Thank You John Adams

The presidential election is over.  And we survived.  At least I think we did.  

Who imagined that a whole nation would be so very pleased to now return to the standard fare of TV ads.  Ivory Soap, Cialis, Viagra, who knew we’d miss you so much.

And if you have ever wondered why there aren’t more political thrillers or mysteries, the answer is simple – we’ve been exposed to far too much of the real thing.

There are structural problems, too, that sway us from writing political fiction.  Truly, what kind of story do you have if there is never any resolution?  What does an author craft with characters who rarely evolve? And what of the underlying problem of needing to find at least one protagonist to advance a narrative?

But before I go too far on this riff I will be the first to admit to being spoiled.  Just as we may lament about an entitled youth, we easily forget the freedom our successful electoral process guarantees.  As authors and readers we should be the first to recognize the freedoms we enjoy, rooted in our ability to write and express without fear of government control. 

There is no question that $1B worth of negative advertising leaves us fatigued and wary. But election day, even more than the 4th of July, underscores our liberty. I am reminded of the words John Adams shared with his wife in one of his letters to Abigail back in 1780. 

I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain.

Thank you John Adams.