By Christopher Seifert
A funny thing happened as I stood in Walmart a short while back and thumbed through Hillary Clinton''s new book, 'Living History.'
I was eager to hear what the woman had to say, since something about villains has always intrigued me. (Though, having just forked over $20-plus for a different book about witches, I had no intention of actually buying Hillary''s diatribe.)
However, as I read her words, I was stunned. I''d always envisioned Hillary Clinton wearing flowing robes and a dark mask, and keeping step with the 'Imperial Death March.' But, strangely, the words that leapt at me from the pages of her book sounded less like James Earl Jones and more like an intelligent, capable, sometimes-vulnerable, sometimes-overwhelmed human being.
Yes, I understand it''s all how you choose to paint the picture, and Joe Klein of 'Primary Colors' fame does say there are some notable omissions from Hillary''s narrative. But come with me for a brief moment as I make what may be a semi-sacrilegious supposition: As badly as some of us want to believe otherwise, Hillary Clinton is not the embodiment of evil.
And as much as we may need to create icons of the dark side to spur us on in our quest for good, I seriously doubt the existence of too many such icons, unless, of course, their names happen to be Hussein or bin Laden.
I''m reminded of a quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that my mother had sitting in the kitchen of our home for a time.
'If we could read the secret history of our enemies,' it went, 'we would find in each man''s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.'
I''m left to wonder how often - when our blood pressure begins to rise and our cheeks flush a little at expressions of opinion that seem to clash irreconcilably with our own - do we try to truly understand where our nemeses are coming from.
Indeed, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but good intentions are a bit easier to tolerate, and even work with, than what may be nothing more than imaginary malice and rancor.
Despite the Supreme Court''s recent ruling, I don''t believe for a second affirmative action does anyone any favors. But I''ll also tell you in the very same breath supporters of affirmative action are trying to accomplish something wonderful. They''re just a little misguided in their approach.
Weapons of mass destruction or no, I think we did the world and the Iraqi people a notable favor in relieving them of the twisted Saddam regime. But did we really have to change the name of French fries simply because our European friends wouldn''t give us the thumbs up to proceed with something that they knew - perhaps better than anyone - is always ugly? Since when are peacemakers cowards?
Heck, I''m as tired of navigating the hordes of EFY kids as the next guy. Then I look into their eyes and see signs of shaky, budding testimonies and more than a few insecurities, and I remember what it was like to be them. That''s when I''m glad they''re here.
So, I''ve always known my fatal flaw is a lack of killer instinct.
But let''s just keep in mind - particularly this week - there are very few real villains. And the beauty of this country is everyone deserves a say along with a respectful ear, no matter how wrong they may ultimately be.