Posted by
Zentrist on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:42:58 PM
The fireplace behind the president and the prime minister was perfect. It was, again, a perfect symbol for the moment. For the hearth, no mere decoration, is an archetype, a perennial symbol of all the things we hold dear and cherish. It is a universal reality and ideal, something that transcends class, race, religion and color. The fire within the hearth, the center of the home both ancient and modern--represents the eternal verities, again, the things we humans value most. I'm talking about all human beings and citizens, not just the Jews or Palestinians, Egyptians or Ethiopians, French people or Australians. So, in this setting, Obama and Netanyahu broke bread together, so to speak. With a universal symbol of religion behind them, they spoke of peace as the utltimate aspiration. I also noticed a couple of works of art behind the great leaders: a bust of Lincoln (universal equality of opportunity) and, I believe, a bust of Martin Luther King (great leader of non-violent resistance). I'd like to thank Mrs. Obama and the entire staff for the extraordinary hospitality they provide our visitors. It goes without saying that this House is extremely special in terms of its history, symbolism and tradition.
As for the way to get from here to there, another presidential appearance comes to mind. It was about a week ago. Behind the microphone was a path or road made of asphalt, some green grass, some more greenery in bloom, and the White House. Again, the background scenery was picture-perfect. The POTUS came out on time--and he proceeded to walk on the grass. He walked right on the lawn, almost as if to say--"we're gonna have to be willing to do things a little differently if we're gonna get from here to there." That puritanical super-ego in the back of one's mind that always says, DO NOT WALK ON THE GRASS--was disregarded in this case. And for good reason. It was the most expedient way to get from the house to the microphone. At the moment, I cannot recall that particular statement. But the lone figure of the President, striding on the green grass to make his remarks, was striking.
Today's presidential message is also fresh on my mind. And again, if I'm not mistaken, the president walked on the grass, as if to say to us puritans and Catholics: "It's gonna be okay." But prior to that grand entrance, he made sure to seek out Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, as if to say, "This too, shall pass." All this exorbitantly excessive sensationalism and hype that titillates us so: It is all so much vanity, as we find that word in Ecclesiastes, throughout.
President Obama reminded us and the world today that we use one-fourth of the world's oil supply. We are not one quarter of the globe's population, not by a long shot. So, we need to saddle up, buckle up rather--and do right by our fellow drivers and our own families.
Nowadays, the "hearth and the home" are the Planet Earth. I might add that President Obama prefaced his remarks of gratitude and encouragement by noting that "The sun is shining...because good things are happening." I agree. God bless our president, and God bless the USA and the entire Inhabited Earth. Seeing such displays of hard work, good will and uncanny intelligence and intuition--makes one want to apologize for all the times when he has "gone negative," instead of seeking and finding the radiance and the beauty.