From dictionary.com I pasted the following definition:
hu·man·ist 
| 1. | a person having a strong interest in or concern for human welfare, values, and dignity. |
| 2. | a person devoted to or versed in the humanities. |
| 3. | a student of human nature or affairs. |
| 5. | (sometimes initial capital letter) any one of the scholars of the Renaissance who pursued and disseminated the study and understanding of the cultures of ancient Rome and Greece, and emphasized secular, individualistic, and critical thought. |
| 6. | (sometimes initial capital letter) a person who follows a form of scientific or philosophical humanism. |
The reasons I feel sorry for John McCain are mostly related to definition #1. After watching the debate tonight, I feel that John McCain has lost his dignity. Granted, it was slipping out of his grasp weeks ago, and he likely has Karl Rove-like minions prying it from his fists. I feel that John McCain is an honorable man, one who has served his country amazingly and was put through five years of what could only be worse than hell. I feel, however, that his time in the Hanoi Hilton changed him. Formed him. Drives him. My BA in acting has taught me a few things about how humans operate, and we all know the meaning of text vs. subtext. The text is, of course, the words that you say. The subtext of course, is what drives the meaning of the words. When someone asks you if you're okay and you say in that short, exasperated or forlorn way "Nothing," then we know that something is wrong. We all do it, every day. McCain really, really wants you to like him. He said as much in his concluding statement this evening. Of course, I am paraphrasing, but "my friends, I'm from a long line of McCain's who have served this country and I've been here a long time and I want to do it some more," is not enough to make me consider his policies. In fact, it is the very thing that made me sad for him. Here was the subtext for me (and this is the great thing about art, because all of it is subjective. We likely saw some very different debates tonight simply because we saw them through different eyes): I was shot down in Vietnam and spent five years as a POW. I have earned my way, through my military, familial, and financial connections. I have been a Maverick because I never really thought that I would actually get nominated for president, and now that I am, I have to do what the Republican architects tell me to do. I have sold my authenticity in the hopes that you'll buy me.
The fact of the matter is, at one point in my existence, albeit many years ago, I actually admired John McCain, rabble-rouser from AZ. Back when the Straight Talk Express seemed like a political beacon, before he was being groomed for the presidency. It's like someone has smothered him. The grimace, the calculated laugh through clenched teeth, the skin cancer surgery scars running longwise down his face; all of this concerns me. Sarah Palin, should John McCain win and pass away in office, would be the U.S.'s greatest mistake and go down as our greatest folly, even surpassing Dick Cheney and Rummy.
Now to be fair, I feel sorry for Hillary Clinton, too. She and McCain are in the same boat. Both have been in politics for decades, with long careers, many successes and failures, more experience than Bushie 2, Obama, and Palin combined. Hillary REALLY wanted you to like her, too. She is the not-so-pretty girl who wants to be the prom queen. Oh, and guess who is? That's right...my favorite, Sarah Palin. The classic story of the girl who really deserves it being bested by the skinny girl with better hair. By the way, The New York Times the other day posted side by side statistics of presidential races and those who won or lost based upon, of all things, their height. Something like 8 of 10 times the taller candidate won. So I suppose we could posit the same theory for women, since women generally value beauty the way men value height. Sarah wins (even though she really does need new hair).
I would like to give my parents great credit for not requiring us to lean one way or another politically. Dad is saying, election after election, "I don't like either one of them." But here's the difference for me this year, a difference that was highlighted by the lackluster performances of John Kerry and Al Gore: Barack Obama inspires me. His words make me think about volunteering, about teaching, about doing my part for my community. When John McCain talks, I find myself staring rudely at his gesticulating arms. All I can think about is how that poor guy will never be able to raise his arms above his shoulders because he broke both his arms being shot down and they never healed properly. That's why I know that his wounds, his isolation in prison are the things that drive him. I don't want a man mired in the nightmare of his past laying the groundwork for my future.
3 comments:
Funny--what you said about McCain being so inspiring and different, but then being smothered by the party that nominated him? That's exactly how I feel about Obama. To each her own I guess, but I have the greatest respect for McCain because he has always been a fighter against corruption in our repugnant 2 party system. I will never deny Obama's chemistry and how dynamic a speaker he is. I just can't move past the fact that if he had the *exact* same credentials he has, but were a white guy, no one would know who he was or care.
It's not time for a woman or a black man to lead based on their gender or race alone. I think America is ready for someone to lead regardless of these things, and anyone who lets either of those inform their vote is biased (i.e., feminists who would vote Hillary only because she is a woman.) This country is on the brink of financial ruin, and after reading what I can about Obama's platform, I can't help but fear that his policies will tip the scales toward prolonged depression. We need a reform in the tax code, not increased taxes on the large corporations that employ the large majority of American workers. They won't pay because it's their patriotic duty. They'll lay people off and raise prices. We can't afford that right now.
But that's just me. Your vote and mine will cancel each other out, eh?
As usual, we'll just have to agree to disagree. P.S. I am not voting for Barack because he's black. I am voting for Barack because he is looking out for me and people that hold my interests. I would vote for him if he was purple.
Oh, and Bushie II was a governor with little credentials other than a silver spoon in his mouth and several failed business ventures. Yes! Pick him! Not saying that Obama is running against Bush but that it has never stopped anyone before, i.e. Palin.
I've really tried hard to like Obama, because he probably will be our next president, but I just can't get past his associations.
If Obama is the one that inspires you and holds your best interests in mind than you seriously should consider different interests. He associates with known terrorists, he has defended a group that has participated in voter fraud, his pastor and "mentor" for more than 20 years has called America the U.S of KKK A. His wife has said that she has never been proud of America until now.
The man is wrapped in corruption like beans are wrapped in a burrito. He is not the man I want running my country. I believe that secretly he has very radical views. I'll admit that he is charismatic and likeable, but he is definitely not inspiring. When I see him speak I can see right through him.
What's inspiring to me is that a man who was tortured in and lived through a POW camp is running to be President of our country. That's inspiring. I know that being beaten to a pulp in a land far away back in at time before many of us were born is not hip enough for many voters, but I think if people don't get swept away by the Obama mega media marketing campaign and will do their homework, they will see who is truly fit and an inspiration to lead this country.
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