The political stalemate we are witnessing is, in my opinion, a
manifestation of our ways of dealing with grief in the wake of 9/11.
Being angry, self-destructive, and having an extreme desire to be in
complete control, is one way of dealing with overwhelming loss. Recognizing and
accepting the magnitude of the loss, using the energy of the void to
create something positive, reaching out to comfort and support others is
another way.
There is no doubt in my mind that a traumatic event can make the world stand still. But how we view the world
after
the dust clears and our shock dissipates is what divides the pessimists
from the optimists; the stuck from those ready to rebuild.
Grieving
and mourning take time and no one way is "correct". Recognizing and
accepting that truth might allow us to be gentle with each other instead
of lashing out and
cementing the dysfunction that so clearly grips our nation. The different political views could be mirroring different ways of grieving or be, more simply, a sign that some are further down the road in their journey to heal. Maybe we just need to hold the "other" in the light of love and give them reassurance that, even though they deny it, all will be well.
Just a thought.
Vendala Rose. Digital photograph. 2011
-karen anne
