The Political Fictions Project
NY Magazine charged seven fiction writers with dreaming up short stories about contemporary political figures. And they’re asking readers to send in 1000 word essays, too.
It’s a brilliant project — it reflects how we think of our leaders, not just policy wise, but how we dissect them as people. Because that’s half the battle of leadership.
Obama Meets His Conscience, His Inner Self, What He Used To Believe In:
“It’s like this,” he said. “We’re becoming peasants again. Most of us. There’s the money people and the people around them, and then there’s you. But the rest of us, we’re peasants. And we dream about you. I dream about you. Mostly you and I are talking, sort of like we are now. But the strange thing is that I don’t need a message, I’m there to listen. It’s you—you’re the one who needs to speak. I’m your confessor.”
“What you said about the money people, I get that,” he said, fumbling a bit. “It’s why we need to encourage citizens to organize,” he went on, hearing the hollowness in the talking point.
The man shook his head, either sighing or forcing out a breath, the president couldn’t tell which. As he glanced sidelong at him, he had the uncanny sense that he recognized him.
Let’s hope the President reads this and sees in it that young idealist once again.
Change we can believe in. Let’s hope it’s not fiction.
