There is an aisle in the middle of Congress…

We recently lost Teddy Kennedy, one of the liberal lefts' most powerful and consistent champions, and amongst the many warmly evocative eulogies, someone (I think it was Zuma) posted the text of Teddy’s famous speech given at the 1980 Democratic convention; a wonderful speech full of inspiring words and ideals - and that same exact speech could be given today with similar import and relevance, 29 years later.  What has happened in 29 years...? 

Have we prospered?  Have we evolved for the better?  Demublicans and Republicrats all make glorious, inspiring speeches.  They have been speeching for generations; since our father’s fathers listened to them and believed what they said; but what has changed?   There is an aisle in the middle of Congress, and to one side is the left and to the other side is the right; but when the lights go out and the cameras are turned off, they are all partying together and trading wives and Cadillacs.  They all went to the same prestigious boarding schools together and attended the same elite universities together.  Their fathers are in business together, as were their fathers’ fathers before them.  Their portraits are hanging together on the richly paneled walls of every boardroom of every major corporation, and in the halls of the Capital building.  The body has two arms and two hands and two political parties, a left brain and a right brain; one hand working with the other and meant to ideologically divide us further and keep us in darkness, which is promoted every night on the evening network news.

They serve themselves.  For the ruling elite, it is a sumptuous banquet; and more of the same (read status quo, which includes both political parties).  For U.S., it is a country torn apart by ideological disagreement, racism and religion, social unrest and political divide. 

White and black.  Beige and brown.  Native American.  Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern Muslim, Shiite and Sunni.  Catholic and Protestant and Baptist and Episcopalian and Pentecostal.  Despite the good done by those with their spiritual feet on the ground, nothing and no one on Earth has caused and promoted more terror and war and inquisition than organized religion and the zealots.  We must acknowledge that the Great Crusade was zealotry.  No more than a President or a Fuhrer or an Ayatollah, it is not beyond a Pope to be a psychotic zealot.  

There are more than fifty versions of the bible in English alone.  There were at least fourteen different Asian versions of the Koran way back in 900 AD.  There are several versions of the Talmud.  Different versions of the Bhagavad Gita.  Dogs and cats, sleeping together.  Rich and poor.  Tall and short.  If you listen to some people, here in the U.S. we are not so far from a time when riot is the rule.  Truthfully, we are not so different from the Muslims and Hindus of India, who live together in the same country and regularly kill and maim each other and riot in the burning streets.  We even have a defacto caste system of our own. 

We mistrust even each other; though we live together in one nation under God, calling ourselves free; on one planet Earth, knowing we have no other planet to call home; calling ourselves open minded and progressive; but the U.S. is shamed by lesser nations who make none of our claims to greatness, but enjoy universal health care and enlightened social welfare; not a demeaning term, but an uplifting social consciousness that includes paid leave for pregnant mothers, generous holidays; and in some countries, even an afternoon siesta. 

I would take a nap now, if I could.  Miles to go before I sleep.

© W. Bruce Wright, Squamish B.C.  Canada