History
There is a sense of anticipation this week as the final days of the Bush presidency are spent. I dont remember in my lifetime such an urgency for change. There is a distinct feeling of being in the midst of history. Without a doubt the combination of the impending Obama inauguration and equally historic financial crisis has marked these days for inclusion in future history books. It is a peculiar sensation, the notion that one is living through history. Of course, one always is, but the realization comes and goes. One gets the sense in these early days of 2009 that the whole world is watching.
I sense an optimism that contradicts the woeful facts of the current financial collapse. I particularly enjoyed the op-ed piece in the New York Times today by Roger Cohen (www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/opinion/15cohen.html?_r=1&ref=opinion) not just for what was said, but for Mr. Cohens ability to capture this curious contradiction. There is more of a sense of a collective rolling up of sleeves preparing for a tough job ahead, than
a sky is falling panic. We are leaving a president who failed to utter a single rallying phrase in eight years, even in the wake of 9/11, to welcome a president who has demonstrated an ability to inspire and motivate with words. The contrast could not be more starkly drawn. It turns out that, sadly, we did not mis-underestimate the current president. Despite his plea at his farewell address, there is no trophy for making “the tough decisions,” particularly when an overwhelming volume of first hand testimony show his unwillingness to reconsider a decision once it was made.
It was Gore Vidal who said,
On the whole history tends to be rather poor fiction-except at its best.These days make for great fiction. The characters have been drawn almost as caricatures- the unimaginative leader, unwilling or unable to adapt to changes; his Machiavellian sidekick secretly attempting to control the workings of the court, and the unlikely rise of a new voice, redefining the way things are done as he goes, mobilizing the villagers on his quest for justice and competency. It is grand theatre that surrounds us. I cant wait to see how it all turns out.
By Myron Gushlak