Barack Obama seals the Democratic nomination. Aramis Ramirez hits a grand slam to put the Cubs 34 games over .500 for the first time since the Wilson Administration. Something just wafted through my window, and it sure smells a lot like hope — a lovely fragrance I've been a little unfamiliar with as of late.
Well, that's not exactly true. Despite all the craptacular shit that's gone down in my life and in the world over these past eight years, I continue to believe in the power of hope and joy, and the ability to recognize (and revel in) the sweeter sides of existence. To paraphrase a post I left this morning at the excellent Funky 16 Corners, hope is the antithesis of fear, and ultimately a far more powerful thing. Hope is at the heart of all the music that I love, because it's impossible to get your groove on or whack a windmill power chord if you're too busy cowering in fear. Hope, music, and love — all of which are really part of the same family — have all sustained me through the darkest times, and are basically why I'm still here.
Hope is something that's noticeably absent from John McCain's campaign, and why shouldn't it be? In his eyes, we're all doing fine, and we should stop "whining" about our crumbling economy and worry instead about how some dirty ragheads are going to make us all suck Mohammed's dick. (Oh, and speaking of body parts, will "She's got a vagina! Look!" become his inspiring new campaign slogan? Hope Gov. Palin never makes the mistake of "plastering on the makeup like a trollop"; think her British Petroleum-employed hubby would defend his wife's honor if a gen-yoo-wine war hero ever called her a "fucking cunt"?)
Well, fuck that. And fuck fear. And fuck whatever Billy Goat/Bartman bullshit Joe Morgan and ESPN want to dish out. Go Obama. Go Cubs. GO HOPE.
I am speechless with the exception of one word, "AGREED!"
Posted by: Chris Perry | August 30, 2008 at 08:41 AM