writers on Obama's legacy
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/dec/10/obamas-legacy-lorrie-moore-richard-ford-marilynne-robinson-and-more
The word "grace" comes up several times; so do the words "love of books." I'm still not really able to articulate any of my feelings right now, so it's nice that some other people are doing some of the work for me.
Back in 2008, though - right after the election - I wrote this: "I voted for the [candidate] who talks to us as though we are all Americans, even when we passionately disagree with each other, instead of the one who believes that there is a 'real America' and 'real Americans' and the rest of us can (as my mother likes to say) go jump."
And that's still true, and I'm still grateful for it.
A lot of the time these days, I find myself imitating Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, when she says her goodbyes to the Scarecrow: "I think I'll miss you most of all." I mourn one loss from President Obama's time in office, only to find that there's some new loss I haven't even considered yet, just waiting patiently for me to notice it. Which one will I actually miss most of all? Who can say, really? But this one - having a President who didn't believe in, or cynically use, that idea of "real Americans" - well, it's up there on the list. Maybe not as high as some other fears, but that idea of "real Americans" creates cover for a lot of terrible things… Are we going to go back to the days of policing people's flag pins and running over Dixie Chicks CDs in parking lots? (Although this time I guess it'll be Hamilton CDs, probably...)
The word "grace" comes up several times; so do the words "love of books." I'm still not really able to articulate any of my feelings right now, so it's nice that some other people are doing some of the work for me.
Back in 2008, though - right after the election - I wrote this: "I voted for the [candidate] who talks to us as though we are all Americans, even when we passionately disagree with each other, instead of the one who believes that there is a 'real America' and 'real Americans' and the rest of us can (as my mother likes to say) go jump."
And that's still true, and I'm still grateful for it.
A lot of the time these days, I find myself imitating Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, when she says her goodbyes to the Scarecrow: "I think I'll miss you most of all." I mourn one loss from President Obama's time in office, only to find that there's some new loss I haven't even considered yet, just waiting patiently for me to notice it. Which one will I actually miss most of all? Who can say, really? But this one - having a President who didn't believe in, or cynically use, that idea of "real Americans" - well, it's up there on the list. Maybe not as high as some other fears, but that idea of "real Americans" creates cover for a lot of terrible things… Are we going to go back to the days of policing people's flag pins and running over Dixie Chicks CDs in parking lots? (Although this time I guess it'll be Hamilton CDs, probably...)