Mike Murray essay -- Lift Me, Enya

1 April 2007

Lift Me, Enya

--by Mike Murray

Lift me, Enya. Lift me over the urge to let self-congratulating hypocrites know exactly what I think of them.

Lift me over those who pretend to care, but who truly only care for themselves and their kind. Lift me over those whose hearts bleed for their own suffering – and for the suffering of those of similar ideology – but who have little compassion for those with whom they disagree.

Lift me over those who spew hatred, even as they profess a belief in caring, sharing. Lift me over any temptation to stoop to their level, to respond in kind.

Lift me over the mansion-dwellers, the multiple-estate owners, the lavish-lifestyle livers who would have us believe that they have deep concern for the downtrodden.

Lift me over those who pretend to be saving the world, even as they indulge themselves beyond all reason. Lift me over my desire to fully express my disdain for those who “talk the talk” but come nowhere near “walking the walk.”

Lift me over the most conspicuous of consumers, who nevertheless persuade themselves that they are saving the planet from ruin.

Lift me over those who declare the sanctity of life on one hand, but who advocate its termination on the other. (Think about it. Both sides.) Lift me over those who can neither recognize the important distinction between innocence and culpability – nor appreciate its implication.

Lift me over those who seek to divide. Lift me over those whose desire for political power is so strong that it moves them to side with those who mean us harm.

Lift me over those who say they believe in the right of free speech for themselves, but who seek to limit it for others. Lift me over those who champion dissent – when theirs is the minority view – but who quash it when the tables are turned.

Lift me over those who hope we are too ignorant to know the difference between the collaboration implied in “bi-partisanship” – and capitulation.

Lift me over those who would have us believe that representatives of the “other party” are wrong about everything, all the time.

Lift me over those seek the respect of those with whom they disagree, but who offer none in return.

Enya, let the inspirational sounds of your music wash over me and uplift. Let them soothe. Let them raise me over rampant small-mindedness. If only for one day.