Real Shock and Awe

More powerful than was imaginable,
We are almost in a state of collective shock/awe.
The promise -- Antigone before the king comes to mind -- wonderfully hard to process.
He looked as a man with providence; the opposite mirror of Bush.
There was humility inside it.
He was even careful not to get too frenzied -- gave a soft landing.
Sober, reflective, determined... emotional beyond words.
The world looked to America... we showed our best.
For one night at least, the world was sane.
The planet sighs in relief and deserves a righteous party.
We have beaten back the worst in ourselves, the old and inevitable forces of cynicism and greed.
No more patriotic primates to rule the roost.
Real change will take sacrifice, vigilance and will.
The bailout of Wall Street, the wars and the final gorge of the right wing must be stopped now, a return to Keynesian balance.
Bottom up instead of top down.
The gold standard that every human has value -- be awarded respect, dignity and opportunity --
The currency of grace.
A wave of renewal and possibility.
And now the real work begins.

Comments

[NenaRobertson]

Dear Johnny,

It is admirable to see someone like you being courageous enough to stand up to the establishment and also the general public by taking, the often quite unappreciated role of waking up society’s conscience.

You are effectively fulfilling your role as an artist, as according to Naum Gabo, once imprisoned for his political views, an ‘artist’s task is not to perpetuate the fear but rather to encourage the resistance­.’ I read you article on Mr Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and I’m feeling both the inspiration and need to share a few thoughts but there is only space for 250 words.

I had the opportunity to briefly see you around your co-workers on your project in London some six months ago and your conduct towards them was both respectful and admirable. I have also seen many other people treating their co-workers with disrespect and insolence and led by greed, which is to say, that not everyone feels the need to overcome exploitation and gain.

There are many other obstacles that Mr Obama will face as we will with him: politics, economy, energy sources, post-modern war, closing the gap in diverse communities (resolving problems of a modern technologically advanced western culture as viewed by an ancient, angry Islam) and the ultimate quest of brining that long awaited ‘better tomorrow’ into our lives.

Thank you for waking up and for stirring up a few questions and a few passions in my Zoon Politikon.
Kind regards,
Nena

[Eleni65]

I am so grateful the promise of hope prevailed. We do have a challenging road ahead- time to roll up our sleeves and work together to pave the road back to sanity. An incredible opportunity for transformation has been presented to us.

[PriestessPandora]

Mr. Cusack,
I do enjoy your commentary. Yep. You'd think people would agree that every human life has value. I am curious about your metaphysical perspective on the Bush/Cheney reign of terror and on life in general.

Ms. Pandora Peoples

Hope your Thanksgiving was a good one!

[Siristone]

Mr. C:
How wonderful that a famous actor can reveal his own personal values/vul­nerabiliti­es through an unfortunately underrated medium: poetry. Not surprised though. You are an artist not a celebrity posing as one.
"The currency of grace". Hmmm. I too hope for that and more but wonder if we are being a little naive after 8 years of letting the bullies run the school. I am sure they won't give up too easily.
Anyway, Bravo on the poem.
KSS

[TaraLynn]

"Real change will take sacrifice, vigilance and will."

I'm more of an actions, not words, kind of girl. What will you personally be sacrificing?

[cosmopolitan]

Thoughtful, hopeful, careful, yet powerful words – incredulous surprise meets first, fragile relief. And ever so adequately mirroring the emotions experienced by the rest of us who have been hoping for America to some to its senses for long. Thank you for expressing it.

[BoulderSue]

Beautiful!

[miel2001]

All across America, some very nice initiatives passed and progressives won too. Mass: outlawed greyhound racing; decriminalized under an ounce of marijuana; and voted to keep income tax.

It was a full on realization that we are the people we want to be.
We just have to stand up and say it, and keep doing so.

Still there are many unhealthy/dirty projects pending at the local level, hopefully those working against labs, power plants and trash stations can hold on for the bottom up approach. Sooner rather than later is great. But we grow hope in our backyards.

[JoTexasBorderCountry]

I have followed your posts for a few months now and always, I am impressed with your writing ability. You carry the same passion to your writing that you reveal in your on-screen performances. Perhaps Americans truly can have some hope and healing in this country now with the Obama/Biden victory. I remember a time when Texas was not Republican country and I hope to see Texas swept by the Democratic party again. The border country in Texas was "blue" on November 4th for few of us in the Texas border country like the idea of a border fence: anything that purports to keep me safe while instead robbing me of my freedom is my enemy. My own pioneer Texas ancestors knew that sometimes, it is necessary to pick a fight to secure liberty. You are one of my favorite Irishmen--the first being my own brown-eyed, handsome husband. Keep up the good work, and the good writing with it.

[lynzilla]

(this is continued from below. or above. not sure.)

I have attached some of the core statements from the 2008 Waldzell Meeting because I think they apply to the gift Cusack is giving us here.
* The quality of our lives is directly related to the quality of our questions.
* We can change our genetic expression—we are not fixed—life is controlled by the outside, each one of us has different receptors to reach our environment – we are not victims, we are masters of our genetics, we are free to create everything.
* Consciousness is fundamental, it influences all.
* Architects of the Future are a great enrichment – we could develop an overall strategy on how they can progress.
* Reality is a great lesson.
* We cannot find God anywhere outside of our selves.
* Absolute tolerance for race and gender.

[lynzilla]

Well done. After reading this I read No Currency and wrote this. But it really applies to both posts.
The leap that Cusack makes when he ties the concept of faith to the evolution of our economy seems long overdue. Love this statement "Faith and hope have to manifest in the social transactions we make." To me, with that one statement he challenges us to think about how we live choose to live our lives and the impact of those choices. Pointing fingers at Republicans or wealthy financiers is easy. Digging deep, understanding that everything we do, think, feel infectiously effects the world around us AND THEREFORE we are all responsible for the mess the markets are in - not so easy. Or is it?
So how to we get rid of greed? We make laws. We bully and threaten. And greedy folk - they bully and threaten back. Sway a lawmaker here and there. How vicious is that cycle? Real change can only happen with a shift of consciousness - like the one the world felt when Obama won the presidential election.
(see next post - ran out of space)

[dez68]

To respond to Cusack's last two writings in tendem; a lot of what's been going on lateley reminds me of two things in the positive and the negative light I feel we should all remember; that it says right there in the declaration of independance to paraphrase
"...if the people do not agree with the government and how things have been run then they not only have the right but the duty to start over... "
Also it reminded me of something Plato said in "The Republic " I believe, that ;..."democ­racies are the most likely to degrade into dictatorships because of their own success and comlacency with themselves­..."
-both of these paraphrases come to mind for me becsuse we all must remember how fragile our democracy is and never forget what we have earned collectively - esp on November 4th 2008 ! I have always been a fan of Cusack's but I am thanking him here for being an articulate voice in these years of darkness to uphold intellectually these concepts, and to the Huffington Post for the forum to express these sentiments in.

[ignorantwillyharper]

Bush will leave the Whitehouse in just a short time, but when he leaves, he'll leave in shame. Along with the shame, it will also include, not just ruining his name but that of his families name also. To lose your name to not being a justified person, will be a great weight he and his family will have to live with for eons. To know you have squandered not only your name but the ones of your family, must be truly haunting.
Bush on the other hand maybe so out of touch with the real world, to not even realize what he has done.

[hiprogloho]

We have survived 8 Orwellian years of Machiavellian US mischief. We are past the era of the evil stupid. Now that the age of the smart good is upon us, you have arrived as a writer.

Keep writing. Have you ever considered a screenplay or movie to change the world? When good wins out it requires feel good media to remind us who we are and what counts.

[foundationx]

This was a moment of shock and awe of the American Spirit. The quote, in your very first blog, on the t-shirt Hunter S. Thompson gave you is prophetic of the hope I think many people are clinging to. At an Irish pub in SF I watched the speech with my mom(whom I had dragged there for a drink) and a silent crowd. What struck me most was the sincerely PATRIOTIC outbursts of the people there. Having been raised partly in Europe I tend to question these types of emotions. But this was "It's All Good". One other thing. How the hell does the entire world expect Obama or even all of America to magically metamorphose everything back to the state of Halcyon Zenith. I think this is where the neo-cons most screwed up. They casually dropped the term "Empire"(even David Brooks played with it, though I like to think he's way smarter than that). Now here's the world looking to US as the center and savior of all things civilized, present and future. Would Mark Twain have condoned such a self or external image. I think America can do it as a country, and yes a REPUBLIC. Not BABYLON ROMINGTON the THIRD. This LAND is your LAND..... Thanks