Yes We Could!
Yes, mark me down as someone incredibly happy over Obama's win, and that it was an unquestionable win--not a win with hanging chads, not a win with disappearing and appearing votes, but an overwhelming win with a clear mandate for Progressive change.
Here's hoping that years from now I'll be able take Martha aside and point to this election as the day when America began to return to the principles that has made it a beacon of hope around the world, and that racism--overt racism--was buried as a part of our national identity. Wouldn't it be great, if ten, fifteen years from now, as I talk to Martha about this historic occasion, that Martha turns to me with a "what the hell are you talking about" look and says, "well yeah, I understand what a great president Obama was, but what's this about being black have to do with anything?"
I am tempering my enthusiasm with the knowledge that he's a politician in the midst of wolves, and any initiative he starts is going to be battled tooth and nail by the Opposition, that there will be wins and losses, and sometimes our best intentions lead to the worst solutions. I'm hoping that President-elect Obama (oooh that sounds good!) doesn't just surround himself with "Yes"-men and relics from past administrations (see: the past administration), but takes the best ideas from both sides of the aisles, listens well, and forms the best policies for all. That's all anyone can ask.
Alvin and Pogo can try again in four years--there's an advantage to being virtually immortal. :)
Here's hoping that years from now I'll be able take Martha aside and point to this election as the day when America began to return to the principles that has made it a beacon of hope around the world, and that racism--overt racism--was buried as a part of our national identity. Wouldn't it be great, if ten, fifteen years from now, as I talk to Martha about this historic occasion, that Martha turns to me with a "what the hell are you talking about" look and says, "well yeah, I understand what a great president Obama was, but what's this about being black have to do with anything?"
I am tempering my enthusiasm with the knowledge that he's a politician in the midst of wolves, and any initiative he starts is going to be battled tooth and nail by the Opposition, that there will be wins and losses, and sometimes our best intentions lead to the worst solutions. I'm hoping that President-elect Obama (oooh that sounds good!) doesn't just surround himself with "Yes"-men and relics from past administrations (see: the past administration), but takes the best ideas from both sides of the aisles, listens well, and forms the best policies for all. That's all anyone can ask.
Alvin and Pogo can try again in four years--there's an advantage to being virtually immortal. :)