About the nomination:
After a long period of decay comes a turning point. The person in question is a sage who is inexhaustible in his readiness to teach mankind, and just as the earth is boundlessly wide, sustaining and caring for all creatures on it, so the sage sustains and cares for all people and excludes no part of humanity.
When the stimulus to approach comes from a high place, and when a man has the inner strength and consistency that need no admonition, good fortune will ensue. Nor need the future cause any concern.
He is well aware that everything earthly is transitory, and that a descent follows upon every rise, but need not be confused by this universal law of fate. Everything serves to further. Therefore he will travel the paths of life swiftly, honestly, and valiantly.
After a time of decay comes the turning point. The powerful light that has been banished returns. There is movement, but it is not brought about by force. The upper trigram Kun is characterised by devotion; thus the movement is natural, arising spontaneously. For this reason the transformation of the old becomes easy. The old is discarded and the new is introduced. Both measures accord with the time; therefore no harm results. Societies of people sharing the same views are formed. But since these groups come together in full public knowledge and are in harmony with the time, all selfish separatist tendencies are excluded, and no mistake is made.
This seems consistent with today’s reading from the I Ching. Without preconceptions, knowing one’s own mind in relation with the mind of the governed, the governed can be allowed to know how to govern themselves. That is the definition of a Democracy. In order for there to be a good outcome, there has to be an end to the tribalism that assumes the existence only of winners and losers, us and them, with a return to the rule of We, the People.
The best we can hope for is a justice who will consider all decisions based on the merits of the case with respect to the law. Even if he holds biases, it’s better that he is competent and is disposed to give the law a chance. Perhaps he knows what is at stake here. He should be asked if he does. If he indicates that he does know, then there could be worse nominees.
Previous readings
Today: I Ching