I am reminded of a fable I heard years ago about an old woman who was obsessed with getting rid of the dark. All night long she swept and swept and swept it away, only to fall asleep in exhaustion...as the sun began to rise.
Today I'm feeling a bit exhausted by our obsession with the dark. Just as terrorists attempt to foster that obsession with violence, Donald Trump and his supporters are feeding off of the attention we give them for spreading their evil ideas. As many have noted, it was no accident that Trump ramped up the hate right after President Obama's speech on Sunday night and as the Manmouth poll was released showing him losing ground in Iowa. He thrives off of our attention. That's pretty much the definition of a narcissist.
That is not to say that we should avoid condemning the ridiculous things Trump (and other candidates) have said during this campaign. But it is important to find the right balance between that and actually empowering the dark. As Bono wrote in his song, "American Prayer":
Hold on, hold on
Let's not get tired
So kick at the darkness
Make the lights brighter
I'm thinking it's time for a little light. Who better to bring it than The Boss.
Thank you for reminding us,,,that it is only the light that can drive out the darkness
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