Demonizing the demon

The following was forwarded to me today. I found a great deal of wisdom in it so I thought I would share. From Lizbuzz

In mulling over the past election, I have begun to
wonder if we liberal Dems have fallen into the same
trap that GWB is in. Just as GWB is consumed by his
hatred and fear of terrorists, so are we fixated in
hatred and fear on GWB and what he will do to our
beloved country.

This process of demonization, I believe, only further
empowers those we demonize (terrorists or GWB), for it
makes them appear to us more terrible and
unconquerable than ever.

How much of an alternative did we present to the
American voters? If we rely on motivating people by
hatred and fear, then I'll concede this right off the
bat: GWB and his political machine are the "champs"
for these tactics.

I believe liberal Dems will have to find another way
to talk to the majority of voters, outside the
language of hatred and fear. I don't know exactly what
this will entail. But I believe we should start moving
in that direction.

None of what I'm saying nullifies, or even
ameliorates, the threatening agenda GWB is planning
for his second term. Just as Bush's Texas governorship
presaged his first presidential term, so his first
term presages an even more extreme agenda for his
second term.

We can expect more tax cuts for the wealthy, more
public debt, a dangerous erosion of the separation
between church and state, a total indifference to
environmental issues and their impact on our health,
and the supremacy of big business in policy decisions.
We can also expect GWB to continue his war against
evildoers, whoever or whatever he deems them to be.

Americans will face these choices in the next 4 years:
(1) submit to this agenda, (2) resist it by greater
political activism, or (3) get out of the country.
People will make one of these choices, actively or by
default.

Some spiritual philosophers say everything happens for
a reason: life exists for people to learn. As the
Buddhist saying goes, "No one is your friend, everyone
is your teacher." Without indulging in "us or them"
distinctions, these are the lessons I believe will
challenge all Americans, to some degree, in the next 4
years and beyond:

1. God is not on our side, to the exclusion of others.

2. Might does not make right.

3. It's not enough to enjoy the benefits of democracy.
You have to sustain it. That means more than showing
up to vote every 2 or 4 years, after watching (or
avoiding) the campaign advertising blitz on
television.

I think every citizen has a duty to be decently
well-informed, and to participate actively in some
way--no matter how small--in the everyday business of
government. In a thriving democracy, politics and
government are not somebody else's job. It's yours.

4. If life in the U.S. is going to be good, it has to
be good for everyone, not just some, not just the few.

5. You're most safe when you're peaceful: when you
listen to people, try to understand their concerns,
and treat them justly. People who love and respect you
will not aim to hurt you.

6. The base of our prosperity is freedom and
commitment to equality. Take away freedom and
equality, and our prosperity will decline.

Before anything changes for the better, people's minds
have to change for the better. Your comments on any of this?