Politics of the Heart

The Judgement of Solomon, Raphael

E. M. Forster famously wrote in Two Cheers for Democracy, “If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.”

E. M. Forster sounds like a loyal friend.

I've been struggling with the question of two friends running for the same office. I've previously supported each of them in their successful campaigns for state legislative seats. My congressman recently announced he would not be running for reelection, and several people have thrown their hat in the ring. Two of those hats belong to my friends.

My really good friends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson noted "We talk of choosing our friends, but friends are self-elected."

That may be so, but I was looking for guidance on the question of choosing between friends.

I've been extremely active in electoral politics at all levels, and my children have been very willing participants in campaign rallies, signwaving and literature dropping efforts. So I knew they would understand the dilemma - and that they'd be watching to see how I handled it.

I felt like King Solomon, forced to settle a dispute about which woman who claimed a child was truly the mother.

No, I felt like the mother, watching in horror as Solomon threatened to cut the child in two.

And that gave me an answer. The true mother relinquished her claim rather than see her child destroyed.

I want to make a choice. I've spent years evaluating and weighing and judging and choosing and acting to support my choices.

But I respect and admire both of these people. I don't want to do anything to harm either one, and a political contest inherently involves attacks on one's opponents. It hurts my heart to think of supporting one at the expense of the other. In addition to their fine minds and leadership qualities, they have each been there to share joys and comforted me at tough times in my life.

I cannot choose. And I told them so. And - miracle of miracles - they were okay with that. Not thrilled, but okay. Each spoke to me about our friendship as something they valued, transcending the political arena.

I am damned lucky to have these two people in my life.

"If two friends ask you to judge a dispute,
don't accept, because you will lose one
friend; on the other hand, if two strangers
come with the same request, accept
because you will gain one friend."

~ St. Augustin

Vision of St. Augustin by Vittore Carpaccio

Is it just me, or does that funky chair thing on the left look like
the Time Machine from the cheesy Rod Taylor movie?

Let 'em talk! What're ya afraid of? - Belated Oscar Night Reflections

I had a great time on Sunday night with a bunch of friends over at Bad Mom's house. We ate incredible hors d'oeuvres and desserts, drank champagne, and watched the Academy Awards.

I loved the glamour, the clever opening number, the comraderie of chums watching artists getting well deserved recognition for their work and the enjoyment of listening to the heartfelt acceptance speeches. Good times!
Except for the loss of Robert Downey Jr. for Best Supporting Actor. He wuz robbed.

An acquaintance bemoaned the goings on at the Oscars in her blog yesterday, writing "Keep The Art - Drop the Politics." She called out Sean Penn for his acceptance speech when he received Best Actor for Milk. She admonished the actor and others who "use the Academy Award ceremony to push their political agenda," listing what they should and should not talk about whilst at the podium. It was almost like an etiquette lesson. She wrote "Do not talk about politics which divide."

I've been rolling that one around in my mind ever since I read it. It's basically the same thing my own darling mother used to say when she complained about someone "spoiling the Oscars with all that political talk."

Here's Sean, talking about those pesky politics:





Life is political. Art is political. This film is VERY political.

And it is timely. Prop. 8 sucks. See here for my thoughts on that.

Democracy is messy. Things would be so much easier if they would just make me Queen. I would make darned sure that people's civil rights were respected. I think most of the audience at the Academy Awards would appreciate that, based on their resounding cheers in response to Penn's speech. But I don't think my acquaintance would be very happy. I don't think she's keen at all to have gay marriage. I've read over her blog pretty carefully and noted that she avoids discussing politics as if she fears any confrontation. But she lets slip more than a bit of her conservative religious views now and again. I'm not saying that if Sean Penn had spoken in favor of Proposition 8, she'd have cheered. But there might have been a tiny nod of her head in agreement before she chided him for not thanking his wife.

In contrast, I'm pretty open about my political views. I am not afraid to have a discussion about controversial issues. Of course, I am always very sure that I am totally right and anyone who disagrees with me is a victim of unclear thinking. Hee hee hee!

I'm reminded of two quotes:

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
widely attributed to Edmund Burke, but brilliantly disputed here

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.
naturalist Henry David Thoreau, whose quote about slavery is well discussed here

I don't know whether Thoreau would say that Sean Penn was hacking at the branches or striking the root in his acceptance speech.

But this I know: He is a good man who is speaking out against evil.
So I'm glad he spoke up. And I trust that he will continue to do so.


Oh, and that not thanking his wife thing? She is totally okay with it. They talked about what he would say in his speech if he won, and she knows he thanks her. And he loves her. She doesn't need him to say it in front of everyone.

But other people who love each other appreciate him speaking up on their behalf.