(no subject)
Election Day fell over "reading week" here, so I forwent english-speaking election coverage and wound up in Naples on election day, watching the results coming in at 3 in the morning in a hostel with a handful of other Americans, all of us shouting at the television, "what's she saying? what the fuck is she saying? DOES ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM SPEAK ITALIAN? WHO WON PENNSYLVANIA???" I dozed off before it was decided, woke up to a city 9/10ths plastered in Obama hero-worship posters and 1/10th plastered in posters that said, "No you can't."
I'm thrilled, honestly, but most of my thrill derives more from relief than it does from hope. I don't believe that all of the change Obama "promises" is remotely possible. I cast my vote for gay and abortion rights, for the environment, for the restoration of America's image in the eyes of the world, for national security, but above all, for the sake of enjoyment of life. This world is full of immense joy and suffering in equal measure, but sure doesn't hand them out equitably. It saddens me so much to hear that so many people are running around calling Obama a communist. Since when can humanitarianism and capitalism not co-exist? I believe deeply in capitalism, as does Obama, as must anybody else who can truthfully say they have faith in the backbone of the American political system. But how can you tell kids sleeping under leaking roofs and going to school on empty stomachs that their talent and work ethic alone are going to determine their lot in life? Try telling the young women I used to tutor in Roxbury that they have the chance to be living manifestations of the American dream. They'll laugh at you, because their Mom's disability check got smaller this month and they lost electricity and their brother ran away again and they're interested in Salinger, they really are, but all they can think about is how they're going to get enough money to go to Burger King.
People think these are just freak cases that politicians come up with to win votes. They aren't. I go to college in a city full of it. And I'd be more than happy to see a decrease in financial aid from my parents if they see start seeing higher taxes because money is going to get these - and 100 other problems plaguing less fortunate Americans - fixed.
I'm thrilled, honestly, but most of my thrill derives more from relief than it does from hope. I don't believe that all of the change Obama "promises" is remotely possible. I cast my vote for gay and abortion rights, for the environment, for the restoration of America's image in the eyes of the world, for national security, but above all, for the sake of enjoyment of life. This world is full of immense joy and suffering in equal measure, but sure doesn't hand them out equitably. It saddens me so much to hear that so many people are running around calling Obama a communist. Since when can humanitarianism and capitalism not co-exist? I believe deeply in capitalism, as does Obama, as must anybody else who can truthfully say they have faith in the backbone of the American political system. But how can you tell kids sleeping under leaking roofs and going to school on empty stomachs that their talent and work ethic alone are going to determine their lot in life? Try telling the young women I used to tutor in Roxbury that they have the chance to be living manifestations of the American dream. They'll laugh at you, because their Mom's disability check got smaller this month and they lost electricity and their brother ran away again and they're interested in Salinger, they really are, but all they can think about is how they're going to get enough money to go to Burger King.
People think these are just freak cases that politicians come up with to win votes. They aren't. I go to college in a city full of it. And I'd be more than happy to see a decrease in financial aid from my parents if they see start seeing higher taxes because money is going to get these - and 100 other problems plaguing less fortunate Americans - fixed.