Reflections

Today, the second Sunday in November as usual, was the 38th annual Big Bird 10K.  If it's not my favorite race, it's right up there.  I ran it again, missing only in '91 after first running it in '88.  It's funny how the 10K distance has grown, that is, become longer.  I thought measurements were standard and consistent, but as I grow older the distances, the 10K for instance, gets longer.  Hmmm......

I was a few minutes slower than last year.  I think there were several reasons for that, beside being a year old.  I am really convinced last year was a tenth of a mile short of 6.2 miles (10K) and my Garmin showed 6.3 this AM.  (The course was slightly different.)  The wind was pretty stiff and always seemed to be in runners', at least my, face(s). I really hadn't trained, no speed work, and, despite my normal day off taper day yesterday, my legs felt heavy/dead.

But I was generally pleased.  I was second in my age group, just a few seconds off the pace.  And two runners, good runners!, who beat me last year by 20-30 seconds were .6 and 7 seconds ahead of me this AM.  I am pretty whacked out tonight, though.  It's funny what tough effort can do to one's sense of fatigue.

The election is over and I've had some time to reflect.  I'm not sure where we're going, but I haven't given up the notion that neither Trump nor Clinton should have been given chances to be President.

I'm taken by several things, though.  First, it's been very distressing to me to hear so many people blaming the election, that is, Trump's win, on "racist, bigoted, uneducated, stupid, white men."  That notion is all over the place.  If that's the prevailing view, we will miss the important lesson of the '16 Presidential campaign/election.  The vilification of those "stupid white guys" has been vehement and vituperative--and I think misses the point.  Those critics miss the point.  It wasn't about Trump; it was about dissatisfaction with the Establishment who had rigged the system against so many people.  Those people became more and more frustrated and angry at being people who really didn't matter any more--their job losses, the loss of their homes, the high cost of Obamacare, etc.  They were tired of arrogant elitists telling them how to live their lives.  But the criticism, seen in the vehemence and vituperation, actually confirm what the Trumpsters were protesting--the arrogance, the elitism of those who insist they are right and those who don't agree with them are racists, bigots, misogynists, and even stupid.  I'm particularly distressed to read this among many of my college school mates, from whom I expected better.  Oh, they were mostly Clintonistas, no doubt, but I thought they'd not be as arrogant and elitist as they have been.  Their words are very distressing.  In fact, in their words, I see the obverse/flip side of the coin of what they accuse Trump--even their fascist claims.  And they are sure they are right.  Like I noted in a previous post, sometimes I think they live in a different universe.

On the other hand, a few of the liberal columns I have read seem to want to canonize Clinton, sitting her right there with Mother Teresa.  (Well, Obama rec'd a Nobel for doing nothing; I suppose the Pope could do the same with Hillary?)  It was ridiculous, these attempts at hagiography.  Her lies and deception were merely attempts to protect her friends and family and, of course, herself.  I suppose we might say Don Corleone was merely trying to protect his family, too.

And, ironically, the Democratic Establishment, by rigging the nomination system to ensure the Clinton candidacy, likely cost the White House.  I don't know, of course, but suspect that Bernie Sanders might well have beaten Trump.  And what about Joe Biden?  No doubt none of them see it that way because, well, they are the smart ones and everyone else is stupid.

I chuckle, but only somewhat, at some of the rhetoric being sent around, esp by Democrats, but even the Republican Establishment which opposed Trump at every turn.  Now there must be "working together," "conciliation" or "reconciling," etc.  How odd, when just a few years ago, one of those calling for working together said, "Elections have consequences."  I wonder if he regrets saying that now.  I guess it depends on Trump.  Yep, "Elections have consequences."  How eloquent, far-sighted, and statesman-like.

Why do I get the impression Trump will be the Republican President like former Michigan governor Granholm?  Of her, a member of her own party once said, "She wants to play governor; she doesn't want to be governor."  I think Trump is the same.  He'll want to play at being President, but will he really want to be President and all the work, criticism, etc. that entails?