President Obama as Messiah
August 17th, 2009The forms of political structure and types of economic orders play second fiddle to the fundamental tenets of human dignity.
We tend to argue in favor of democracy because we know it, as a political order, to probably be the closest we have ever seen to the fundamental tenet of freedom and free choice, an attribute of being human. It is not necessarily that we think democracy is the only way to express that; however, in history, it is the only one we’ve ever seen that’s worked for any length of time.
It is not necessarily that we believe capitalism is the only form of economic order which will work. However, it is the closest we have been in history to fundamental tenets of self will and freedom of choice. If others emerge, or some hybrid of the existing order, which appears to operate more effectively in that regard, there’s no reason we need not embrace that so long as it conforms to the fundamental tenets of human existence.
And, frankly, religion, does not appear to work all that differently.
President Bush, certainly less than nuanced in most ways, fought for “free enterprise” and “the American way” regardless of where he went and mindless to the cultural or national identity. My suspicion is that he was more committed to the political order and economic system than he was to the basic tenets of mankind.
President Obama, ever seeking common ground, whether it be in religious beliefs, or political orders, or fundamental rights, appears more fully committed to the underlying condition of being human.
Is that truly messianic, as some think; or apostolic?
It’s probably messianic, if the truth be told. But is it necessarily inappropriately messianic to seek out solutions to the fundamental tenets of being human rather than the political system or economic order in which it’s expressed.
Original writing date: June 15, 2009
Categories
Archives