And out of cynicism, hope
The forty-fourth President of the United States will be named Barack Hussein Obama. Namewise, that will rank right alongside Millard Warren Fillmore and Rutherford Birchard Hayes in our nation's history. Administration-wise, let's hope it fares significantly better.
I just finished watching Obama's first address to a nation now certain that he will be its next President, and my vast differences with many of his policy ideas melted away. He reminded me again why I had responded to him so positively initially. He spoke of bipartisanship and a desire to earn the support or at least the trust even of those who did not vote for him (a glorious contrast to George W. Bush's "mandate" of four years ago). That line in particular worked to allay my fears of single party rule.
Of course, I do not envy President-elect Obama. He inherits two wars, a struggling economy, and a nation whose ideals have been shaken in recent years. Still, in light of the cynicism of my last post, I wanted to offer now a sincere hope for the future of our country. Less than half a century after segregation was ended, America just elected an African-American president and for the most part didn't bat an eye. That's proof that in the little 220-year social experiment we call the United States of America, anything is possible. Dum spiro, spero: while we breathe, we hope. I'll be cynical tomorrow.
(I still wish the Redskins didn't have to lose last night though.)
I just finished watching Obama's first address to a nation now certain that he will be its next President, and my vast differences with many of his policy ideas melted away. He reminded me again why I had responded to him so positively initially. He spoke of bipartisanship and a desire to earn the support or at least the trust even of those who did not vote for him (a glorious contrast to George W. Bush's "mandate" of four years ago). That line in particular worked to allay my fears of single party rule.
Of course, I do not envy President-elect Obama. He inherits two wars, a struggling economy, and a nation whose ideals have been shaken in recent years. Still, in light of the cynicism of my last post, I wanted to offer now a sincere hope for the future of our country. Less than half a century after segregation was ended, America just elected an African-American president and for the most part didn't bat an eye. That's proof that in the little 220-year social experiment we call the United States of America, anything is possible. Dum spiro, spero: while we breathe, we hope. I'll be cynical tomorrow.
(I still wish the Redskins didn't have to lose last night though.)
4 Comments:
Some would hope for a swift return to cynicism. I, for one, am seeking something between blind faith in a fallible human being and instant dismissal of hope (both of which I find immensely frustrating).
I fell asleep during Obama's speech, but Christy assures me it was great. I'll have to find time to watch it.
Ben,
I assume I'm on of the people you're referring to. There's a difference between wanting people to be cynical about politics and wanting them to be cynical in general. The faith people put in Obama doubtless makes them feel good, but it will likely lead to many wasteful programs, regulations, subsidies, and trade restrictions that will leave people poorer and less able to face this century's coming problems.
I remain optimistic that technology and trade will continue to make the world increasingly tolerant and prosperous; especially in election season, that doesn't always come out in my writing. I need to be better about that.
Part of the reason why the Bush years were so disastrous was that so many people thought he was the 2nd coming of Christ that no criticism of his policies were tolerated. Until recently, he could do no wrong according to his worshipers, even if what he was doing violated the conservative principles that he supposedly represented.
I am fearful that something similar will happen with Obama. The cult of personality forming around him during this last election is eerily similar to what happened with Bush in 2000.
Don't drop the cynicism. Its what keeps you sane.
See there's a difference between realism and cynicism. Between - on the one hand - an honest assessment of human nature and the flaws of individual leaders (as well as, what I'm getting from Jacob, an honest assessment of areas where you disagree with the leader)......and - on the other hand - a refusal to believe that things might turn out right, that said leader might make right decisions and things might improve in America. Obama could be wrong on, say, the bailout and right on, say, the usefulness of diplomacy over force in foreign relations.
Yes, there has been a dangerous tendancy to idealize Obama, similar to the previous tendancy to idealize Bush. But, just as those in liberal circles overdid it in their hatred of Bush and refusal to acknowledge anything he did right, so now those in conservative and libertarian circles should distinguish between policy critique and despair.....between a healthy skepticism of Obama's "superhuman abilities" and a condescending attitude toward those with a hint of optimism. Neither Bush nor Obama was/is a messiah....but neither is all flaws, either.
The Word Verification for this comment is "menest." The most "men"-like?
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