ONE PERFECT MOMENT
By Jackie McIntosh - Mar 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm EDT
Not so long ago I sat with my partner to watch one of the televised debates.
"This makes me so proud," I said,"this just makes me so proud."
I didn't have to say anything else, he knew what I meant and shared in my emotion. We were democrats. It was the triumph of progressive thought, manifest.
Standing on that stage, a group of talented, accomplished individuals representing the union of interests, ethnicities, idealogies and faiths that form the democratic party, proclaiming our common creed of equality, inclusion, tolerance and liberty.
It was a moment that generations had waited to see and we were that generation. This moment was our truest victory.
It is hard to believe that only a short time later we have forgotten what that moment felt like. No matter which candidate you supported, for this one brief moment, it just felt good to be a democrat, it felt good to be an american. It just felt good.
Today we are inflamed by the passions of our convictions and determined that "our side" must win.
We all feel cheated, abused and powerless in this malestrom of emotion that has overtaken that one perfect moment.
Many are dissenchanted with an electoral process that has delivered us into chaos. Many resent an elite, political aristocracy that would assume to impose its will, but seems to have no control of the sytem.
Supporters in each camp are suspicious, angry and dedicated to "our cause." Issues are being lost to rhetoric and I have been as guilty as most.
A certan thugishness has taken root in our debate and emotions have replaced reason.
This party is in real trouble and to believe these wounds will heal without remedy is foolishness. Many will
leave regardless of the outcome, others will simply not vote in the fall. Some will stay and fight for change.
I fear the outcome of this.
If the fractures in this fragile alliance are not tended, that one perfect moment may never come again.

THANK you Jackie!