Sloughing Off Tyranny

“ ‘One fancies a wee fry-up at this hour,’ Aychrome somehow between huge mouthfuls greeted Lew, who, smiling grimly, went looking for some coffee, a fool’s errand around here on the best of mornings, which this already wasn’t. These English were a people of many mysteries, none more peculiar than their indifference to coffee.”  Thomas Pynchon – Against The Day

There are very good reasons America broke away from the motherland in ’76 and formed its own democracy, you know.

It’s Wednesday morning in Mongolia, the sun hasn’t yet risen at 7am, and I’m gulping Dean’s Beans’ Ahab’s Revenge (funny, if you think about it closely) and clicking around the ‘net like a mental patient, panning for news nuggets of the impending US election results. I am trying to settle my mind. What? With meditation? Shirley, you jest. Who could sit still right now? My prescription comes straight from Dr. Dick. Dub Reggae seems just the right soundtrack for this momentous occasion.

There are few days, frankly, when I wish I were back in the States. This is one of them. I can feel the positive, hopeful energy from here, have felt it building for some time, and I’d love to have been there to be a part of it. I voted (or, “votted,” – see my cuzzin’s blog post for the funny), mailing my ballot from UB to Maryland a couple weeks ago. Since DODR is clearly connected to my temple, I can’t say for whom, as that would violate our non-profit status. But I’ll post again tomorrow to discuss the outcome.

In the meantime, to my American readers, be kind to a monk who’s feeling far away from his people just now. Take a moment to share in the comments anything on the positive side you’ve felt or witnessed on this election day where you are. And leave the negativities and nasties of the campaign alone, if you would. We've all heard too much of that, haven't we? And other nations’ readers? I know you’re there, too. Feel free to chime in. I'll be around to be part of the conversation, if a little jittery.

Now if you’ll excuse me, my coffee mug’s empty and the kitties are crying for a wee fry-up of their own.

Comments

[Janet in Seattle]

jitter jitter jitter jitter jitter....

[annmarie]

I've been voting for thirty years, and watching elections for much longer, and this is the first time I've seen and felt so many people be actually happy to be voting. Happy to be able to vote, happy to have someone to vote for, happy to make a positive change. I generally try not to discuss politics with people, but there has been this interesting undercurrent the last couple of days- it's hard not to be aware of it.

[Faith]

I was encouraged to see a higher than normal voter turnout today. Even though I do care who wins, I'm also just generally encouraged by people getting out there and voting, period.

[Konchog]

Thank you, ladies! Yes, this is what I'm feeling, even from here. Such a relief. The last eight years have been...is there even an adequate adjective?

Oh, when you comment on this post, please say where you're writing in from!

[Claire Lumiere]

Can it be that we are finally fulfilling the expectations of our Founding Fathers? The optimism is palpable. Dear Monk, your heart/mind IS here.
Claire from Lakewood, Washington

[annmarie]

Writing from North Florida!

[Janet in Seattle]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO they just called it! My hands are shaking! For the first time in a LONG time I'm not totally ashamed of my country. I think I'm.... proud! All over my neighborhood, screams of joy ringing out...

[Oliver]

Obama did it.

No, let me correct this. The American people did it.

They finally stood up to tyranny!

[Steve Ford]

Konchog the monk, if you don't tell us how you voted we will never be able to guess, and will be in for a life time of suspense.

Time to savor the victory, it's been a long time coming.

[Christian]

Good news for France.

Probably for the USA too.

But, what saddens me is that the reasons that got Mr. Obama elected are not the one that I hoped would have been.

Was Mr. Obama proposing the end of US concentration camps, kidnappings in Europe, deportation, torture, invasion of foreign countries covered up with lies?

So, frankly, it won't make a difference for the rest of the world.

As a side note, can someone explain to me why people consider Mr. Obama as a black man? As far as I know, his mother was white, so he would be called a "metis" in French, not a "noir". (Maybe Mr. Obama identifies more with his father ADN, but this is not the point.)

[Konchog]

Brother Christian, I'm going to try to save you before other DODR readers jump on this. I know you, and I know you're somewhat cynical and radical in your political outlook. That's fine. But you must understand, Obama or anyone can't do anything about the egregious international issues you cite unless they win the election first. If he had run on "European prisoner rendition" and not the economy as it was collapsing around his ears, you would now be facing McCain and, lord help us, Palin. I'll bet you one new Euro that after Jan. 20, you'll see those things addressed and improved. We do hope for those things; they just weren't the ones to get him over the finish line this time.

Now, I'll put the other bit as plainly as I can: Obama's black because Americans see him as black, as well as his wife and kids. The fine racial distinctions and labels you mention are actually a very sensitive matter to Americans. This is because such labels as "mulatto" or "octaroon" or whatever were deployed for ages to deny Americans with even a small amount of African blood from basic civil rights. With our racial past, this is a huge advance, psychologically.