Great post, Deb and Ed. Thanks for bringing this up. Forgiveness paramount in this new era if we are to actually move up and out of the darkness and into the light. I actually have great gratitude for George W Bush. I believe that he has played a invaluable part in the American awakening. It has always seemed to me that GWB stepped into the presidency carrying a large tray, and over the past 8 years he has, one by one, placed all that is wrong with our society onto that tray. My feeling is that he did this, that it was his life's purpose to do this, so that everyone could see just how out of balance our society is. And in doing this, in showing in such broad strokes what war, and lies, and hatred, and greed, look like, he was able to wake up even the most complacent of us. So, I don't just forgive him. I applaud him. He has a very strong soul to have been able to bring this kind of awareness of the dark into the light. Now, as we move forward with our new shining leader, we must remember that he too has a great task to do, and that task is to create balance where there has been none. And that means we the people can not go back to sleep. Balance comes when everyone is awake.

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I don't get forgiveness. I understand that immoral actions rise out of ignorance, attachment or agression"faults which I share"so I can have compassion for the act-or. Still, why forgive something which is clearly wrong, and harmful? Rather, the act-or needs to atone for their mis-deeds...then the action is neutralized, and all is at peace.

The challenge with forgiveness is it can also be a form of denial. I know for myself, in not wanting to feel the pain caused by my own ignorance or that of others, I jump to forgiveness (denial). GW's ignorance caused a lot of suffering and I agree that the collective apathy is a co-conspirator.

We all, including him need to feel the full impact our ignorance causes, then forgiveness goes deeper.

I like the idea of enlightened leadership - the idea alone seems to inspire us to transcend our individual and collective ignorance.

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Really great post, Ed and Deb,

I've thought a lot about this, as I do not want to live with anger and hatred in my heart. I must admit, I have felt both for W over these last 8 years.

Today, however, in retrospect, I see that his ignorance and his disastrous lack of any kind of enlightened leadership apparently were what was necessary to bring us to the brink so that WE might awaken from our collective coma and as citizens, take responsibility for our country.

The Bush administration was masterful at one thing: manipulating fear. They managed to keep us all fearful enough to stay silent in the face of their outrageous assaults on the Constitution. They were ignorant enough to think they could keep it going without consequences. Yet, maybe the only way the American people were going to become active citizens again was to face the potential of losing their freedom altogether. This is our collective "Dark Night of the Soul".

So for this, I have to thank George. He almost destroyed us, but not quite. And it is that glimmer of hope for change and new possibility with our incoming new president that keeps the spark of life alive and instills renewed passion for what can emerge from this long tunnel of darkness.

Brilliant, as always. I so appreciate everything you write.

Big Love,
Judith