"Put together a good thinker, a savvy practical politician, and an excellent spiritual teacher and you have Donna Zajonc! She is saying to a larger world what many of us are only saying in our smaller worlds. What a different politics we could have if this book were required reading for all public officials--Republican, Democrat, Green, or Independent."

Richard Rohr, author of over a dozen books including Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go

"Donna Zajonc gives us just the roadmap we need to find our way out of the paralysis of polarized politics. I hope this book inspires millions to reengage in the exciting process of together envisioning and implementing a true democracy."

Vicki Robin
Author of Your Money Or Your Life

What Would Christopher Reeve Do?
October, 2004
Donna Zajonc

Our country now mourns the death of the Superman of Hope. Christopher Reeve taught us all, in the face of life's most difficult challenges, to hold out for the best. Once tall and buff and the picture of handsome health, Reeve was suddenly forced by injury to live in a withered body, hoping for science to restore his spinal cord. Still dashing yet only able to breathe with mechanical assistance, insistent on staving off self-pity, he became a symbol of inspiration and courage.

I have often told my children that in their lifetime they will witness our paralyzed citizens throwing aside their wheelchairs and walking again. Christopher Reeve gave me hope of seeing this and even greater miracles in my life time.

A political activist, he acted as a tireless spokesperson urging government funding for scientific research to create just such medical breakthroughs. As we hail and hearty folk watched this man in a wheelchair using his strength to develop a national network, and to fund his own foundation for research, it became unthinkable not to believe in Superman.

I wonder how Christopher Reeve would have viewed the outcome of the upcoming election. If his candidate didn't win, would he have found hope despite his disappointment? My bet is that he would have moved forward with his passionate vision either way.

We will elect a President of the United States in the next few days. At this writing even the most astute political operatives cannot predict the winner. Only one thing is certain: half of America isn't going to feel like celebrating his victory.

I'm sure that Christopher Reeve mourned the result of his injury, its effects on his life path and on his family--but never did we hear a discouraging word from him. Viewing his injury as a great challenge, a test of character rather than a disaster, he taught us to see the good in even the most seemingly dismal loss.

If our candidate doesn't win the Presidency, how will we maintain our political inspiration and our hope for the future? Both leaders and their supporters have convinced us that this is the most important election in modern American history. If your candidate loses the election, will you regard the new president with fearful apprehension and a defeatist depression? Or will you view this time as an opportunity, the way Reeve transformed his injury from tragedy to triumph?

Will half of America vilify our next president because the election dashed their hopes? If so, we will not avoid an even nastier outcome to this already seething cultural civil war. Such a war is more insidious than the terrorism we are so bent on defeating. And such a division can never be healed by demonizing our leaders, whoever they may be.

There was a time in American politics when public leaders considered the concept of the "loyal opposition" as an essential and healthy contribution to the nation's ideological conversation. Each additional point of view added value and interest to the debate, rather than fodder for vengeful retaliation. In the late 1970s when I was a young Oregon legislator, our political conversation was intense and often divisive. We also knew that, in order to gain a majority vote, we needed each other-- working with rather than against each other always was the only way that any of us was guaranteed success.

If your candidate loses in November, how will you mend your political fences? How will you make sense of the results? Might we turn disappointment into constructive action as Christopher Reeve so valiantly showed us how to do?

Will those of us whose candidate loses be found wringing our hands, commiserating about how our country is losing its greatness? Recent research has documented what we intuitively already know: exposing ourselves to constant negativity and fear can make us sick and ineffective.

What we focus on is what we create. If Americans focus on fear and demise, we will certainly have it. If we focus on what we may learn, rather than pity ourselves that the national election disappointed us, we are free to gather inspiration and hope. In true American spirit, like Reeve, we'll be poised and ready for the next opportunity. And the next.

In these pivotal times, it is essential to do all we can to create fruitful dialogue, to build alliances across the old political boundaries. The Politics of Hope means taking a stand for the kind of conversation that will cultivate a new era of political collaboration. We are responsible for acknowledging our differences. At the same time, we can insist on inspiring each other, rather than fanning the flames of polarization into a national bonfire.

The healing of our nation's soul is only possible within a conversation that sees possibility even in the face of defeat. Through a tragic accident, Christopher Reeve learned that his life could stand as a model of inspiration and unlimited possibility. And he not only learned it; he lived it.

Reeve made the choice to keep hope alive. Our country now stands at a choice point. Faced with tragic disappointment and a ready invitation to despair, we all witnessed the noble choice that Christopher Reeve made, day after day until the end of his life.

What will you choose?

Note: I invite you to send this message to your friends or post it on your favorite web site. Let's keep Christopher's message of hope and inspiration alive and advance America's post election healing process.

Donna Zajonc

GREAT NEWS!!
You can now order your personally autograhphed copy of Donna Zajonc's book, The Politics of Hope: Reviving the Dream of Democracy. To order, simply click here to go to the Poltics of Hope website for easy ordering information. It will be shiped to you within 48 hours from receipt of order.

You can also order the book through Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. It should be available for shipping through these outlets in about 10 days.

Donna Zajonc is a Political Leadership Coach, a former three-term Oregon Legislator and was her party's nominee for Secretary of State. She has also managed several campaigns including a highly visible governor's campaign. Donna challenges her clients to prepare for public office with the same rigor that all professional seek. Her new book, The Politics of Hope: Reviving the Dream of Democracy is now available.