he isn't our saviour. but he IS black.
Today is a big day for America. 2 million people are going to show up on the lawn of the white house to see the first black president sworn into office. But we all know that. Just like we know the steps were built by slaves and that by his acceptance into office, we start a whole new chapter of the american dream. A hopeful one. Yet, this inauguration is going to cost 3 times what bush's cost, and THAT was the most expensive in history. Does it help that a lot of the excess cost is picked up by rich big wigs? some of who we are helping to bail out with our hard earned tax dollars? Is it really a spark of change if we are spending this money on a celebration, when our economy needs every bit of stimulation it can get? Yes. This does create jobs and a sense of patriotism. But is it a balance? Is it the right foot to get started on?
He can't fix everything. That should be a given, i would suppose. However, the obama-rama attitude has taken foot and nothing will get it down. That's not to say that we shouldn't have hope or that we shouldn't scream it from the rooftop. Just that we should be realistic about our hope. My dad actually reminded me of something that Ronald Reagan said in his inaugural address.. "The government cannot fix your problems. The government IS the problem." And here we are 40 years later, turning to our government to fix things. The only difference is that for the first time, our government is actually asking something of us as citizens. To stand up, dust off our neighborhood pride, and learn to be a citizen again. Go out and learn to share. Don't fear your neighbor. Make friends. Seems so simple, but is it?
You also can't underestimate the power of today either. Cynicism is a great thing, but only to the point before it crosses over into being just as blind as trust. My dad also said something along the lines of "a black guy could have been elected anytime within the last 20 years." Implying that the equality issue of the first black man fulfilling the ultimate american dream is really of no significance. I disagree. It is amazing to me that it has taken this long, yes. but really, truthfully, and perhaps horribly, it takes the passing on (and yes i mean death) of a generation, to kill out things like racism, because it is a hate and fear that is highly engrained. A good deed is easy to forget, but a bad one is burn on the skin forever. It took the passing of my grandparents generation and my parents generation coming into power to see an african american man to take presidential office. And really it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, but his ability to move people and motivate them into an activist approach at a hopeful future.
I am so hopeful today. But also so skeptical.
he isn't our savior.
but he is a spark of hope.
he is a reminder
that things can overcome.
good luck mr obama.
may the force be with you.
you will need every bit of it.
He can't fix everything. That should be a given, i would suppose. However, the obama-rama attitude has taken foot and nothing will get it down. That's not to say that we shouldn't have hope or that we shouldn't scream it from the rooftop. Just that we should be realistic about our hope. My dad actually reminded me of something that Ronald Reagan said in his inaugural address.. "The government cannot fix your problems. The government IS the problem." And here we are 40 years later, turning to our government to fix things. The only difference is that for the first time, our government is actually asking something of us as citizens. To stand up, dust off our neighborhood pride, and learn to be a citizen again. Go out and learn to share. Don't fear your neighbor. Make friends. Seems so simple, but is it?
You also can't underestimate the power of today either. Cynicism is a great thing, but only to the point before it crosses over into being just as blind as trust. My dad also said something along the lines of "a black guy could have been elected anytime within the last 20 years." Implying that the equality issue of the first black man fulfilling the ultimate american dream is really of no significance. I disagree. It is amazing to me that it has taken this long, yes. but really, truthfully, and perhaps horribly, it takes the passing on (and yes i mean death) of a generation, to kill out things like racism, because it is a hate and fear that is highly engrained. A good deed is easy to forget, but a bad one is burn on the skin forever. It took the passing of my grandparents generation and my parents generation coming into power to see an african american man to take presidential office. And really it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, but his ability to move people and motivate them into an activist approach at a hopeful future.
I am so hopeful today. But also so skeptical.
he isn't our savior.
but he is a spark of hope.
he is a reminder
that things can overcome.
good luck mr obama.
may the force be with you.
you will need every bit of it.