The inagural events and rediculous coverage have set my mind ablaze with reflection.
Bear with me as I digress.
This election cycle has left me disillusioned on many fronts.
To set the stage let me say I am neither disappointed, upset, nor emotionally/spiritually/religiously enthralled as a result of this election cycle. I guess I missed some boat that sailed from port some time ago. Maybe 24 hour news, the popularity of politics this year, or the shear opulence expressed in the campaigns of all involved has lead me to several conclusions...
1. I am a cynical a** hole ( we all new this)
2. Elections really are for sale or at least that is the preception set by the 24 hr balance sheets on money raised by contestants.
3. I use the term contestant purposely
4. Things said on TV to win the game show are not applicable outside of the recording studio
But the most disturbing thing to me was the concept that Americans never thought they'd live to see the day and African American would be president??? And most of those who wouldn't believe it were African American or of a minority group?(or at least that is who was asked the question by every news bimbo that could corner someone). I ran into this problem in my leadership conference I attended a few years ago. We were having a discussion on race relations in leadership positions and I was the only one in the room under 30. These issues were alive and beating in the room and I was disappointed in both sides.
I am offended(not something easily done) that the country, especially minorities can't believe it actually happened. Who'd of thought a black man would or could achieve, or form complete sentences? "He's such an eloquent articulate black man?"http://www.entertonement.com/clips/18788/Joe-Biden/Barack-Obama/2008-Election/Attributes Do you here the words coming out of your mouth? Seriously, I may be off the reservation here but these are the words I hear and it offends me.
That's Right a man of modest means, got up one day and said I want to change my life and help people along the way. I want to work, and learn, and pursue the nobelists of causes as I see they
are.
I for one am not surprised, I can believe it, and if more people would believe in themselves they too could attain high goals. While I am bothered by the sentiment of others I hope that this will be a clarion call to remind all people that if you get off your can and work and don't let stereotypes drive your ambitions or limit your aspirations we could be the place I thought we were all along.
as for me what do I think of Barak Obama being elected president... I had no doubt he could and more than likely would be elected. I think he has a full plate. I am more concerned that we have little checks and balances in our federal government than I am the political leanings of the president. I think he is a far more tactful and eloquent leader than we had before. I will pass on judging his performance as president until he has done it(unlike many who would judge his future actions on his ability to tell us how it will be) I am impressed with his determination and share some of his goals(although the path to those goals is a different matter) and as always I believe he will as all presidents, do what he feels and thinks is best for America.
And I am not the least bit surprised he did it, it is a moment of pride for America but its most defiantly only the latest and not the first.
Later J.
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ReplyDeleteI do not in anyway discredit and or disregaurd the sentiments you point out, I am sure my feelings would be different in lew of witnessing the things the people you speak of did. Nor do I deny anyone the freedom to beleive or deny anything they wish( you go flat earth society!!!) I guess my overall issue was more the sentiment I wasn't hearing...
ReplyDelete"It's is about time" " I knew this day would come..."
Being a person who believes in the ability for anyone to represent the people(who can raise the money), can rise inspite of the obsticles in there lives. And I did not say I could not believe only the minorities couldn't believe it had happened, I feel the overall tone was one of astonishment, either in the fact that the Best canidate for the Democratic party was black or that this country would actually put bias aside and vote for the canidate they thought was best. This lack of faith on both sides of this coin maybe didn't so much offended, as disappointed me on deep level. I guess all I can say is I believed, and continue to believe that anything in this country is possible and it is about time everyone realized it.
I understand your point…I believe I really do. And it’s a good and valid point.
ReplyDeleteThough I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that I take the “pull yourself up by your boot straps….you can be anything you want” argument to be a bit disingenuous.
Can you be anything you want in America today? I don’t know. I’m not sure. Maybe. I hope so. But I think to just say “well…that person didn’t work hard enough” dismisses out-of-hand some very legitimate problems with our society. You touched on it when you brought up the cost of running for President these days. How many great candidates will we never know because they don’t have 500 million dollars? Is this a failing of those candidates’ abilities or our system?
Ultimately, I think this is what people love about Obama. He may be the exception and not the rule…but he does illustrate that anything is still possible in America. When he repeats that mantra of “hope”…it takes all kinds of forms for all kinds of people. But certainly “hope” that the system is not fatally flawed is part of the picture.
On the media point. I agree that media is broken in all kinds of ways. But I believe the blame is to be laid on the American consumer more than the media itself. It’s still a capitalist country…if people ain’t buying it the corporations can’t be selling it.
Anyway, I do love you Jeremy. You’re not one of the stupid ones…ugly…but not stupid. xoxoxoxoxo
Re-reading my last comment I realize that maybe I shouldn't be on the computer before I have my coffee. I think I left some loose ends and might not have hit the mark when replying to your comments.
ReplyDeleteTo clarify, I have my doubts that people really can be anything they dream (this doubt is born more of realism than pessimism - I hope). I think of that idea as "the boot strap argument"...which is why I refered to your comments in that manner. Though in re-reading your remarks I think what you're really talking about is something different...disappointment in peoples low faith in other people. I guess I bring up the "boot starps argument" because I think that's where peoples doubt comes from...the broken promise that they "can be anything they dream." A lifetime of fighting a system or a prejudice to no avail can cause someone to doubt and be cynical. Thus, when things do go right...when the guy who works the hardest gets the reward...people are surprised. I believe in their hearts every American still has some faith in the potential of the system (and for the actors in the system). It's just that after the last eight years that faith has been tested...to say the least.
Secondly, I see you didn't mention the media in your last comment. In making my remarks on the media here I suppose I was thinking back to your original post and some other conversations I've been having with folks latley...including you on my blog.
Lastly, I don't really think you're ugly...I've known much uglier men.
Damn it Jeremy! You gotta move back to Mass.! "Typing" politics with you is so much less fun and more "crazy old man" than sitting down with a beer and arguing about how a toilet on a wall is not just art...but genius!
Though in typing that last bit I can see how even face-to-face you and I might sound like two crazy old men.
Peas...or Peace...or whatever...
ahhh toilets. Yes Duchamp is both the savior and antichrist of art. HE simultaniously free's the artist from the shackles of an antiquated school of thought and opens the door to every dip-sh*t with have a brain to make "art". I think I am turning into a grumpy old bastard, the more we undefine things the less any of it means. So I say, "I love you Duchamp, like a drunk uncle, not because your awesome but becasue your family"!
ReplyDeleteTime for a new string my brother
J