Immortal excuses

[jpgray]

I submit there exists an eternal formula for defending the status quo. Just ask yourself these questions:

1. When will a disappointing friend be worse than a hated enemy?

2. When is terrible harm and meager aid worse than greater harm and no aid?

3. When is an obstacle proved surmountable, if none ever try to surmount it?

Never, to all three. We have seen and will see echoes of these questions, and their reflexive answers, in every defense of timid, incremental, lesser-evil politics. This method of defending existing circumstances serves to entrench and fortify common opinion about what is possible, universally to the detriment of all who would benefit from change.

If you think the excuses these questions engender represent hardheaded realism as opposed to mediocrity and defeatism, think about #3 above. Then consider we have a black Democratic president with an Afro-Muslim name. I'm glad he tried. Aren't you?