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October 12, 2008

Equanimity & Obama

I've been reading Andrew Sullivan's blog ("The Daily Dish") recently. That really is

not much of a confession - I know. As a Rhetoric Prof. I read pretty

much anything that crosses my path. Besides, I read all sorts of

conservative thinkers also. They key is not whether they are

conservative or liberal. Intelligence is what matters. I enjoy reading

intelligent and cogent argument. Mr. Sullivan has been doing a heck of a

job re the McCain/Palin campaign, and he has been pulling hard for

Obama.

Today he has a post titled "The Human Valium"

that highlights Obama's seeming calm in the midst of all sorts of

attacks. I agree. Obama has impressed me with his calm, cool, and

collected demeanor. I would not call that a "human valium" however. I

think Buddhists have a better term for Obama's character and calm

disposition: Equanimity. Obama exudes an equanimity that I wish more politicians would display.

For all I know he might worry plenty, and gnash his teeth in private,

but I doubt it. The last two years has seen him go through all sorts of

ups and downs in the campaign and he has remained the same calm

individual, weighing matters carefully, seemingly unflappable, listening

deeply, gracious and generous to opponents and their ideas (perhaps to a

fault!), and careful about rendering judgments that are based only on

one ideological perspective. To be sure, he is not some sort of

ideological tightrope walker, neutral, the perfect centrist (and who

would want that?). But equanimity does not call for perfect balance or

no positionality. It does call for mindful disposition, great care, deep

contemplation, fair and compassionate judgment, ability to not bite the

hook(s) offered, and the harmony that stems from such ethical

centeredness. Wouldn't such a disposition be preferable for a President

potentially getting that 3AM call than the hotheaded and intemperate

attitude McCain has demonstrated?