We have only just begun to fight
Well, after the jumping-up-and-down stuff last night, this morning brought to light the realities we will face in the coming year and coming term.
This morning on Demacracy Now! Amy Goodman's guest (whose name I didn't catch, and the transcript isn't up yet) said, "Barack Obama's victory is a victory over racism in this country. But it is not a victory for the left. Progressives in this country must keep fighting." Or something to that effect.
And it's so true.
I am hopeful, but I am also determined. I want this election to be a sign not only of the changing face of American political power, but also of increased and consistent activity on the part of citizens to shape their world. I want people to think about what they are voting for - and what they are enshrining into their state constitutions. (The returns from states with anti-gay marriage and anti-gay adoption measures just depress me, then infuriate me. The returns on the "personhood" and feticide propositions give me a smill measure of hope, although too many such laws are already on the books and damaging women's rights and health.) I want people to get out in their neighborhoods and learn how their local politics affect what happens to them, to find common ground with one another so that discrimination of any sort can be stamped out as we come to know one another as human beings. I want people to go back to the candidates they supported, or to the candidates they opposed, and tell these people what they think.
I want people to get out and take part in their democracy even after this morning's hangovers fade. This is not the win. This is not the magic fix. This is, as Barack said, a chance to work for the change we want.
Let's get to it.
This morning on Demacracy Now! Amy Goodman's guest (whose name I didn't catch, and the transcript isn't up yet) said, "Barack Obama's victory is a victory over racism in this country. But it is not a victory for the left. Progressives in this country must keep fighting." Or something to that effect.
And it's so true.
I am hopeful, but I am also determined. I want this election to be a sign not only of the changing face of American political power, but also of increased and consistent activity on the part of citizens to shape their world. I want people to think about what they are voting for - and what they are enshrining into their state constitutions. (The returns from states with anti-gay marriage and anti-gay adoption measures just depress me, then infuriate me. The returns on the "personhood" and feticide propositions give me a smill measure of hope, although too many such laws are already on the books and damaging women's rights and health.) I want people to get out in their neighborhoods and learn how their local politics affect what happens to them, to find common ground with one another so that discrimination of any sort can be stamped out as we come to know one another as human beings. I want people to go back to the candidates they supported, or to the candidates they opposed, and tell these people what they think.
I want people to get out and take part in their democracy even after this morning's hangovers fade. This is not the win. This is not the magic fix. This is, as Barack said, a chance to work for the change we want.
Let's get to it.