Over the last few months, the world stood mesmerized as the power of people seeking freedom and democracy overcame the enormous challenges of long-time dictators supported by long-entrenched security forces to bring down autocratic rule.  Of course since the successes in Egypt and Tunisia, things have turned a good deal bloodier in Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria.   I do not wish to minimize the successes or the blood being lost in the fight for democracy, but the linchpin to true transformation of the Middle East is Saudi Arabia.

 The new year always brings forth a spirit of renewal.  We make resolutions to leave bad habits behind.  We vow to exercise more, eat less, and to be a better person in a myriad of other ways.  The turning of the calendar over allows us to create perhaps not a blank slate, but a much cleaner personal slate than might be otherwise possible psychologically.  It is interesting that we have accepted this Gregorian opportunity for renewal given our Christian teachings.   Indeed, for Christians each day presents an opportunity for renewal in Christ's love and forgiveness for our sins, but human nature pays attention to certain time demarcations such as the New Year.  So don't worry if you've already fallen short of your resolution.  Today is always a new day.   

 I have never been more disappointed in a political figure than I am with Barack Obama.  Even Bill Clinton's dalliances which cost him his best governing years and cynical votes from Democratic senators on the Iraq War authorization do not equal the perplexing disappointment that is Barack Obama's tax policy and his complete lack of gumption to fight to do the right and moral thing.  I say Barack Obama's tax policy because he now owns it.  He did not extend the Bush tax breaks; they die this Jan 1.  These tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires are now his to own.  

Whatever Happened to "Yes We Can"?

Like so many Americans, I was caught up in the promise and hope that Barack Obama represented.  As the first African American with a real shot at the Presidency, he already had a good deal of good will and the hope of a people on his side.   His soaring oratory and apparent strength of conviction added to the allure of a President who would usher in a new era. After 8 years of a historically bad and unjust Presidency, Americans were hungry for significant change.  

 On a day like today, September 11, it sure is tough to do as Jesus said and did.  In the nine years since that fateful, tragic day, it seems like as a nation we fall further and further from the ideal that Jesus laid out for us.  In the days following 9/11, there was a beautiful sense of national unity and resolve that killing our people and destroying our buildings would not undermine who we are as our nation, our values, and our way of life. 

 In this intervening period we have seen a tragically unnecessary war conducted in Iraq and what is amounting to an endless military conflict in Afghanistan, a land where empires have entered paying enormous tolls in human life and treasure, seeking to tame what forever has been ungovernable region. We have seen torture performed in our name and endless incarceration without any process for determining guilt, let alone due process. 

All of the great progressive political leaders were smiling down on the US last night as the House vote tally flipped to the magical number of 216.   JFK, RFK. LBJ, FDR, MLK, Harry, Truman, Teddy Kennedy and Roosevelt, and yes, even Richard Nixon, must have been saying its about time.   I sat rivited most of the day to the debate on the floor of the House wating for information as to how the votes would break.  The leadership had expressed confidence for days but you never know when it comes to actually voting. 

After all the zig and zags of legislative sausage making, after all the comments from the pundrity and the blogosphere, after all the vitriole and falsehoods coming from the Right, Health Care Reform and its coverage of 32 million more Americans, and its limitations on the horrendous excesses of the insurance industry are now put into law.  Americans will now join the rest of the civilized world in assuring its citizens access to health care. 

 I had another one of the conversations with a conservative Christian about gay marriage. I have had this conversation a million times with fellow Christians and have no problem having it again and again. My latest iteration is probably the most succinct I have been able to be.
First, if you read the Bible from a fundamentalist, literalist perspective, its tough to have much of a conversation. But the truth is even fundies interpret the Bible, even if they don't want to admit it. Homosexuality is case in point. 

What a difference a year makes.   January 20th, 2009 was a day filled with hope and unbridled expectations as the nation's first African American President would take over the reins from a President who left the nation in near financial ruin, and at history's first judgment one of the worst President's in US history.  

The last day of the first year of Obama's administration was marked with a stunning defeat for Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts eliminating a filibuster proof Senate.  The election may not have a repudiation of health care reform (Massachusetts already has reformed with mandates and supports for working families) or the President himself, but it certainly captures the general mood of the country given 10% unemployment, a housing market that has yet to right itself in many areas, and a continued fear that big corporations and big government are in cahoots draining the treasury to maintain the lifestyles of the few on Wall Street.