Hope.
ANUARY 20th of 1993, I heard Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Address and I got verklempt. How does rural white trash inherit the White House? I still believe in a town called Hope, he said. And I sent him a letter saying that I was right there with him.
He said it was “the economy, stupid”. Then came the bumbling of his first year or so in office, and the Republican Landslide and Newt’s “Contract on America”. Bill transformed from a challenging leader to an every-day sort of politician. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the Federal DOMA, and other milestones of oppression arose. We bombed several counties, helped invade Serbia, had a boom and bust cycle and things continued.
When the courts handed W the election in 2000, everyone said the world was over. But we did it again 4 years later. We’ve had a boom and bust cycle, but overall, nothing really changed. We still have DOMA and DADT. We’ve had newer milestones of oppression in the Patriot Act and a growing police state mentality.
Dare I hope again?
My experience tells me no one gets into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue without having played the game of politics that eats one’s brain, destroys one’s morals and makes one rather like a muppet with more hands up your backside than the Swedish chef. From my experience, I can’t imagine that Senator Obama is any different.
I’m excited about the breaking of a racial barrier – but I know that I’m partially responsible for A) the barrier; and B) the condescending attitude that Barak’s election means “we’re finally done with it”.
Let’s see who gets on board. Let’s see the list of those he calls to serve. Let’s see what his election might mean as the rubber hits the road. I’m not yet ready to do more than smirk about this.
But I’d really like to hope.
i agree with you; i’m pleased with the results of the election, but i’m taking a let’s see approach as well.
just found your blog via the episcopal blogs webring. lots of interesting stuff here for me to catch up on!
I hope and pray with you.
While we down here are a far smaller player, we also went for someone new and fresh. It’s not perfect, but we needed a change. And I sense the feeling over there was similar. I simply hope and pray people have realistic expectations and, as you wrote, those elected can play some political game at least.
God bless Mr Obama, and America.
If our expectations of Obama are that he’ll solve all of our problems by himself or with his Democratic Washington cronies, then cynicism is needed. If our expectations are that Obama can inspire people to take care of their own problems, then optimism tempered with realism. This election is not about Obama. It’s about the American people, and the American people in my opinion have chosen to take matters into their own hands – have chosen not to wait around for Washington politicians to solve problems in their own communities. May God bless Obama and may God empower Obama and the American people to service.
Very well-written, James. Indeed, Obama has never claimed to have all the answers to our problems and has stressed that everyone has to pitch to get out of the mess the past eight years have left us. And his campaign inspired ordinary millions to give and to act. In addition, I’m impressed by his humility, his sense of reality about being an imperfect human being and his lack of presumption — something I haven’t seen in the head of our republic for quite some time. I think his background, having grown from disadvantage and lack of privilege, will bring a different perspective to the White House, with a very genuine empathy for the common good. God bless Obama, God bless the USA and God bless the whole world — enabling us to rise to the occasion by his grace.