I blogged in November about how much the election meant for America, Americans and our democratic institutions and culture. Two months later, I'm still exhilarated by Obama and the American electorate. I can only add two comments to those earlier November blogs.
One, i think this election marks a shift in the American electorate. The public gets it, whether that it is the role of government, clean energy, race relations in the U.S. - pick any topic. The changing demographics and the increase in young voters marks a dynamic shift in our politics. I should be cautious about making such a broad statement, especially only four years after Rove et.al. made similar ones, but we could be on the verge of a long Democratic run similar to the one brought about by the stock market crash of 1929. Post-Katrina, post-Madoff/financial crisis people value government and conversely distrust money much in the same way Americans did in the 30s and 40s. That shift in favor of government activism and faith in liberalism led to Democratic control of Congress - at least the House - for 40 years! And during that run Congress passed some of the best laws in the history of laws: the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Wilderness Act, the Fair Housing Act, another Voting Rights Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, etc. etc.
If the next 40 years were half as productive it would be a great era. Here's hoping it comes true.
Two, the election of an African-American reaffirms the great American myths, actually moves them from myth to reality. One of the most pernicious facets of the African-American experience - most pernicious for blacks than for the country as a whole, to be clear - is that it mocked all of the best American ideals, ideals such as 'all men are created equal' and 'work hard and you'll get ahead' and 'anyone in American can grow up to be president.' For as long as there has been a United States those very powerful and important American ideals did not apply to African-Americans. Worse actually, since the opposite was true about slavery; work hard and you'll get nothing.
Though we are far from a perfect union - actually something our Founders did not think we could achieve so they set their sights on a more realistic goal of a 'more perfect' one - the election of Barack Obama means that for the first time in our nation's history the African-American experience has finally been completely woven into the full fabric of America.
The evolving American electorate and a great candidate named Barack Obama made that happen, and that should make every American proud as we approach a very momentous Inauguration Day. It certainly makes me feel that way.
Inaugural Notes
- Ariadne and I will head down to the Mall to watch the ceremony on one of the big screens they are setting up and to be amongst we the people. If you're in DC let me know if you want to join us.
- The SIerra Club was able to secure two tickets for me and Alison to go to the Western States ball on Inauguration Night. Depending on how I look in my tux I may or may not post photos from that night.
- Happy Martin Luther King Day, too. The symbolism of that day and Inauguration Day speaks for itself.
- Despite the absence of Chicago-based Wilco from the show I enjoyed today's concert on the Mall. I was especially impressed by the singing of all five verses of 'This Land is Your Land,' including the subversive ones (about bread lines and violating private property). Seeing Pete Seeger - who was black balled as a Communist and banned from TV until the late 60s - at an event like that was like seeing Muhammed Ali light the torch at the 1996 Olympics - a man who less than 20 years prior to that event was imprisoned for opposing the draft and Vietnam. Two guys who persevered and saw their country change for the better. And Obama becomes president! Pretty cool 'only in America' stuff.
