In politics, it certainly seems as if the past is more important than the future or the present. A candidate announces for an office, and immediately he or she is attacked by their opponent for something in his or her past. The concepts of forgiveness, learn from mistakes, or occasional “saying something stupid” are non-existent or treated with cynicism.
Maybe politics is a mirror on the way we live our lives. We dwell on the past and ignore the present and give short shrift to the future. Think of something simple such as applying for a job. How much weight is spent on your past reflected by a resume’, as opposed to what he or she can bring to the job. A black spot on one’s resume’ endures forever. One’s vision is looked on with cynicism and mere fiction.
How do we fix politics and our lives. We begin with ourselves. We forgive ourselves and erase our mistakes except as for the lessons learned. We spend more time on the future and the present than dwelling on the past. If we begin there, perhaps we will change our outlook and examine our politics in a whole new way.
I so agree with this article. One of the virtues of former President H. W. Bush was that he always looked forward. I always thought former President Clinton did also.
Thanks Mary.