"This historic campaign is more than a monumental battle over the soul of
the Democratic Party. It is, more significantly, a moral and spiritual
awakening of fellow citizens - especially young and old ones - for the
rebirth of American democracy."
Cornel West. (photo: AOL)
Clinton vs. Sanders, Statecraft vs. Soulcraft
By Cornel West, The Boston Globe
21 February 16
The presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders is unique in American history.
Never before has there been such a popular upsurge within the two-party
system, led by a democratic socialist rooted in the best of the prophetic
Jewish culture. This historic campaign is more than a monumental battle over
the soul of the Democratic Party. It is, more significantly, a moral and
spiritual awakening of fellow citizens - especially young and old ones - for
the rebirth of American democracy.
Despite the vast array of voices in the Democratic and Republican parties,
there is widespread agreement that our political system is broken, our
economy is unfair, and our culture is in decline. No candidate - with the
exception of Hillary Clinton - believes the status quo is fine, fair, and in
good shape (thanks to President Obama).
The genius of Sanders is to exemplify a profound integrity and genuine
conviction in the midst of pervasive mendacity and raw ambition. There is
little doubt our statecraft has been wrecked by a crass opportunism and
greed that debases our public life and demeans our common good. The widely
attractive soulcraft of Sanders provides an authenticity of moral depth and
spiritual substance. Sanders' righteous indignation is not mere narcissistic
anger (like that of Donald Trump); rather it flows from profound sensitivity
to the suffering of the weak and vulnerable. Sanders' big vision and big
heart - in contrast to Clinton's big name and intimate link to big money -
yields a real hope grounded in community. Unlike Clinton's sense of
entitlement and prerogative, Sanders is the quintessential American underdog
who suffers, strives, and triumphs.
For example, Clinton cannot conceive of the victory of Sanders - she is
blinded by her Machiavellian "morality" and spiritual vacuity. The Clinton
machine either wins by any means and celebrates, or loses, whines and
recalibrates. In stark contrast, Sanders tends to stand above the fray but
is willing to engage in fierce combat if his integrity is attacked. In this
moment of ugly polarization, we need leaders, regardless of race or gender,
who have what the great Jane Austen called constancy - a steadfast
commitment to moral consistency and practical wisdom like that of Anne
Elliot in "Persuasion.''
Democratic soulcraft - empathy, integrity, and a mature sense of history -
constitutes the raw stuff of democratic statecraft. We will never fix our
broken systems with mendacious leaders or tendentious citizens. We must
search for higher moral ground and spiritual heights - and the grand example
of Sanders is the best we have in our present moment of political decadence
and cultural decay. Like the prophetic performance of Kendrick Lamar at the
Grammy Awards, we need a Coltrane-like intensity of moral and spiritual
witness, and the campaign of Bernie Sanders is such witness - namely, the
democratic awakening in our time.
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Cornel West. (photo: AOL)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2016/02/18/clinton-sanders-statecraft-soulcraft/
eLUEdch57hR0dbmaysaJhO/story.htmlhttps://www.bostonglobe.com/2016/02/18/clin
ton-sanders-statecraft-soulcraft/eLUEdch57hR0dbmaysaJhO/story.html
Clinton vs. Sanders, Statecraft vs. Soulcraft
By Cornel West, The Boston Globe
21 February 16
he presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders is unique in American history.
Never before has there been such a popular upsurge within the two-party
system, led by a democratic socialist rooted in the best of the prophetic
Jewish culture. This historic campaign is more than a monumental battle over
the soul of the Democratic Party. It is, more significantly, a moral and
spiritual awakening of fellow citizens - especially young and old ones - for
the rebirth of American democracy.
Despite the vast array of voices in the Democratic and Republican parties,
there is widespread agreement that our political system is broken, our
economy is unfair, and our culture is in decline. No candidate - with the
exception of Hillary Clinton - believes the status quo is fine, fair, and in
good shape (thanks to President Obama).
The genius of Sanders is to exemplify a profound integrity and genuine
conviction in the midst of pervasive mendacity and raw ambition. There is
little doubt our statecraft has been wrecked by a crass opportunism and
greed that debases our public life and demeans our common good. The widely
attractive soulcraft of Sanders provides an authenticity of moral depth and
spiritual substance. Sanders' righteous indignation is not mere narcissistic
anger (like that of Donald Trump); rather it flows from profound sensitivity
to the suffering of the weak and vulnerable. Sanders' big vision and big
heart - in contrast to Clinton's big name and intimate link to big money -
yields a real hope grounded in community. Unlike Clinton's sense of
entitlement and prerogative, Sanders is the quintessential American underdog
who suffers, strives, and triumphs.
For example, Clinton cannot conceive of the victory of Sanders - she is
blinded by her Machiavellian "morality" and spiritual vacuity. The Clinton
machine either wins by any means and celebrates, or loses, whines and
recalibrates. In stark contrast, Sanders tends to stand above the fray but
is willing to engage in fierce combat if his integrity is attacked. In this
moment of ugly polarization, we need leaders, regardless of race or gender,
who have what the great Jane Austen called constancy - a steadfast
commitment to moral consistency and practical wisdom like that of Anne
Elliot in "Persuasion.''
Democratic soulcraft - empathy, integrity, and a mature sense of history -
constitutes the raw stuff of democratic statecraft. We will never fix our
broken systems with mendacious leaders or tendentious citizens. We must
search for higher moral ground and spiritual heights - and the grand example
of Sanders is the best we have in our present moment of political decadence
and cultural decay. Like the prophetic performance of Kendrick Lamar at the
Grammy Awards, we need a Coltrane-like intensity of moral and spiritual
witness, and the campaign of Bernie Sanders is such witness - namely, the
democratic awakening in our time.
http://e-max.it/posizionamento-siti-web/socialize
http://e-max.it/posizionamento-siti-web/socialize
