Just as it is worth noting that there is absolutely nothing wrong with ushering in an era that full of promise of fundamental change, there were still ugly details about this election season that is difficult to simply dismiss as politics and part of the game. But before I get to that, a note on technology.
If proof were needed to indicate the ways in which generational changed seemed to really take form and control, one need not look further than your inbox, youtube and your cell phone. How many people signed up to have Barack Obama send a text to their phones just so that they can be the first to find out who would be his running mate? That had to be the coolest thing ever. I received emails incessantly, and I thoroughly enjoyed saying, “Oh did you get the email Barack sent today?” So we know it was one of his tekkies. It doesn’t matter. The point is technology became its own animal. It was this powerful political, social and educational mechanism that brought supporters together as a collective body in a matter of minutes, every day. Talk about a campaign. Without it, how would we get YouTube sensation Obama Girl? Or what about that hysterical video “It’s Rainin’ McCain”? That was one of my personal favorites, seriously. Seriously. We were able to feed into the frenzy – creating our own online screen-printing services, forums, music videos and songs! What about the remake of A Millie – the original rap song by Lil’ Wayne? I think the Obama version received more air-time on a lot of hip hop radio stations, and it was remade by a completely different hip hop group. Or what about the pictures that people sent via email to each other? Customized and edited pictures, icons, etc. with anything political – from Barack Obama to Sarah Palin in a swimsuit. Technology gave us access and it gave us freedom – a freedom to envision things the way we’d like to, the freedom to express ourselves and voice our own concerns and suggest our own platforms. If nothing else, this had to have been the most entertaining election season ever – most due to our ability to use technology for anything.
Even with this revolutionary development, there were a few age-old pitfalls that seemed, relative to all of the progression that Americans are making, magnified the ugly side to American tradition and ideology.
For example, I found it ironic that while we were getting an international pat on the back for electing black guy, and considering a white woman, we had a serious problem with respecting difference, perhaps a bit more than usual. Maybe it’s because I’m 23, and this is my first “real election”. While I performed my civic duty, have been voting since being granted the right, this election meant the most to me. This is my first year as a full-fledged, wholly accountable adult with loans, taxes, credit and a full time job with no homework. Thrusted into the real world shortly after my college graduation, I suppose this is the reason everything is so eye opening. It’s my first time out, or at least, it feels that way. But even still, I am familiar with my country’s history, and so what I’ve witnessed these past few months have been compelling as well as disappointing.
First, I noticed an irony in difference. I think we exploited ourselves here. Remember the lady from Ohio, who said that she doesn’t trust Obama because she heard he’s Arab? Not only was she misinformed, but Senator McCain’s counter-argument suggested that Arabs are bad people. A stretch? Not really. What he said was that Obama is a good man, and I believe he may have said family man…and along that same vein that they disagree with the way things are done, but he’s a good man. Are Arabs, then, bad people, Mr. McCain? No one seemed to have blinked an eye. In fact, people applauded him for at least making an attempt to quell the potential backlash and suggestion that Obama could be a terrorist?
What about the outcry that resulted from a rumor about Obama is Muslim? Or, going along that same vein, the whole idea that since he was cordial with a colleague at work, who harbors his own opinions, has his own baggage and was once an enemy to the federal government during a time when the American people did not trust the federal government, this made Obama anti-American?
What about this notion that it’s anti-American to have a willingness to meet with an opposing leader without conditions? Since when did it become un-American to have a meeting without bullying or strong-arming the other party, setting ultimatums before sitting down and talking it over first?
What about the fact that not once did McCain reach out to minorities and say that he’s a leader, a voice for us too? When did it stop being everyone in the country and not just the people who think like one of our leaders? Since when has it been permissible to claim that a woman who is straight-forward and able to work and fight with the big boys “feisty”?
That was my biggest pet-peeve of all. I heard that a lot throughout the election season and also during this discussion. I didn’t vote for Hilary Clinton because I didn’t think she deemed it important to speak specifically to the problems facing the black community. We just needed specific acknowledgment that the national issues especially affected us. The same can be said for Hispanics and other ethnic groups who were simply overlooked when they specifically needed attention. Abortion is a concern in Philadelphia neighborhoods, where less than ten years ago, when 50% of black potential babies were aborted. Prison systems, rights and rehabilitation are issues seem to get less attention than it needs, as it continues to profoundly render a negative impact on black communities. People do not have jobs everywhere, but it especially affects minority families who make less and children are being reared by one parent (and often times not to the best of that parent’s ability). So just a little acknowledgment of the minority’s plight, just a voice of power that says, “Hey, I see you, and I hear you, and we’re going to work on this together, and it is a priority for me too,” would have been encouraging to hear from Hilary. Ultimately, I’m not sure that she’s as diplomatic as Obama, perhaps not as diplomatic as we need her to be when the country is in such a deteriorating state.
I mention all of that because of all the reasons to choose not to vote for Senator Clinton, I wouldn’t say that a relevant negative trait was that she was “feisty”. What IS that? Really? That is not to say people voted against her for that reason, but it was a resonating description for many prominent women in politics. God knows I wouldn’t have voted for Sarah Palin, but it annoyed me that people often spoke of the same to describe her.
Many bloggers have reminded us that racism still exists, as do other prejudices. Initially, I protested. I think as a united people, we should relish in our progressive accomplishment, because like it or not, this election exemplified democracy at its best. But in rejoicing, I motion that we remember those who were exploited, ostracized, ignored or misunderstood. Their reality is still consists of ugly undertones, with a pervading idea that they are substandard citizens of this country in some way. It’s great that we champion change, but we can’t expect Barack to do it all by himself, and that’s where a close assessment of ourselves, our ideologies and behaviors will play a huge role.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Now, America, What Did We Learn? The Good News.
Unfortunately, my Tylenol PM kicked in a bit sooner than I would have liked, and as such, I missed a large portion of Barbara Walters' interview with two people that I admire a great deal: Barack and Michelle Obama. If anyone could tell me where I could watch that online (or if there will be a re-run, because I've been checking all weekend) I'd greatly appreciate it.
Although Ms. Walters' interviews are 'can't miss' insights into the minds of the we people we love and love to hate in the public sphere, I think I may have found a caliber discussion being held the following day on C-SPAN. The special was a taping of a focus group held in Virginia, and it consisted of voters who voted for President-elect Barack Obama. Peter Hart, a researcher from the Annenberg Center for Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, led the discussion by asking a series of questions that required very honest answers from these supporters.
The group itself was very telling of the demographic that the Democrats aimed to reach during this momentous election. While everyone in the group would consider themselves middle class, they varied in beliefs and ideology, political party, ethnicity and race. Gauging from the questions that were asked, we can assume that Hart's goal was to discover what exactly motivated the vote for the Obama/Biden ticket. What were key factors in making a final decision? Some members of the group were motivated by the failing economy, by Obama's charisma and self composure, and others simply voted for him because he wasn't John McCain nor Sarah Palin. The idea that Palin could become president was empathetically terrifying for the majority of the twelve representatives. Some felt disillusioned and betrayed by John McCain's nasty an outwardly divisive campaign, while others truly believed in Obama's platform and enthusiasm for change, as well as the inclusiveness he provided throughout the process.
Very good, if not intriguing questions were asked, and the focus group provided a lot of insight. What I enjoyed the most about these responses were that they all presented different points of view and ideas to consider. It also coerced me to think of my own feelings on this election beyond "historic" "hopeful" and an indication of "generational change". So here are a few of my own criticisms on the election:
Obama the Everyman. Move out of the way Joe - a new guy's in town. Barack Obama is unique in that he embodies the face of America. By this, I mean that everyone can claim ownership of him, and that in itself implies that he is the embodiment of The Great American Melting Pot (School House Rock, anyone?). Think about it:
• Intellectual liberals can claim him. He empathizes with their progressive thinking. He encourages Americans to believe that we can truly harbor this fundamental, age-old idea called fairness – even when it personally pains us to do so. For example, Obama supports the idea that gay people should get the same rights as other couples, and that we should shut down Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay), where American officials have been accused of using abusive tactics to punish detainees, some of who have assisted in terrorist organizations against the United States. Human rights come first, these fair believers say.
• Christian conservatives respect his staunch values on family, God, a moral code and hard-earned, humble success.
• Black Americans own a piece of him because he’s a black guy, who, while may have a unique child and young adult-hood, also had to find his identity in a society that has yet to comfortably identify the contemporary role that black-Americans as an entity contribute to America. This in itself is a whole other blog entry .
• White Americans own a piece of him because he was raised and reared by his white grandmother in Hawaii, and before that, by his white mother, a Kansan native.
• Philanthropists and altruists have a piece of Obama because he advocates for the change that they could only envision, and he has paved a way to render these dreams for an ideal America a reality.
• He’s also a guy who grew up in the post-It’s normal be to be a nuclear family-era. After all, he was raised by a single parent for awhile, then his grandparent, has a step-dad and a half-sister. Sounds like every other family that thinks they’re dysfunctional.
• He is a mixed kid, and struggled with his identity among his peers. Is he black enough? White enough? Neither? At the end, he was just Barry, but it took some growing pains to get there, and he can empathize with many people in a similar predicament. My little sister shared this sentiment with me, as she is mixed as well.
• He’s a self-made man. Literally. A guy who worked hard, liked to help people, and achieved his goals actively seeking them all. He’s like you, me and everyone else.
I love that about him, and this will work in his favor if it hasn’t already. It isn’t surprising; a guy as diverse as President-elect Obama would have to be intimately aware of his surroundings, and I suspect has naturally contributed to his talent as a diplomat, or a pleaser to all.
In about two months, he’ll be president of the United States, and it’s a great feeling because it means every man (or woman) in America won on November 4, 2008. What an inspiring moment of truth for us! We will never forget.
There are a few things, however, that we seemed to have overlooked...
Although Ms. Walters' interviews are 'can't miss' insights into the minds of the we people we love and love to hate in the public sphere, I think I may have found a caliber discussion being held the following day on C-SPAN. The special was a taping of a focus group held in Virginia, and it consisted of voters who voted for President-elect Barack Obama. Peter Hart, a researcher from the Annenberg Center for Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, led the discussion by asking a series of questions that required very honest answers from these supporters.
The group itself was very telling of the demographic that the Democrats aimed to reach during this momentous election. While everyone in the group would consider themselves middle class, they varied in beliefs and ideology, political party, ethnicity and race. Gauging from the questions that were asked, we can assume that Hart's goal was to discover what exactly motivated the vote for the Obama/Biden ticket. What were key factors in making a final decision? Some members of the group were motivated by the failing economy, by Obama's charisma and self composure, and others simply voted for him because he wasn't John McCain nor Sarah Palin. The idea that Palin could become president was empathetically terrifying for the majority of the twelve representatives. Some felt disillusioned and betrayed by John McCain's nasty an outwardly divisive campaign, while others truly believed in Obama's platform and enthusiasm for change, as well as the inclusiveness he provided throughout the process.
Very good, if not intriguing questions were asked, and the focus group provided a lot of insight. What I enjoyed the most about these responses were that they all presented different points of view and ideas to consider. It also coerced me to think of my own feelings on this election beyond "historic" "hopeful" and an indication of "generational change". So here are a few of my own criticisms on the election:
Obama the Everyman. Move out of the way Joe - a new guy's in town. Barack Obama is unique in that he embodies the face of America. By this, I mean that everyone can claim ownership of him, and that in itself implies that he is the embodiment of The Great American Melting Pot (School House Rock, anyone?). Think about it:
• Intellectual liberals can claim him. He empathizes with their progressive thinking. He encourages Americans to believe that we can truly harbor this fundamental, age-old idea called fairness – even when it personally pains us to do so. For example, Obama supports the idea that gay people should get the same rights as other couples, and that we should shut down Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay), where American officials have been accused of using abusive tactics to punish detainees, some of who have assisted in terrorist organizations against the United States. Human rights come first, these fair believers say.
• Christian conservatives respect his staunch values on family, God, a moral code and hard-earned, humble success.
• Black Americans own a piece of him because he’s a black guy, who, while may have a unique child and young adult-hood, also had to find his identity in a society that has yet to comfortably identify the contemporary role that black-Americans as an entity contribute to America. This in itself is a whole other blog entry .
• White Americans own a piece of him because he was raised and reared by his white grandmother in Hawaii, and before that, by his white mother, a Kansan native.
• Philanthropists and altruists have a piece of Obama because he advocates for the change that they could only envision, and he has paved a way to render these dreams for an ideal America a reality.
• He’s also a guy who grew up in the post-It’s normal be to be a nuclear family-era. After all, he was raised by a single parent for awhile, then his grandparent, has a step-dad and a half-sister. Sounds like every other family that thinks they’re dysfunctional.
• He is a mixed kid, and struggled with his identity among his peers. Is he black enough? White enough? Neither? At the end, he was just Barry, but it took some growing pains to get there, and he can empathize with many people in a similar predicament. My little sister shared this sentiment with me, as she is mixed as well.
• He’s a self-made man. Literally. A guy who worked hard, liked to help people, and achieved his goals actively seeking them all. He’s like you, me and everyone else.
I love that about him, and this will work in his favor if it hasn’t already. It isn’t surprising; a guy as diverse as President-elect Obama would have to be intimately aware of his surroundings, and I suspect has naturally contributed to his talent as a diplomat, or a pleaser to all.
In about two months, he’ll be president of the United States, and it’s a great feeling because it means every man (or woman) in America won on November 4, 2008. What an inspiring moment of truth for us! We will never forget.
There are a few things, however, that we seemed to have overlooked...
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