Thank you for your thoughtful and comprehensive reply, Renata. You’ve given me a great deal to think about. You have made several powerful points worthy of careful consideration. I am grateful that you took the time to share your thinking and views. I appreciate you.

My mind wanders when it wants to dream in another dimension less dense than any particular one I find myself in. It wanders away very quietly while I sit smiling so as not to tip off any bystander that I am temporarily without my mind. Not “out of my mind” but rather “my minds out of me.” Restoring itself. Remembering the difference between what is real and what is illusion and probably if I might speculate…having a really good time without me. It’s ok though. It returns relaxed and brings back to me a greater ability to center. I can always tell when it’s checked out because I usually feel “wander-ful” after it’s journey. So I listen not to those that say “Quit yer daydreamin,’” It is clear to me they have minds that must not get out much. :)

Hello Renata, I have read your recent posts with great interest. Several of the points you make are noteworthy. I thank you for your openness in sharing some of your life’s experiences and giving that insight into where some of your perspectives come from. Your candor and tenacity in expressing your views has earned my respect. I have no criteria in terms of race, gender and age in the way I will vote. In fact, if wishes were horses, these characteristics would be obsolete in the discussion of candidates because we as a people would have evolved beyond them. We are not yet there, but I hold the hope. So I’d like to ask for your input on the following questions: How will Barack Obama transcend the race issues which sadly still exist in this country in terms of his leadership? Part two- How has this been evidenced so far in his platform? What are your views on the statements made by Reverend Wright? It seems to me that there is a cycle when a group has been prejudiced against. I can say that from experience as a part of one of these groups since I am a woman. It’s as though the inequities and injustices have a boomerang effect where those that are hurt by these biases then further focus on the “separateness” and “division” they were harmed by to be heard. I have read some comments on this site that allude to that. They pose the question of why are we still discussing race/gender in the year 2008? I think the question is really asking underneath, “How can this be? How do we change it?” Where does Obama stand on this unfortunately valid issue? Next, what I believe I see is the slow death of the middle class and it has been an insidious ride with many layers. How does Obama plan to address the economic issues we are faced with in such a way that he does not contribute to the demise? I am in complete alignment with those who have posted a movement away from the “war is the answer” mentality. I have said before that violence begets violence and this current war is a cause for, well, in my view, complete shame . I have heard Sen. Obama speak about greater use of diplomatic measures and having more dialogue. This was muffled music to my covered ears (covered because the dissension surrounding this election requires me to take breaks now and then so as not to implode). I wholeheartedly agree with this approach but my wisdom tells me to look to answer the objection. Some consider Obama’s assertions on this front to be naive and a reflection of his inexperience. So I pose the question, how can he realize this goal when we are in fact dealing with aggressors of profoundly different ideologies and with respect to the fact that the current administration has generated copious damage that will be bequeathed with all its ugliness to the next individual to lead this country? I submit these questions for you to respond to if you would like. I know I am currently in a place of trying to sift through the information to separate the rhetoric from that which is real. Not an easy task. :)

I laughed so hard at this one. Been there, done that and my kids have the memory…so frustrating!

I miss Six Feet Under, Sex in the City and Huff. All three had characters and scripts that gave me little glimpses into what makes people tick.

And this “n-word” word is devastatingly applicable to the macrocosm in the manner Renata fluently describes. I have in the last decade experienced in my own microcosm, the deleterious, consuming effects of narcissism as it devours like a malignancy, all in it’s path. I agree with Christopher Lasch that we are living in a “culture of narcissism.” It’s signature is boldly emblazoned on facets of our leadership. Entitlement is a hallmark of it’s existence, as is the profound lack of empathy (despite what is spoken), and the lack of accountability (witnessed as the “blame-game”). These are pervasive and glaringly apparent to me in political circles today and I find it one of the most concerning fundamental issues. There is a smoke and mirrors effect when dealing with a narcissist and in my opinion, intuition and that “somethings not quite right here” is as valuable information as any intellectual analysis can be. Though I concur with Renata’s point of view on HRC, (and this has been my intuition all along), I respect Star and her friends that honor their gut that “somethings off” with Obama. I don’t relate to that at this point though I clearly can’t counter it with an intuition that Obama is the antithesis of what my deep concerns are with Hillary Clinton. This does not leave me happy but I think it is symbolic of the times we are currently in. I appreciate the “conversation” between Star, Renata and Lena in these last series of posts. Leaves me much to think about.

*impeccably

Thank you , Lena. Your words - impeccable chosen. Your thoughts - mirror quite closely my own.

* that would be “heavy” artillery if my fingers took the direction of my brain. :)

Fantastic video! Instinct or not what an amazing message. Aesop style. The power in numbers. They rescued the young one by uniting and then scared the lions away. And without bombs or heavily artillery. Hmmmm….

Lisa B., There are so many people that do not subscribe to what you outlined in your post. Admittedly, there are some that do. I support Elizabeth’s request to the WOW administrators to add something solid to the discussion of Obama as a presidential candidate. Knowledge is power…more about Barack now.Less about the sad reality that in some circles racism, sexism etc. still reign.

Patricia, I hope your curiosity gets the best of you to click at least one more time to see this response. I think that stories like these and the comments that they generate have value. According to my mother, I was born an idealist. I plagued her with an uncountable number of questions as I grew up and the majority of them began with, “Why?” I spent many years trying to “get” the world around me or more specifically why people think, believe and behave the way they do. Realities like the “isms” that are discussed on this site, in this case racism, eluded me and I was initially unaware how alive and well these doctrines were today. I would struggle as my idealism did battle with “what is.” I then realized that before perceptions can be shifted, they have to be brought out into the light of day , especially the ones that I personally find appalling. Those filled with hate, intolerance, contempt and prejudice. The ones similar to the one featured in this article that can get you in the solar plexus as you read them. The value of this is in the dialogue it stirs. The ability for those who are committed to transcend the “dark places” in humanity to say to those that perpetuate them… “hey, consider this from a different perspective.” It’s a chance to present a counter point of view to offer an opportunity for another individual to mull it over. We all participate in this, I believe. And the idealist in me thinks that this is truly part of how we evolve. In addition, sometimes we need to see, up close and friendly, “who we are not” to reinforce the truth in “who we are.” So when we witness the anger, prejudice, hate, sexism, racism, ageism, etc. it gives us a chance to express that we do not think or feel that way and to encourage the discussion to move to lighting the single candle to illuminate a way to live without them. Please reconsider continuing to post, speaking your truth and staying part of the process. I know there are times that I find it hard to “be” amidst some of the less than ideal mindsets of today. I believe, however, that I can’t dismiss the possibility that I may have something to say that will change a mind for the better and I certainly know that others have things to say that open my mind and broaden my perspective. I hope this made sense. I hope you “stay in the ring” that we are, bottom line, all in together.

Bean, I hate no one. Including George W. Bush. Read what some Iraq veterans have to say about the war. http://ivaw.org/faq.

Big laugh…how true!

Mr.W, This testosterone based aggressive edge you tout for the male species in addition to the little brain buzz they achieve with violence (as evidenced by video game performance effects on PET scan I imagine?); would you share with me what positive benefit this brings to a resume? Do you think it might be time to reallocate power from the brawn to the brain as I’m not sure the current distribution is serving our evolution? That is a legitimate question not rhetorical. Please feel free to give your take on it. Lastly, to address the question of a woman’s ability to compete with a man successfully, I have watched “tiny” women single handedly drag drunken husbands at least twice their size out the door of a pub and navigate them into the back seat of the car while in their state of humiliation and anger knock over tables, chairs and a sundry of other drunken men (or just the nosy ones) on the way out. And they didn’t even break a sweat…