Wednesday, November 3, 2010

the price of victory

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There is frost on the car windows this morning and a piece of the moon is riding around among the clouds in a not-yet-lighted sky.

News on the internet sorts out Republican gains in the wake of yesterday's mid-term elections. There were pictures with smiles on the winners' faces. Because there is so much confusion and dissatisfaction in another country wracked by economic hard times, it is nice to see a smiling face or two.

But what do people learn from their victories? Sometimes I think it is harder to shoulder the implications of victory than it is to face the devastation of loss. Isn't it more likely that the sting of defeat will inspire careful attention? As a matter of reflection, which lessons have told a more compelling tale -- the mistakes or the victories? Isn't it harder to plumb the meaning of a victory -- which can be enthralling and self-substantiating -- than it is to reconsider the lash of defeat?

If memory serves, when Alexander the Great conquered a new territory, his success was followed not just by chest-pounding celebrations. He also set up governments that retained the old leadership ... with the understanding that they now owed fealty to him.

An interesting approach to victory.

Republicans and Democrats don't interest me that much. But individuals do.
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1 comment:

  1. As usual those in change let it go to their heads the minute they get power. Politics certainly isn't a mindful business. At least, it's very hard to do so. It seems our government here in America is so locked up with partisanship and clogged with corruption that it will never recover. Thus, I turn to my practice.

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