Today’s post will be really short as I’m taking a while to reflect on the possibilities of tomorrow. I haven’t spoken much about my political views on this blog, mostly because it’s not the right forum. Political discussions can often divide our energies and I didn’t want that to become the focal point of what we do here.
That said, the possibilities for tomorrow are astounding. I voted for Obama, not solely because he is a black man – and, sadly, I must say that because some of you know I’m not white and may make that assumption – but because he’s the closest to my political ideology. I honestly doubt he’ll be able to do half of what he wants to do, but what I’m optimistic about is how he’s made so many people believe that we can change and have a better tomorrow.
The message that we are each responsible for and part of change is true and defies party or political ideology. Every day we make choices or develop habits that alter our future, and we cannot rest upon the choices and habits of yesterday when the problems of tomorrow are different. Each day we must reassert our will to become better than we were yesterday and rise to the challenges of the present.
I’m hopeful about tomorrow in a way I haven’t been for years. And that Obama has been the leader of this hope is a victory that transcends polls and politics.
Jakrose posted this picture on his blog today, and when I saw it I was reminded of Ben Franklin’s pondering about whether the sun was rising or setting on the back of George Washington’s chair during the signing of the Constitution. For the first time in a long time, I see the sun rising on a better tomorrow.
Charlie, if you want to move, Australia is much like America, except with health care and education. ;-) But when you say "maybe it's our time to fight for what we believe and lead change in those areas", that's one of the many reasons why I'm so thrilled about this election - it's given the people the hope that they can make change with their own efforts, and that's exciting.
I have to say that the American electoral system seems odd - I think there's a lot that needs to be changed about the system itself, to allow a fairer result. I was pleased in the last election to see people like Jim Webb get in: although I don't agree with all of his views, he's done some things that really needed to be done, particularly for the people sent off to fight a war of choice. And the Senate benefits greatly from a diversity of views.
As for our renewed love affair with America, it's strange that, while most of the Americans I've known have been lovely people, this current administration is the absolute bottom of the barrel. In just the 7 years since September 11 2001, they've set the US against the entire world - aggressive war, torture, war profiteering, arrogance, and complete incompetence in things like disaster response. Particularly galling since it would have been so easy to retain that sympathy and use it for the best.
But it looks to be the beginning of a new era, and with any luck the neoclassical economics and neoconservative politics have been thoroughly discredited for good and all. All my American friends look 10 years younger now - it's amazing what a bit of hope can do.
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