I had not yet read Robin's interpretation of the upcoming eclipse (in the previous post) when I had already decided I would post something about Harold Meyerson's column today. And, yet, there is a metaphysical thread connecting karma with heroism... or its lack.

In his column today, Meyerson weaves together an eloquent narrative of what it means to be a hero-- or not-- as he combines ancient strands of Art from Homer with more modern ones from the late director, John Ford.

Meyerson's column begins:

At its highest levels, the literature of war is often about a hero gone bad, a hero, in fact, who becomes indistinguishable from his enemy. Achilles, to begin at the beginning, outrages the gods by his desecration of the body of his slain archrival, Hector, and it takes a message from Zeus to persuade him to relinquish the body for burial.

...and concludes:

As events would have it, though, our nation is led by men who have carefully avoided both war and literature. By men devoid of a sense of the nation's and their own moral fallibility. By men who have led us into a moral desert and aren't even looking for a way back home.

Nor had I finished reading the column before I interrupted myself to add Bush's name to an online prayer list that I most often use for people I know and care about, and who have a great need. Occasionally, I will add other names, when I can think of a more or less positive way to express my wishes for them. Bush may think that the prayers being offered for him are harbingers of a Third Awakening. However, I can only wonder whether many of them are like mine... somewhat desperate pleas-- because of the state of the world-- which request that Bush have a real Epiphany, before it is too late. And see that Torture is not the answer. Ever. And that he will finally understand his own role in bringing us to our current circumstances, both at home and abroad.

It has been a very long time since I have wished for a greater insight to be visited upon anyone, because, as I have learned, such insights can be extremely painful... and perhaps should not be wished upon anyone other than one's self. And yet, I regret that I am clueless about how to spark a message from Zeus.