A little tarnish is good for a Hero. It adds an enviable patina and softens the glare of public adoration. President Barack Obama fits the classic pattern of the Mythic Hero like Cinderella fits a slipper. Like the semi-divine Herakles, Obama stands astride dual worlds—black/white, insider/outsider, wonk/cool dude. Recently, Nobel Surprise fallout and concern over Afghanistan pointed out a potential disconnect between Obama’s walk and his talk, dimming his amperage to a 50% approval rating in early October. More personally for President Obama, the rejection by the International Olympic Committee of his pitch for a 2016 Chicago Olympics may make the President to wonder if The Gods still feel the Love.
On October 13—in the nick of time for our Hero--a new Goddess blossomed under the Capitol Building’s Greek Revival dome. The divinely named Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) strode down from Olympos, cast the lone Republican vote supporting the Senate Finance Committee health care proposal, and strapped on the helm of Health Care Reform. Moderate Democrats saw her as Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Defensive War. Others cast her as Eris, Goddess of Discord, heaving her golden apple into the mosh pit of partisan politics and public options. Upbeat Republicans hailed the Junoesque Snowe as a replacement for wannabe warrior goddess Sarah Palin, newly sprung from a four month stint in the Underworld with her memoirs intact.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the Ur-goddess of health care reform, having birthed the original plan in 1994. No matter how often Clinton paints herself as the homey hearth guardian Hestia, or dons her black and yellow killer-bee Athena suits to go to war, Hillary is always Hera, wronged wife of Zeus and Queen of the Gods. Hera was the primordial child of Rhea and Kronos. Like Hillary, Hera made the huge political mistake of being first. Hera hit the Olympic glass ceiling long ago.
Hero tales speak of timeless reality. The function of a goddess in a hero tale is to connect word to action, to drive the Hero toward his destiny. Goddesses love Heroes.
President Obama surrounds himself with smart and powerful women. Which one will be the Lady of the Lake to his Arthur? Who will hand him his sword? Keep an eye on those three California Fates, Nancy, Dianne and Barbara, watching in the wings, spinning, spinning…
An auspicious start, Mythic Pundit!
ReplyDeleteThese are truly titanic times. It is indeed remarkable that President Obama has surrounded himself with so many powerful women--beginning with the First Lady.
What doth the Mythic Pundit say about Michelle Robertson Obama?
Greetings, Democraticus!
ReplyDeleteSo, Michelle Obama:
Penelope to his Odysseus? No.
Guinevere to his Arthur? This makes Rahm Emanuel Lancelot, so definitely not.
Parvati to his Shiva? Parvati playfully covered her husband Shiva's eyes to lighten his mood as he sat lost in meditation, causing a break in his focus and an abrupt end to the world--so No.
Tara, the female manifestation of the Buddha, to her male counterpart, Avalokitesvara? No, job taken, Avalokitesvara is the Dalai Lama.
So, obviously, Michelle is Priscilla to Barack's Elvis.
Things can change.
xo The Mythic Pundit
Michelle is to our Republic as Hera was to Hercules.
ReplyDelete