A Hard Self-Therapy in a Word

This is a difficult yet therapeutic post to write that has been a long time coming. I’ll start with a simple word that frames up my sentiments at the moment, goodbye.

I’ve felt and lived through the difficulties of saying goodbye at the bedside of dying friends and loved ones. It’s one of the hardest things to face. But this is not that kind of goodbye. There is another type that has a brighter hope and opportunity attached promising new adventures ahead. It’s more that type I’m referring to.

It’s been a strange few years with many disappointments, pains, and the agony of defeat. Sure, there were a few short-lived successes here and there. Just enough to create temporary optimism about what lays ahead.

Okay, before misleading any readers to what this is about, what I am talking about is the country’s current situation — through my eyes at least — in the 2016 election. We have had a few good times in recent years but they soon turned back to a dark cloud.

What on earth am I rambling about? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s just possible that there are some things we might finally bid farewell to. (at the time of this writing anyway) They are things that have been with us for a while, etched into our minds and factored into any serious political discussion.

Picture an episode of Twilight Zone where Rod Sterling says,
“Imagine, if you will, a country without these…..”

Politics as usual: It’s probably the biggest one. Politics as usual may finally be changing. Too early to say if it will stick or not. But it feels pretty good in the short term that politics as usual could be grinding to an end. It outlived its utility and is now called into question. Could there really be something else? There may, in fact, be some life outside it after all.

Race hustling: This one may still be in effect but it seems to be losing traction fast. It might have worn out its welcome. Since things like traffic and road closures, detours, and mall demonstrations inconveniencing millions of Americans, this one may be in search of a new cause which was inevitable. Likely a migration into other areas like plain political activism.

The Democrat plantation: May be heading off into the wild blue yonder. It seems the old blue identity plantation may have outlived its fertilizer supply. This one goes with politics as usual. The primaries are revealing some serious fractures in the same old, such as taking voter groups for granted.

The establishment: Well, this one is not so much what it is but the incessant influence it has. Now its influence could be challenged. It remains one of the biggest factors in our politics today and may lose its control on our system. This one will not go quietly.

Race card: Just as race hustling is called into question, the time has come when the narrative finally got so old and predictable, and less believable than ever. It suffered from overuse and abuse. Imagine a place where it is frowned on to play the race card at every opportunity?

Woman card: This one was a little surprise, but again it suffers from overuse and abuse, especially where abortion is concerned.If the objective was fairness, we may have come full circle with the latest idea to mandate that women also register for the draft.

Interesting, too, in the first Iowa caucus that women went for Sanders. In New Hampshire the 18 to 34 yr old women overwhelmingly went for Sanders over Clinton. 87% for Sanders and 9% for Clinton… says something about choice.

Political correctness: This one is still hanging on by the skin of its teeth but has suffered some serious blows in this election cycle. We’ll have to see if it goes on life support but it is in intensive care. Some wonder now if it is really worth saving.

“It’s my turn now” — This old standard may finally be going the way of the Edsel. It never was very flattering anyway. It looks like it has been challenged from every side and found wanting. How the “rightful” heirs will feel about its absence has yet to be determined. Will they cry and demand it? Will even they be too ashamed to pursue it all the way? Time will tell. But patriarchal families are considering the dire consequences. It could be a bit too much for them to accept all at once.

Note: this claim may seem a little premature. However, chances are good for some of them, better every day in this political climate. It would require vigilance to enforce their absence. Well, that is what this formality is all about — with optimistic hope — bidding them farewell and goodbye. Can’t say I’ll miss them, dibs on the epitaphs though.

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