— by Walt Whitman —
If I should need to name, O Western World, your powerfulest scene and show,
‘Twould not be you, Niagara—nor you, ye limitless prairies—nor your huge rifts of canyons, Colorado,
Nor you, Yosemite—nor Yellowstone, with all its spasmic geyser-loops ascending to the skies, appearing and disappearing,
Nor Oregon’s white cones—nor Huron’s belt of mighty lakes—nor Mississippi’s stream:
—This seething hemisphere’s humanity, as now, I’d name—the still small voice vibrating—America’s choosing day,
(The heart of it not in the chosen—the act itself the main, the quadriennial choosing,)
The stretch of North and South arous’d—sea-board and inland—Texas to Maine—the Prairie States—Vermont, Virginia, California,
The final ballot-shower from East to West—the paradox and conflict,
The countless snow-flakes falling—(a swordless conflict,
Yet more than all Rome’s wars of old, or modern Napoleon’s:) the peaceful choice of all,
Or good or ill humanity—welcoming the darker odds, the dross:
—Foams and ferments the wine? it serves to purify—while the heart pants, life glows:
These stormy gusts and winds waft precious ships,
Swell’d Washington’s, Jefferson’s, Lincoln’s sails.
Thanks to JoEllen Moldoff
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Wow! Thanks JEM, for sharing yet another historical reminder, before it vanishes before our very eyes, of what still could be the most treasured element of this American society: the swordless conflict – the peaceful choice of all.
No kicks when they’re down, no public harassment in the restaurant, no shots fired on the practice field, no bluster, no theater. . . Sure would be nice. Hope y’all vote. ‘Scuse the theater, but my heart’s panting, and life’s still glowing, America.
Carry on!
What a timely reminder. Thanks. A swordless right (fight) that’s imbued with more power than the mightiest of armies.
The incivility exists on both sides. Bluster and theater do distract and deflect. The other side verbally frames the debate in substance and tone that triggers fear or worse. Perhaps the law allows one the right to speak freely but one’s office, we know, matters.
Still, strip out all the bluster along with the confrontation and harassment and focus on what remains. There, you’ll find the policy disagreements highlighted in bold. If you talk of style and narcissism alone, you ignore that 2016 has come and gone and what’s done is done; you also give credence to the idea that you’re not comfortable with all of the policies behind the bluster. Checks and balances are in place to guard against the potential substance behind your fears. So move on and vote on the actual policies you support. If not, more damage is done to the frame that enshrines the very right to vote.
The victor of 2016 won on policy, too, not just populism. There are honest disagreements on policy. The debate should be limited to this. To think any politician succeeds without help from the time-honored tradition of populism is foolish thought that begs for broader real world experience.
Whitman then, like me today, had much personally riding on the line. Wiser still, though, we don’t lose sight of our larger selves and the larger picture.
How you wins matters.
Vote!
Oops “win”..excuse my failure to “timely” proofread.