“Put it a different way.” ~Pres. Bartlett

Pres. Bartlett and Sam Seaborn play a rousing game of chess.

So, I’m kind of mad with myself for not posting this earlier, but as many of you know: life happens.

When I decided to recreate this blog, I wanted to do something almost profound.  My words were to cause people to pause for a moment and say “Hmm.  By Jove, I think he’s got it!”  This desire probably comes from my father who always said something extremely sagacious at the appropriate time.  How I longed to imitate his greatness.

A few hours ago, a great friend of mine text messaged me and told me that she actually wanted me to post something because she was bored and she was waiting for an inspirational entry that would arouse her intellect.  This sounds great to me!  There’s only one problem: I’m not the guy to write it.

Or so I thought.

Last night, I watched two of my favorite episodes of The West Wing.  For those of you who don’t know me, I watch this show as some religious zealots read a religious text.  I see myself in some of the characters and when I need a nice, square kick in the rear, they give it to me.  Anyway, I watched “Hartsfield’s Landing” and “the Portland Trip.”

“Hartsfield’s Landing” is a wonderful episode not because of the characters or the problems that develop, but simply because of the message it passes down to those who are willing enough to embrace it.  While playing two simultaneous games of chess with Sam and Toby, President Bartlett is struggling with two demons.  The first is the lasting memory of his father and his powers as a politician as he inches toward re-election.  As Bartlett gears up for the voters at Hartsfield’s Landing to place their first votes at 12:01AM, Toby battles with him in this game of chess and shows him that he is an astute politician who should turn the focus of the election to himself.  He should not be folksy.  He should not dumb himself down.   He should show his intelligence and experience as strengths and quit turning them into weaknesses.

Bartlett’s second demon is the Chinese government.  [Disclaimer: The Chinese are a wonderfully rich and awe-inspiring partner of the US.  I am simply basing this opinion off of the episode.]  From the moment he returns from India, Bartlett is confronted with Chinese pledging to engage in war games with 400,000 troops because Taiwan wishes to test a US-Made Patriot Missile and hold free democratic elections.  Luckily, Sam Seaborn gets to play a chess game with a president seeking military reaction and/or show of force with an ally and a protectorate.

You’re probably thinking, just as I am, why I give you a recap of the episode.  That answer is compound.

First, I think of the moral of the episode.  Bartlett struggles with a demon of his past and needs to be schooled by an underling in life even though he is fantastic at chess and being leader of the free world.  Also, Sam is taught a fundamental thing about life. “See the whole board.”

Now, you’re probably always wondering why I invoked “The Portland Trip” without mentioning it once.  Well, I did.  In the title of this entry.  President Bartlett loves to fly at night.  He says, “A long flight across the night. You know why late flights are good? Because we cease to be earthbound and burdened with practicality. Ask the impertinent question. Talk about the idea that nobody has thought about yet. Put it a different way…”

Sam answers: “Be poets.”

With all that said, I think I’m going to promise two things to my readers and to myself.  First, I will always look at the whole board with the eyes that God has given me.  I will not dumb myself down and I will not apologize for being me.  More importantly, I shouldn’t claim to ruminate if I don’t give each idea and opportunity its chance to inspire.  Secondly, and more importantly, I’m going to be a poet.  Those who know me well know I can’t write lyrics or poems to save my life.  But if Sam Seaborn has taught me anything, it’s that words aren’t what give the poet his power.  It’s the inspiration that moves him to write those words without fear of reproach and degradation.

So that I will do.  Stay tuned.  I hope to do something cool with this.

~AMS~