The Deeper Issues Win in This Election
Wednesday, 05 November 2008
by Skye Hirst

The deeper issues were what won in this election; that of compassion for one another, united we stand, pride in those who choose these deeper/higher values.  The fact that President Elect Obama understood that Americans want to feel good about their country, their leaders, their choices, to be a beacon of light and hope, recognizing we cannot live in this world as isolationists, either as individuals nor as a nation; that with all our differences we are stronger, that those who hold to these values sustain life, not destroy it; and that with pragmatic optimism, the spirit of human beinghood can create a movement of the people, for the people and by the people.  With the many becoming one, we are increased, we are magnified not to police nor be moral dictators to the rest of the world, but to recall to all the strength in remembering our connection one to all and all to one.  President Elect Obama seems to understand not only the optimism of "Yes, We Can," but the value of practical, and structural strategies that support the realization of such hopes. His campaign team did something not done in this country maybe ever, that of a team effort filled with loyalty, of unity working to include the fullness of each member's participation, with a leader who could be the first to own his own mistakes and move on, and to call out the best nature of human beinghood of those with whom he surrounded himself, not to have in-fighting and back biting, but to bring out the strength of thought and commitment to the deeper purpose of life, liberty and happiness for all in that all may win, not just a few.

The crown wisdom of the democratic process wins with this election.  Yes, it took lots of money but perhaps the money came because the values of a deeper kind than merely winning were at play here.  You hear "follow the money," well I say, follow what is being valued and you'll find the consequence of that value.  If you value money more than the value of life and sustainability for all, then you'll find that money, greed, dissent, self-interest and isolation results.  However the difference with the Obama campaign seems to be that money followed where sustainability is the goal, where we are lifted to a plain of morality that goes beyond our common experience where despair may dominate.  I speak here not of hype, nor promotional advertising, nor of religious fervor, but a message that resonates beyond the facts of the moment or event in focus.  This is about sustainability, human energy, the ability to rise out of despair, out of our mistakes, challenges and beliefs in limitations to reach for what, some may say, is impossible. But in the reaching we grow, create, correct and choose again from the renewable energy of life-itself, we remember our light and the role darkness plays in keeping us awake, vigilant.  Life-itself moves, evolves, forms and un-forms, but most of all it holds us when we cannot know how to act. It gives us breath, creative minds and hearts and all the resources of the cosmos from which to draw on in the service of this connecting force in which we move, live and have our being.  There is hope. It takes a while for us to notice we've lost our connection to one another and to this force, but one thing is sure, the laws of life-itself, the value intelligence so present in every one of us will forgive, and welcome us back into the light, to choose again. And each time, perhaps, we will have evolved to include wider and deeper understanding from which to act again with greater wisdom of inclusiveness, unity where sustainability and yes, even thriving can occur.  Amazing how we make the deeper choices whenever possible and someone helps to remind us we can.