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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we hadPhiladelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." ~ BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 1787

Sunday, July 24, 2011

WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND ... HE IS US!

POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS ARE A BIT LIKE THE WEATHER IN THE MID-WEST ... ONE MOMENT THE SUN IS SHINING AND THE NEXT A TORNADO IS BEARING DOWN ON YOU. WHAT TO DO? ... TO THE ROOT CELLAR ... A RETREAT TO A DARK AND 'SAFE' PLACE TO CONTEMPLATE ... EITHER HOW LUCKY YOU ARE THAT YOU MADE IT, OR TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOU'LL FIND WHEN YOU COME OUT INTO THE LIGHT AGAIN. THE FORMER REFLECTS ON YOUR OPTIMISM ABOUT LIFE, WHILE THE LATTER PESSIMISM ABOUT YOUR POSSESSIONS.

BEING IN THE DARK FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME DOES YIELD SOME BENEFITS(?) ... FIRST IS THE 'GUT CHECK'. THE FIRST REALITY THAT VISITS IS YOUR VULNERABILITIES HOWEVER THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES TO 'YOUR' CONVERSATION. THEN PERHAPS THE NEXT VISIT IS A REVELATION THAT YOU'RE JUST A SMALL COG IN A LARGER UNFOLDING DYNAMIC CALL LIFE WHEREIN MANY EVENTS ARE NOT CONTROLLABLE ... AND OF CHOICES LIMITED, CONSEQUENCE UNFORESEEABLE, AND PROBABILISTIC OUTCOMES ... WELL JUST THAT.

WELL ... JUST CALL ME ALICE!