Over the rainbow, skies are...blue?

Hillary Clinton certainly stirs up controversy, and despite her apparent inability to secure the confidence of the American public at large, she has a remarkable record of firsts – First Lady for the United States; First Lady for the State of Arkansas; first female partner in the Rose Law Firm; first First Lady to run for public office; first female candidate elected senator from New York; first First Lady to be subpoenaed before a federal grand jury, and first woman in United States history to win a presidential party primary. How interesting that her early memory also contains a first…her first recollection of being totally scared.

I grabbed hold of my grandmother’s hand for comfort, only to discover that it was as clammy as mine. It was the first time I remember being thoroughly scared.

Perhaps you remember your first viewing of The Wizard of Oz, a magical and invitingly scary movie that leaves an indelible impression on all who view it. In her own early memory, Hillary is stunned to discover that during the flying monkey scene in Oz, her grandmother is as frightened as she is! Ironically, according to novelist Salman Rushdie, the idea that adults are weak and inadequate is the movie’s driving energy. He first viewed the film at age ten and now credits it with making him a writer.

According to Rushdie, the film’s “driving force is the inadequacy of adults, even good adults, and how the weakness of grown-ups forces children to take control of their own destinies.” In terms of our purpose here, therefore, we can conclude that although the movie’s worldview might be “someone needs to be in charge,” this is clearly not Hillary’s worldview.

To the contrary, even as evidenced by her many firsts, Hillary is in charge – both intentionally and by experience – as a first born, a First Lady, a first female senator, and a first female winner of a presidential party primary. An unconscious motivation to be in charge is not what drives her. Hillary already places herself at the helm. In fact, it is likely her authoritative presence that discomforts all those who look for men to steer the biggest ships.

Perhaps it is her apparent fearlessness that bothers some. Paradoxically, because she has a history of leadership, Hillary Clinton has experienced fear many times, and as a consequence, courage has become her strong suit.

One of her heroines is said to be Eleanor Roosevelt, credited with the quote, “Do one thing everyday that scares you.” How intriguing that Hillary retains an entire memory to remind her that everyone is scared…and thus, things are never as they appear to be.

Even as young as eight years old, she experiences the reality that safety is an illusion. So, all you voters out there…don’t allude yourself, she might be saying now. The Wizard of Oz is not the only one who is smoke and mirrors; even a Wizard named Barack has a few problems of his own.

Without doubt, therefore, Hillary Clinton’s worldview is “things aren’t what they seem.” Movie houses are said to be all about entertainment, yet children get kidnapped there. Adults are said to keep us safe, yet Grandmother is scared to death. Boys are said to be braver than girls, yet Brother is hiding under the seat.

Turns out, the real world is scary as hell, and nearly all of life is staged. People buy into the illusion of safety because it’s safer! If the ship is sinking, most don’t really want to know. Try telling them, and this is what you’ll get: “Hey man: I’m on vacation!”

What we see in Hillary’s memory is that she’s not going to be tricked, because life is a trick. Just look at her now – fighting for what she probably believes is her birthright: the democratic nomination for the U.S. Presidency. Even though she surely knows her nomination is a long shot, she presses on. Some say she was a good person to look after a misbehaving prince, so she might also a good person to look after a wayward country. Problem is, the U.S. is still in its adolescence, and apparently, we just don’t want to be mothered....

or do we? Again...things just aren't what they seem.

(Note: To read the earliest memory on which this review is based, see the post below, dated Friday, February 22, 2008.)