Chlorophyll

If the Green Party had an equivalent to a spiritual leader, it would likely be Sam Smith. He consistently gets it right, and not just right, but lyrical as well. His latest essay is a great example. In "Rafting Down the Mainstream," he spells out why Greens are the heart and soul of America... which is to say, we are the mainstream.

Think about for a while, and it starts to make sense. All those wingnuts you see on TV... they're news because they stand out. If they fit in, they wouldn't be news. They're billed as our leaders, but how many people do you know who follow them? If there's a positive trend threading through US history, it's not following leaders. I mean, that's how we became a nation in the first place.

But... don't Green candidates want to become leaders? Frankly, I don't think so. Whether or not they articulate it this way, I think most Greens make a distinction between elected officials and leaders. There may be some overlap, but not necessarily. Leaders are visionary, inspiring, and far-sighted. Elected officials are diplomatic, careful, and focused on the task at hand. It's possible to be both, but not likely.

The people who inspire us may or may not be the people who represent us. We need them both, but it's important to make the distinction. What's even more important is to recognize that the people we see in the media are neither. So, where should we look for inspiration and represenation? To ourselves. We are the ones we've been waiting for. And we find each other at Green Party meetings.