Feeling the Peace?

I wrote this post on November 4^th. I titled it the way I did because I’m hoping that once the election is past us on November 9^th, the political ads will go away, news will be focused on other things than the election, and personalities will have begun the process of calming down. What a relief that is. Or will be since I am writing this for the future!  [Note: If you go by the temper of Facebook, the nation is not yet at peace!]

After the election these things will begin to occur, I think and hope:

• Presidential Transition Team will be formed to help the President Elect prepare for action on January 20, 2017. Forming a cabinet and lining up issues high on the agenda to manage will be the primary actions in preparation
• Election losers will have faded into the background while winners are busy preparing for their new jobs or a continuation of their duties retained in the election
• Congress will be analyzing its new reality based on party affiliations that will be represented in the new congress in January; hopefully the Senate will switch to Democrat control; and also hopefully, the House will be more evenly divided and capable of compromise in the next two years
• Families will lick their political wounds and prepare for gatherings on Thanksgiving; this is the family holiday of the year and one that is the most neutral emotionally. That is why it is the best holiday of the year in my book!
• At Thanksgiving family plans for Christmas will be discussed
• Weather will turn chilly and threats of snow will increase. With that snug, warm indoor life will be welcomed
• And thus calm will slowly be restored to the American family scene 

Now do you feel the peace? Or the hope that it will come very, very soon?

At 73 years of age and an observer of the political scene for most of my life, I can tell you this was the worst, most nasty election cycle in my experience. Nothing before it compares with this cycle. I say cycle because presidential elections are now run non-stop for four years between elections. It is pathetic.

Too bad the nation can’t get itself organized well enough to focus its energy on getting things done rather than messing up political leaders in preparation for the next election. It’s been this way since Bill Clinton was elected. Such nastiness at that time and it ran without break throughout his 8-year term. When it looked like Hillary would run all these years later the same nastiness cooked up and now they are threatening to impeach her and she hasn’t won the election at this point or taken the oath of office! Does this tell you something? It ought to.

Seems to me that America needs to spend more time figuring out problem definitions and inventing/creating solutions to those problems on a serious basis. That would be purposeful and of value to the rest of us. And it would remove us from nasty political rhetoric. After all, we are in this thing of life together. It matters that we strive to make the best of our life together, not make the worst of it.

Why people in politics think this is acceptable is beyond me. It is not acceptable behavior from anyone. We discipline our kids when they act this way in the home. Why not discipline public officials and politicians, news anchors and pundits when they act this way? Now there’s an idea in need of development!!

Deep breaths. Cool outdoor air. Crisp morning weather patterns. Cool to cold nights for sleeping. Winter is approaching and with it the need to calm down, find peace and restore clear thinking. Best if this thinking is on pleasant things like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Of course that’s my cultural background – Christmas and Thanksgiving. In whatever land you reside, celebrate your calm and peaceful seasons, too. Whether that is in a Christian tradition, Jewish or Muslim faith tradition, celebrate what matters to you. Also Buddhism and Hinduism! And others I am even less familiar with! You get the idea. We all have a core belief system and we need to be true to it in peace and calm with other belief systems. It will keep our world community at peace as well.

As this season moves on toward other agendas and activities, let us support a kinder and gentler time among us all.

Peace to you. And prosperity as well!

November 14, 2016