The Clinton book is just making me cry, it seems. For what was.

I have to believe we will have it again. I have to.

[marzipanni]

3. Yes, and let's choose not to have to hit rock-bottom

before we begin recovery from Bush*s mis-administration.

Moonbeam_Starlight, your post was very poignant, thank you for posting it.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

4. Thank you for reading it. eom

[liberalmuse]

5. What an excellent post!

I don't have anything to add. You've beautifully expressed many of the feelings I and others here have had about these past few years.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. Thank you ma'am!

May there be thousands and thousands who feel the way you do in your city on election day!

[Eloriel]

7. Of course the dawn will come again

And it will be a brighter dawn than ever before. The old order is dying, which is why they have to resort to such overwhelmingly secrecy and darkness. The only things they have to offer are lies, death and destruction. LOL -- that's hardly self-sustaining, is it? Sooner or later, all of this will be behind us. Sooner or later, the earth will again belong to her peoples.

Sending a big, long, loving hug. We can do this -- together.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

8. I agree

and Clinton agrees with us about the old order dying, too.