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Politics (Vol. 4, No. 29)

I suppose this is a political statement.  Although, I intend it to be more of a political confession and repentance.

“Politics” can be defined simply as the “art and science of government.”  But read a little further down the dictionary page.  It’s about “winning power and control of the government.”

Politics is really a game of illusion.  Spin this “fact” or “event” to make it look as good or as bad as it needs to be.  Why?  So we can win.  Power.  Control.

Power and control has its place.  At one time I thought that “its place” was with me.  But with age comes the realization that I’m not the person I would choose to be king.

And I am becoming more and more averse to the things we give license to in the quest for political advantage.   I’m totally amazed at the ingenuity used to persuade on both sides of the issues.  I’ve read emails and blogsites, listened to interviews, and tried to decode the sound bites from the national news in this election year.

I watched this morning as Kitty Kelley was interviewed on The Today Show.  If you don’t know Kitty Kelley you may have heard of some of her work.  Ms. Kelley is undoubtedly the most prominent author of our time in that genre of books known as “unauthorized biographies.”  She has written a book about President Bush’s family that promises to be scandalous.  So scandalous in fact that, even though it will not be released until tomorrow, it is already the No. 2 all-time best seller on Amazon.com.

I was saddened by the interview this morning.  She reports in her book that George W. Bush snorted cocaine with his brother at Camp David back during the presidency of his father, George H. Bush.

I was saddened because someone isn’t telling the truth.  President Bush denies the allegations.  Ms. Kelley identifies her source as Sharon Bush – the former wife of Neil Bush.  Sharon Bush acknowledges talking to Ms. Kelley after her divorce but categorically denies that she reported the cocaine incident.  Ms. Bush says she never witnessed the alleged event nor was she ever told by anyone that it ever occurred.

How sad and embarrassing.  I felt badly for Ms. Kelley and Ms. Bush as they faced the same questioner and told different stories.  I was even more sorrowful when I thought about what we, as a nation, will do with all of this.

Some of us will make decisions based on our belief that something did or did not happen.  In all probability, we will never really know what the truth is.

Should the truth matter?  Most definitely. 

However, in politics, there will be no truth until we relent on the quest for power and control and return to the premise that government is of the people, by the people, and for the people.  Then, and only then, will women and men tell the truth in the name of politics . . . government . . . the people.

We play a different political game every day.   Although it doesn’t involve the control of government or command of military forces, we position ourselves for power and control with our families, friends, and co-workers.  And because winning has become all-important, we lose sight of what we are here to do.

Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 12 that every gift of God – every manifestation of the Spirit – was given for the common good.

Thus, I should use none of my energy and talent to tear down others.  Nor should I burn a single calorie in advancing falsehood.  Instead, I should recognize that what is true and right is for the common good.  And the common good is even good for me – perhaps even more so when it wrests power and control from my fingertips.

Shine On!

copyright 2004 Joe L. Cope