(Political notebook)
From the Democrats of Hemet-San Jacinto
Perfection
I won’t bother with a Merriam-Webster’s definition of the term “perfect”. It would take up too much space and besides you already have a pretty good idea of what it means. “Perfect can be an adjective, a verb, or noun. It is interesting that while “perfect” means that something cannot be any better, being perfect means there are no flaws whatsoever.
Even more interesting is that there is no opposite. Antonyms are amiss, bad, defective, faulty, flawed, or imperfect. Those terms imply that there is something less than perfect but no total absence of desirable qualities but just falling short of “perfect”. Let’s face it, we all fall short of perfect, some of us fall shorterthan others. Everything we have done could have been done better. Jesse Owens was recognized in his lifetime as perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history. He set three world records and tied another, all in less than an hour at the 1935 Big Ten track meet, a feat that has never been equaled and has been called “the greatest 45 minutes ever in sport”. That day was close to perfection for Owens. But it was not perfect. Owen’s 100 meter record of 10.3 seconds held for 20 years until a man named Willie Williams ran the 100 meters in 10.2 seconds. Owen’s long jump record lasted 33 years until Bob Beamon jumped over 28 feet in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
It is interesting that so many people expect our politicians to be perfect. Joe Biden has been criticized for positions he took 20 years ago. Elizabeth Warren has been criticized for claiming some of her heritage is Native American and earning her the moniker “Pocahontas”. Her claim was proven correct through a DNA test although several generations back. Some think it is disqualifying to be a billionaire, or to be young, or to be old, or to be female, or something other than heterosexual. The chief resident in the White House has criticized Mike Bloomberg for being short. The young lack experience but they bring fresh outlooks on issues, they haven’t become jaded yet. The old may lack the energy of the young but with experience comes wisdom. I am 77 years of age. My views on sexual orientation have changed since I was young. My views on gender have changed. I would like to think that I have gained some wisdom with age.
No one is perfect and that includes all politicians. The Democrats have many very good Presidential candidates from which to choose. They all have imperfections. Respect those who have the humility to admit to their imperfections.
Beware of anyone who tells you they have no imperfections, that they are perfect. I’m not aware of any place in the Bible where even Jesus claimed to be perfect though many Christians believe he was and is. In fact I can only think of one person who has claimed perfection, who never apologizes for anything as that would be an admission of imperfection. That person resides in the White House.
I tell my wife I will expect her to be perfect just as soon as I become perfect. She doesn’t expect that to happen anytime soon. At least my spelling in this article is perfect according to spell-check. And may your day today seem perfect to you.
Dick Gale
President of the Democrats of Hemet – San Jacinto
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