In the Face of Truth

Truth be told, our country finds itself again at a crossroads. The crossroads of fear and faith. Fear of something new and different vs. our faith in an anomalous status quo.

We know that conservatism is usually associated with the status quo --- the way things are that are supposed to be good and honorable. This brand has a peculiar habit of bringing on more trouble than it should. Maybe it's because too many so-called "conservatives" are afraid of confronting a new and inevitable future.

Progressivism is usually associated with the struggle to make things different. Oh, what a frightful idea! Many so-called "liberals", so accursed, press forward to a new and brighter future. How dare them. In the past, these folk have been accused of wanting change that would destroy the so-called conservative values of America while sacrificing their comfort for the very values we enjoy. It's understandable based on their scope.

Ironically, it is the imperative to retain the hubris surrounding so-called conservative values that causes conservatives to wallow in their parochial approaches to God, Country, State, and Family. The hubris of isolationism and protectionism (there go those "isms" again!) that applies to a long since changed social paradigm. So much for open-mindedness.

This is the time for caution, not cynicism. The wedge issues that led to this country's greatest war --- the Civil War --- are no longer appropriate or sensible. Furthermore, they are not cost effective. Nevertheless, they seem to remain incorrigibly in good operating condition. This begs the questions: "Who is our enemy"? "What are we fighting for"? "How do we fight and win?"

Our enemy is the dark force of world domination. We are somehow left fighting a social plethora of lies, half-truths, and hypocritically ignorant declarations of "freedom and justice for all". Our wrong-headed quest leaves us imprisoned by a nascent ignorance of who controls and operates the levers of life in this world. Freedom for whom? Justice for whom? Who are the "all"? Is it really ". . . in God we trust"?

We have been made to believe that we are each others' enemies, when the reality is that we cannot easily see who our real enemy is . . . we are deceived into false conflicts that strengthen the hold of the enemy on our individualism, social collectivism, and human rights in every respect. Each of us therefore fights for our own convenient cause while missing the objective and strategies of the true enemy. No doubt, we must fight. But our struggle must be effective against the right enemy, for the right reasons, and with the correct strategy. We need to appropriate new technologies that give us a psychoscopic view of the marginalized minority that sees only the perestroika of power to prompt human action towards its own ends.

Because we cannot know the truth as it truly is, we see only what we are allowed to see through a purposefully blurred lens. This, in the face of the truth about our shared misgivings, our seemingly causeless and endless pain, and our reality denied.

A Father's Day Visit from Earl Woods

The US Open was supposed to end yesterday at Torrey Pines on a dusky Father's Day evening in La Jolla, California. But Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods played to an unlikely tie and today's arguably historic playoff. That is, two playoffs - - - an extra round of 18 playoff holes, and a gut-wrenching follow-on "sudden death" playoff hole. Five rounds of golf in an extended weekend when Mediate looked certain to do the improbable. But the ghost of Earl Woods was ever-present. He was looking for a Father's Day gift from his son, and he certainly got one. Sorry Rocco.

It was as though Earl was whispering in Tiger's ear saying: "I know you miss me, I know your knee hurts you, I know you're not playing well. Replay the tapes, and you'll probably see Tiger paying close attention . . . just as he had from the first time Earl took him to a golf course until the last time he embraced his father after another stunning victory. We thought we were watching Tiger alone, but in reality, Earl was invisibly with him.

All of what I witnessed throughout Tiger's ordeal brought to mind some lessons for fathers about leaving a legacy to their children. The legacy of love, purpose, and faith. I know my eyes weren't playing tricks on me, so let me tell you what I saw.

I saw the pundits openly suggesting that Tiger was not on his "A" game and was vulnerable to certain defeat. That Tiger could be "human" like the rest of us, and face bowing to defeat gracefully. With the ebb and flow of Tiger's miscues and brilliance, they fluctuated in their criticisms and admirations. No loyalty, just reporting the facts, ey? Put aside the prophesies and the biases. I saw them get Tiger wrong again. Wonder why? They didn't see Earl.

I saw the reasons that are so perplexing to the experts who grovel to be first in predicting Tiger's presumed demise. No doubt, Tiger's glory run will end someday as it does for any mortal man. Of course, this presumes that Tiger is of this world. But we have to wonder why he does so many "other-wordly" deeds.

As I know that he is "in" this world, I also know that the day of his demise has not yet come. When I reflect on what distinguishes Woods from other golfers, athletes, and for that matter --- other actors of note in the public domain, I see at least ten virtues that Earl infused in Tiger, standing as tenets for those looking to model successful achievement.

First. Tiger was focused. When he is on the course, he is about his business. Despite his miscues, he did not see his mistakes as "failures". Rather, he saw them as opportunities to figure out what adjustments to make on the next hole.

Second. Tiger was resolute. He never gave up, even when most of us would. He did not quit when the going got tough for him. Even though he was in excruciating pain, he would not let himself give up. As long as he could stand up, he had a chance to strike the next ball in his quest to hole it. One ball at a time. One stroke at a time.

Third. Tiger was resilient. He rebounded from the adversities he faced, and there were many. He made an awful lot of mistakes in 91 holes of golf, probably more than most, but he still emerged as the champion. He started rounds with bogeys on early holes that would discourage mere mortals to resign themselves to accepting mediocre rounds. He fought to remain poised and converted his mistakes to learning opportunities and not excuses for performing poorly.

Fourth. Tiger was courageous. He appeared to some to be fool-hardy at times, and was often accused of going "where angels fear to thread". But what he was doing was exercising "courage" of a brand few of his critics could comprehend. Courage neither guarantees success nor prevents defeat. Rather we saw Tiger 's courage position him to perform --- to continue to act, even in the face of pain and fear (real or perceived).

We have to remember that Tiger's experiences, scope of play, and repertoire of capabilities and strategies have taken him to and keeps him in a mental space that few athletes (or others for that matter) know exist. Tigers fears less because he has confronted more fearful situations than others have dared to broach. He neither takes for granted nor is contemptuous of that which he knows. Instead, he gives healthy respect to obstacles and challenges, but only to the extent that his limitations have already been duly tested. Even so, Tiger is so courageous that he does not fear challenging his own limitations, which he did many times in the 2008 US Open.

Fifth. Tiger was confident. Confidence is knowing that one can rise to any challenge. Tiger demonstrated a strong inner certainty about his capabilities, which translated to a confidence that the uninformed label "arrogance". In the post-match interview with Bob Costas, Tiger's humble circumspection about golf, family, success, and his struggles in this US Open revealed a "knowing" that is not influenced by commentary or the need for external validation. No doubt, Mediate performed stupendously. But he was not Tiger's competition. Tiger's competiton was and is his own unfulfilled potentiality. A truly self-actualized person in his tender years. Not yet near his peak.

Sixth. Tiger exhibited an uncanny mental toughness. He is probably the mentally toughest athlete today, and maybe in the history of professional sports. A never-say-die sort of person. Resolute, determined, convinced that he could, no --- he would win. He didn't hurt Mediate, he just rose about Mediate's near-flawless performance. As wonderful as his contemporaries are, Tiger is tougher. He is better. He is greater. Earl gave him that.

Seventh. Tiger adapted to conditions and situations. He was constantly making adjustments. He respects defeat was well as victory. He knew when and how to change his strategy. To do something different and even unexpected. Come what may. He knew that he must be adaptable. And he could afford to be that way. He practices scenarios in his mind, and he was intelligent enough to get input from his long-standing and trusted caddy. He realized that the Open was simply an obstacle course designed to frustrate, even humiliate its players. But he didn't care about the facts. Truth be told, Tiger was a geometer. He was his clubs. He was his balls. He was the green, the hole. He was the ball going in each hole in less strokes than made by others. He just didn't care about how painful it might be. So what.

Eighth. Tiger demonstrated his capacity for the love of golf, his parents, family members, colleagues, and detractors. When you switch to his humanitarian pursuits, they reveal poignantly his love for his fellow man, and children in particular. A model to emulate. He owes his parents a lot.

Ninth. Slowly but surely, Tiger regained his balance after knee surgery. He appears to be quite mindful to keep his professional career, personal life, and community service in perspective. His humility is the fulcrum of his character and personality. He is appreciative of his talents, gifts, and accomplishments. In the US Open, he took nothing for granted.

Tenth. Finally, Tiger exercised unwavering faith throughout the Open. All of the attributes I've described above came into play as a result of a strong sense of faith that creates personal power to achieve one's greatest desires. It seems complicated, but it's quite simple. Faith in a higher creator, faith in knowing that he was created to be the greatest golfer ever, faith in the American dream to allow opportunity for a "cabralasian", faith in the precious institution of family, and faith in the sense of fair play for all.

Clearly, each of these attributes was learned. And anyone who knows Tiger's relationship with his father Earl can see them as clearly as I and others can.

I believe that Tiger, throughout this US Open was keenly aware of the fact that he was being guided by the mighty Hand of God, and the legacy his father gave to him.

Surely, Earl was with Tiger through these rounds. Tiger knew it. I could see it. Now we know his secret.

Scare Tactics and the Conservative Right

First let me acknowledge that today, we are saddened by the sudden and tragic passing of one Tim Russett, noted NBC journalist. At the tender age of 58, Tim has now gone on to his post-temporal spiritual home. Like us all, that is where he came from, and that is where all of us will return.

I've observed so many journalists in my life who have not stayed true to their oath of objective dispensation of the so-called "news" --- that is, reporting on events as they happen in the most accurate and truthful manner possible. Tim always struck me as one who did respect his profession and seemed to honor its code of ethics. I can't really say whether or not Tim was a liberal or a conservative, and in this moment of somber reflection, it does not matter. No matter that he's the one who came up with "red" and "blue" states to define the political divide in America. Just labels we either ascribe or that are ascribed to us by others. Convenient, but often inaccurate. In Tim's case, we have to lend credence to his insight.

So as we reflect on the present Presidential Campaign of Obama v. McCain, political labeling seems more and more true but in my opinion -- absurd. This, while so many are advocating unity for all Americans. I wonder. There's a lot divisive rhetoric being spewed about that dishonors reasonable discourse. Shameful, pitiful, and dreadfully immature. And the worst offenders seem to be the most "religious" of us. So much for the divine premise upon which this nation was presumably founded. The premise of religious freedom . . . the idea that we are all free to express our religious beliefs, no matter how different from others. (I'll discuss America's early political theocracy in a future blog).

More personally, this commentary comes from a perspective of my own tradition of conservatism. A tradition not so different from most Americans, but one colored by the dynamics of my own socialization. Particularly, I'm speaking about my childhood stint as a welfare recipient and public housing resident, my good fortune to break the bonds of poverty and obtain a reasonably good mix of formal educational experiences, my own revelation that I needed to pursue a career of public service as a repayment of a debt of gratitude for those unheralded servants who help me and family survive, and the sustaining power of faith borne out of my religious indoctrination and conversion. My socialization provided unique perspectives that legitimizes my voice as an emerging thought leader in the arena of faith-based empowerment.

As a political scientist, I realize (if more sensitively) that the disaggregation of Western philosophy and its varied disciplines shows itself distinctively as the result of European values transferred to America throughout its tortured history. This makes America a confusing place for so many of its citizens. A country that stands at once as both a democratic federalist republic and a free-market capitalist economy.

These seeming contradictions portend pernicious effects in American society in particular. To wit, we deal with the prevailing "isms" --- sexism, racism, classism, regionalism, narcissism, and all of the other "isms" one can imagine and proclaim.

Now I realize that there are continuums in life as well. They are present in all disciplines, appearing as constants in the scheme of human rationalization. My early political training taught me that in American we have the "right" and we have the "left". And we have the "center". We are led to believe that conservatism means nationalism, patriotism, family values, self-responsibility (in one's personal and professional life), law and order, statehood, and racial homogeny. Supposedly, liberalism means ethnocentrism, reliance on government, and diversity. Divisions, divisions, divisions.

But conservatism has taken on a new meaning that corrupts the essential righteousness of the label. For me and too many others, it has come to mean fascism, militarism, clanism, greed, penalism, parochialism (e.g., state's rights), and a clear enmity towards racial integration and respect. "They" are often called "radical right-wing conservatives" who unwittingly have come to behave like the disaffected anti-Federalists who shepherded this country to near obliteration with a bloody Civil War. I see the same attitudes rising but without the dastardly system of slavery they justified through the scriptures to deny humanity to others for the sake of their own development and inevitable greed.

Regrettably for them, those mechanisms of oppression have slowly but surely evaporated through the blood, sweat, and tears of the so-called "radical left-wing liberals" who sacrificed their lives in the quest to make America true to its creed that "all men (and now, women and children) are created equal". But there are forces that would sacrifice their quality of life to sustain the evil they feel most comfortable with.

Strained co-existence now becomes the denominating usurper of the American dream, while irrational fear numerates the decline of too many aspects of our society. What a travesty. In these troubling times, our very survival and hope for restored prosperity demands a personal deference to our differences and stereotypes. This is not a task that others can either do for us or make us do. We must reconstitute our faith and resolve based on our greatest virtues to make it so for ourselves.

Walk by Faith

It's interesting some of the controversial stuff that's been coming out regarding the Barack Obama campaign. I think we're really going to see a lot of idiots coming out of the woodwork. I did some research on the guy that tried to do the exhibit. I wonder what's going to happen with him.

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