Powell's redemption and ours as well
Colin Powell will very likely endorse Obama this weekend. The reactions have been mixed: betrayal from the Right, too little too late from the Left. But this could be a needed act of redemption not only for Powell but a beginning of our own as Americans as well
Powell gave into pressure last early in 2003 and lost his soul in the bargain. He was the "good soldier" then but if he had instead fallen on his sword and war had thus been averted ironically it might have resulted in a different kind of fall from grace for him. First he would have been shunned by almost every Republican and many Democrats as well. History from that point would have taken a different path. The disasterous war of the last five years might have been avoided but other possbily tragic events might have occured instead. What if, having in a sense helped Saddam stay in power, Saddam had ended up funneling a dirty bomb to terrorist who attack us again. Powell would have been seen as complicit. We just don't know. We are judging him by what did happened and have found him wanting. I would suggest we all listen to his statement and explanation on Meet the Press.
I have it on very good authority he is going to endorce Obama on Sunday. If it helps Obama in any way we should be grateful. We cannot know the future but readers of this blog have good reason to fear the election of McCain/Palin and the continuation of Republcan rule. Without knowing that version of our future we cannot judge the value of Powell's endorsement helping Obama to win.
I have one last thought as well. The disastrous consequences of
this war could have already marked the beginning of an irreversible decline for
the US or it could be the beginning of a return to a better America. We have been stunned to see ourselves
of late: the hubris but not the honor and grace to justify it; the confidence
not justified by our blatant shortcomings, the realization that the America we
thought we lived in is riddled with inequities, ineptness, and a growing
unwillingness to strive to be the best in science, education, and leadership.
We have had a major comeuppance these last few years, but maybe this trial will lead to our renewal. Maybe the enthusiasm that is being tapped into by Obama is a
widespread desire and willingness to regain our place in the world and in our
own eyes. If we are willing this time to choose a man who not only strove for
the best education, but is as proudly erudite as he is profoundly practical, a
man who is willing to use power wisely not merely covet and wield it, who tells
us without hesitation we too must work hard and be our best selves, then maybe
the wake up call of these last 7-8 years will be seen as the trial that allowed
us to move beyond our dangerous complacency of recent years.
