America recovering from post-stress?

I find myself breathing easier. It started with reading The Audacity of Hope: honest, with an agenda for action, smart, good hearted, .... I know, I know it is too soon to tell. I read the Time article; the driver in Iowa who, when he was young, had driven Bobby Kennedy and had driven Barack now. "I have never seen people react like that since, 'til now." Then it expanded as the election results came in. And expanded again when there was an action list: raise the minmum wage,revise the energy policy, allow the US to negotate drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry, ... Maybe put an end to W's drive for a Pultocracy - God willing. My kids are visibly relieved. Maybe they can let go of their cynicism a bit? Maybe there was more depth to America than slimy politics, the Rush Limbaugh show, and Haliburton sitting over the Senate.

• I find myself hoping that what we are seeing is America getting past the post-traumatic stress syndrome that was triggered by 9/11. That awful, gut-wrenching body blow.
• That horror and the danger that still undeniably exists.
• The immediate outpouring of love, courage and sympathy
• And then our world-alienating and cloaked in mystery response ... It is sad to me that our leadership lacked the heart and wisdom to lead a response that had unquestioned integrity - instead of one that unquestionably lacked it

Perhaps we, as a great nation, are getting our feet back under us. Maybe we will shrink back the gap between rich and poor. Maybe we will come to be seen as a self-interested but fair member of the world community. Maybe "no child left behind" will no longer ring like "mission accomplished". I'm sitting here talking the talk. Headed out, prayer for help, to try and walk the walk. Breating a little easier - intent on keeping it that way.  Bob Lem Love => Justice => Peace, in that order