I’m astounded by the amount of news coverage the inauguration has generated. Are people truly interested in this or is it that the media is saying we should be interested and we’re following along like our usual sheepish selves? Nonetheless, I don’t recall a presidential inauguration coming along with so much publicized pomp. One might say that it’s because it’s historic, but I would say that every presidential inauguration is historic.
We will only have racial equality when we don’t have to point out what things are equal. I don’t consider this presidency a significant step, like so many news shows portray. We’ve been stepping in this direction for a long time. That there is a black president doesn’t minimize racial discrimination everywhere else. Maybe it serves as an example to many how race shouldn’t hold back your dreams, but it’s not the catalyst or tipping point or King’s dream realized.
It has always bothered me that many people interpret King’s dream as giving more rights to people who are discriminated against. That’s not it at all. It’s about the expectation that everyone has the same rights. In my mind, even pointing out that our president is not white is discrimination. He’s just another man, another president, and his color is no more relevant to holding that position than the brand of toothpaste he uses.
Beyond race, I agree that the view that Obama conveys is a nice one. I would like for every American to have affordable health care. I would like for everyone to have gainful employment. I would like a strong economy, ecological and economical transportation, and a solid, world-respected posture on international relations. I think that few people would say they didn’t want these things, although they might disagree on how we would obtain them. What I’m wondering is whether Obama will enact a plan besides standing in front of a crowd saying “yes we can”.
It’s not whether he has a plan. He does. It has been on his web site throughout the election. I think my disenchantment is with the American people. We’re really swept up in the idea that we can have the change we want, but I’ve heard nobody talking as if they’ve been swept up by the process of change. Nobody is excited about creating work programs, or how Obama will influence international politics. If we’re excited about change, we’re behind the message, and the message is that we must be involved for change to happen, then shouldn’t we also know what the plan is? This kind of bothers me, especially because I know too well how people can get behind a cause and not get involved in a cause.
When you combine that with the media-enhanced rock star personality of our new president, I’m really looking forward to seeing him do something with his new office that will make us feel like his promised change is starting to roll.
