Tread lightly on the things of earth

I hope this is true (on the wonder and warmth of sane conservatives speaking out against Republican political/fiscal/moral insanity):

A tacit distinction between “conservative” and “republican” has already worked its way into the zeitgeist, probably because true conservatives recognize the damage being wrought under their mantle and are rightfully horrified.

I have observed this phenomenon first-hand in microcosm, but hadn’t dared hope it’s entered the Zeitgeist. O frabjous day! Though dimmed by tears of loss and sadness, [maybe] this marks the renewal of a healing peristalsis.

Thanks, Cedwyn.

On this the first anniversary of the day euphoria-becomes-despair for the future of our country — U.S. Election Day 2004, the day we ceased being pushed into the abyss and jumped — I look back at what I was thinking The Day After:

Lamentation: The darkness descends (November 3, 2004)

The lament remains, but now I know this unstable alliance of the greedy, the arrogant, and the ignorant cannot endure. More of us depart its company every day. (I infer from new 35% approve/60% disapprove numbers).

But that we fell for it at all keeps getting in my way. Grrr.

<mini-rant>Patriotic fervor, practically a trademark of those in the 35%, masks a weird conundrum: America cannot stay #1 without our assertively pursuing excellence — in science, engineering, the arts, and social justice, for example — yet on many fronts we’re racing, hell-bent, toward mediocrity. What kind of sense does that make?</mini-rant>

We’ve been a frozen lump of dough, hard as stone; as a people are we finally thawed enough to rise? Is the leaven still here? Is the leaven working?

Can my spent dry heart come back?

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. —Galatians 5

Because I need reminding.