Where the Hell did the Pendulum Go?

In February, only 8 months ago, I blogged about the importance of compromise and working together to find our political similarities and using that as a starting point in working together to heal this divided nation (See “Middle Ground” 2/20/06). I liked that blog, it made a lot of sense to me, it still does in theory. But now we are less then 2 weeks from Election Day, and I assure you, I will not be taking the middle ground.

I want to be open-minded. I want to be flexible. I want to believe in a middle ground that we can all live with. But I can’t see it. And what is alarming to me is that it feels like the “middle ground” has taken a giant step to the right. The middle isn’t the middle anymore it’s over there a ways and people who prefer the left are going to have to give up more to get to the “middle.” I know it’s a pendulum. We’ve seen this before; eventually it will swing back the other way. But what if the pendulum is stuck? What if it’s not coming back? What if the pendulum is broken? Then what? Riots? Fascism? Civil War? Don’t laugh – you think it can’t happen? (but that’s another blog in it’s self! I’ll move on.)

So, Election Day – (supposedly) the chance for each of us to have our say in where the pendulum goes from here. (Okay, the “supposedly” was a dig, and I will save that for another blog too, for this entry, lets just stay in la-la-land and pretend that we have a non-corrupt election process). This is when I’m supposed to be pushing that Middle Ground theory I liked so well. But I can’t do it. It’s a cliché, but it’s true too (can clichés be true?) – I don’t want to throw my vote away! I am not willing to vote for a candidate that I know has no chance of winning when I desperately want the pendulum to come back. And so, I turn into one of those narrow-minded people that I can’t stand; pent up with anger and resentment for those with opposing views; convinced, beyond all reason, that “my” way is the only way. Yes – that’s exactly right – beyond all reason. Because my logical mind knows that the extremes are not the answer. And more alarming, to fight one extreme with another extreme will lead to further division in our nation, communities and values and eventually to violence.

We are living in interesting times. I feel like we are at the edge of a cliff and something’s got to give. History will mark this spot. But how? Will it be a turning point or a jumping point? Or will we work together to build a bridge? Time will tell . . . tick, tock, tick, tock. (Was that the pendulum I heard?)