Politics by Other Means

Just as its opponents feared, Live Earth was politics by other means.

There was genius in what Al Gore wrought, genius which may never be acknowledged by American reporters (who in their infinite idiocy spent most of their time picking it apart), but will be recognized by history.

In the world's great Civil War, between the destruction and resurrection of the planet Earth, Al Gore is on his way toward being, not America's Lincoln, but the world's Lincoln. For the first time, we have a Political Thesis, a myth and a set of values, which is shared in every country, and understood by every power on Earth. That's Earth-shaking stuff.

The idea was simple, to build a global movement in one direction, on behalf of fighting climate change. I would prefer to call it The War Against Oil, but maybe that, too, is an American frame. Americans understand war metaphors. But by putting concerts on all 7 continents  (including some scientists in Antarctica), by accepting the help of yet staying aloof from governments of every kind, Gore pulled off something which had never been attempted. Other mega-concerts have happened. They were fund-raisers. This was a political curtain-raiser.

Think of it. A global, democratic movement, dedicated to a single proposition, working on its behalf no matter what the local political system or religion. A global movement which recognizes not just the oneness of the cause, but the inner similarity of all those dedicated to it.

As with the Olympics or the World Cup, the two events it most closely represents, Live Earth looked and felt different depending on where you were. Audiences and journalists in each region could concentrate on what was going on locally, but all knew that very similar things were happening everywhere, and in that similarity there was a program, with a single message.

The result is a global political party, perhaps the first truly global party in history. Not just a party in the sense of "party down," but a party in the sense of demanding political action. Not a fringe party, either, but a mass movement which is considered legitimate in every corner of the world. The success of that party will differ based on local events, and local support, but the unity of the party's message remains crystal clear even after the music has died.

The idea of Al Gore as President now seems superfluous, not just far-fetched but limiting. Between the movie, the Oscars, and the concert he has in many ways transcended the nation from which he emerged. Not for the sake of power, but for the sake of the cause, a cause scientists could not organize themselves to get behind, a cause only a journalist could even conceive of.

Because that's what Gore is, at heart, a journalist. He has been pushing this story for 30 years, whatever his actual job title was the study of this story was always with him. And now that it has exploded into world consciousness, now that it has become the default position of nearly every world government, what sense would it make for Al Gore to become a mere President? When he can be the adviser to every President?