“To be silent the whole day long, see no newspaper, hear no radio, listen to no gossip, be thoroughly and completely lazy, thoroughly and completely indifferent to the fate of the world is the finest medicine a man can give himself.” – Henry Miller
I think we’re all going to need some of that medicine Henry was talking about when these midterm elections are over. And by the time this paper is published again, they will be, unless— heaven forbid—runoffs are required.
But I have decided to give myself a little of Henry’s medicine ahead of time. I need it now. This election season has been decidedly corrosive to Americans of all political persuasions. So much so that I’m tempted to smash my laptop and television and throw my cell phone into a passing freight train.
The leading Democrats argue that Republicans are greedy and careless, and the leading Republicans argue that Democrats are incompetent and dishonest.
Both sides claim the other represents the forces of darkness and evil, while they represent the forces of light and love.
So, let me say this to both sides: Shut up, already!
You’re making us all crazy!
And you’ve put me in a dour mood, and that’s not ideal when one is trying to write a column. You might milk a certain amount of humor out of anger, but not via violent rage.
So, repeat after me: Om Mani Padme Hum (the jewel is in the lotus). Om Mani Padme Hum. Om Mani Padme Hum.
OK. I feel better now. I hope that the Buddhist mantra restored your faith in the compassionate nature of humanity for a few hours.
But if you’re a Georgia fan you probably don’t need to explore the path to enlightenment and repeat Buddhist phrases over and over again.
Not this week, anyway.
Georgia Bulldog fans are too busy gloating over the defeat of Tennessee and the team’s return to No. 1 in the CFP poll—where they should have been all along.
Tennessee had no claim on the top spot given to them by the CFP Selection Committee before last Saturday’s game. To their credit, UGA took care of business and—at least symbolically—restored order and security to Dawg Nation.
But if Georgia loses to Mississippi State this week, you won’t hear Kirby Smart blame Fox News or MSNBC.
Congressional hearings will not be called for and subpoenas won’t be sent out requiring quarterbacks and linebackers to testify about the outcome of the game.
Football has rules. Penalties are assessed for those who violate them. And the outcomes are rarely challenged unless of course, a replay reveals an official’s abysmal judgment.
Politics has almost no rules.
But even though this is a sports column, we’re not going to bring up Herschel Walker—even though I could get away with it because of his background; or the former president—might be able to get away with that, too, since he once owned the USFL New Jersey Generals. And I see no way at all to justify talking about the White House plant we elected in 2020 (thank you for the observation, Judi).
And we’re certainly not going to discuss Elon Musk and his acquisition of Twitter. All that has become fodder for mean-spirited dimwits who lurk among the swamps and bogs of that particular social media outlet.
Dadgum it. The very thought of Twitter and its incomparable meanness has drawn a curtain of gloom over me again.
So, I think it is time for another Buddhist mantra or at least a chant. How about “Sabbe satta sukhi hontu,” which is a Pali phrase meaning “May all beings be happy.” Or you could go with “Sabbe satta avera hontu,” which means “May all beings be free from enmity and danger.”
A candidate who wished such things upon the world would certainly get my vote right now.
Not likely, is it? But there is still football, which doesn’t sound very Buddhist-like, although there is Vajrapani, whose name translates to “Wielder of the Thunderbolt.”
He is pictured dancing wildly with a halo of flames, according to wildmind.com. His thunderbolt “emphasizes the power to cut through darkness and delusion.”
Amen, brother Vajrapani! We could all use plenty of that.
I just hope my alma mater (Georgia State) can win a couple more games. Right now, we’re 4-5, just like the Atlanta Falcons, and being just like the Atlanta Falcons is rarely considered a notable achievement. But it is through my football team I look for personal validation.
When they take the field, they represent the forces of light and love to me. The opposing team represents the forces of darkness and evil … sorta’ like Democrats. Or Republicans. Your choice.
Selah.