Posted on Evans Liberal Politics , May 13, 2011, Commentary by Paul Evans, with excerpts from Addiction and Politics (Updated 2X) , Evans Liberal Politics, March 31, 2011, by Paul Evans:
I have been strongly actively involved in political activism and political writing and blogging since 2005. I know that's not very long, compared to a lot of people who might be considered more expert at this than I am. But I have learned a lot, and over the years, I have found the world of politics to be depressing and disappointing.
Actually, what really got me going in the area of activism, in the summer of 2005, was the music of U2, most particularly the song "Pride in the Name of Love," which makes a comparison between the love and sacrifice of Jesus and that of Martin Luther King, Jr. Really, from the point where I started doing Evans Liberal Politics, the day after election day, 2008, that song was a major influence and motivation for me. I cried the first several times I heard it.
U2 Pride in the Name of LoveNow I have fewer hopes of truly living a life like that or making any kind of real influence in the world. Nonetheless, with an honestly humble attitude, I try to bring my readers as much of what is important and true about the world of news and politics as I have time for each day. I have no kind of idea that I might do more than help a few or several people on the road of life, yet this is enough for me.
The high point, of course, was the election of 2008 and the campaigning I did before this. Yet later, I became badly disappointed by Barack Obama, finding him to be essentially just another Democratic Politician and not the agent for hope and change that I had so fervently hoped and worked for. Later, I realized that, at the national level, in the United States today, no man can be other than a political animal with a conventionally political mindset and hope to have any real success. This was very disillusioning for me and, for a short time, turned me towards more radical leftist positions
Still, I have to ask, is it so radical and leftist for me to want America to take care of its people, for the individual and corporate tax structure to be truly progressive, for health care to be universal and, for example, for crack mothers and crack babies to have a roof over their heads and enough to eat, outside of a homeless shelter and an adoption agency? No, to me, those sorts of goals are the mainstream of my thought, as I know they are for many progressive activists.
I believe that many of us thought we had found, in Barack Obama, the agent that would bring us "to the promised land" of Dr. Martin Luther King and that, by now, most of us have been pretty badly disappointed. Others, I realize, who supported the President in 2008, are not as fully progressive as I am and have not found Obama's actions disappointing, at least not disappointing as to their truly progressive direction, or the lack thereof. On the other hand, can the man be entirely blamed or even much blamed when Congress exists as currently constituted? Yet it was all very disappointing and disillusioning....
Let me give you an excerpt from my March 31st article on addiction and politics which may offer some words of comfort here, or at least make the whole situation more livable, perhaps, for the progressive activist:
" Politics is depressing. In that regard, my old friend Betsy sent me a wonderful article which I need to share with you called " Across the Universe: The Power of Disillusionment and the Politics of Despair ", OpEdNews, March 15, 2011, by Chris Floyd. A young man is disillusioned, somewhat depressed and even contemplating drinking or suicide because his Mom's hero, Barack Obama, is complicit in so much that is wrong. Instead of simply making a comment of some encouragement, Chris Floyd makes this commentary in his own article, from which I wish to partially quote:
"You have to remember that politics is a toxin. It will make you sick, taint your mind, poison your soul, blight your life if you let it. One has to deal with politics as a form of waste management, just as you need to have some kind of sewage system in your home or community to prevent disease.
Politics -- the machinations of the stunted, damaged souls and third-rate minds that hanker for power -- is just a small part of life. It entirely lacks the tragic element; nothing tragic or depthful about politics and power; it's just brute force, greed, ignorance and spite. So there is no deep meaning to be found in it. No tragedy; no real joy either. Even the greatest moments, the epiphanies -- and they do happen in politics on rare occasions, one must admit -- will lead very quickly back into the sewage. And that's OK; that's the way it is; sewage, waste management -- it's part of life. But it's not where meaning, joy, tragedy, the salt and savor of existence can be found. So why let the evil done by third-rate goobers drive you to despair in life itself? By hook, crook, lies and murder they've already amassed all kinds of power; why give them power over your very soul?"
Sigh.
I believe I am gonna have more social interest articles on Evans Liberal Politics and concentrate a little less on the political angles. Probably will get me more viewers and at least entertain, if not aid in some way, more people anyway.
May God grant you the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
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