This is a response to Surreal’s comments on the “A Dream” and the “Powerful Words” posts.
There are many things that I disagree with Obama about. I really think I am a Libertarian on economic issues so just about everything that has happened in government for the past several months has been against what I believe. On top of that I am a man who believes that the government is totally unable to help people who have real needs. Helping people who have needs is the job of churches and if we would actually step up and care about people more than we care about arguing against the other party much of this would be fixed.
With that being said, rhetoric matters. Flowery words are important because they inspire. They motivate us to rise up against injustice and to be shake off the indifference and apathy that pull us down like quicksand. Rhetoric is the cool water that wets dry throats and the fire that starts the flames of real change.
Whether or not the President of this country agrees with everything that I agree with he is inspiring people. He is helping people to feel like they have a voice in the country again. He is stirring people to be a part of making a difference. Now, I know that much of what he has said is simply rhetoric, but that is OK. He doesn’t have to change the world. He can inspire a generation of people, most of which probably know how to fix the problems they are facing much better than he does.
No matter if you agree with him or not you can’t deny that having more voices involved in the process is a good thing and having people inspired to really even better. I do believe that the Obamamania will subside. When it does I feel bad for him because I think there will be a lot of people who expect him to do things that the president really can’t do, but I also think that having more people involved in the process will be a legacy that he can be proud of.
Whether I agree with anything that President Obama says or not I can stand and say that his election is an amazing thing for our country. Electing a minority is nearly unheard of in the history of the world. Even though I was adamantly opposed to his platform and him as a candidate I can still be excited for the historical significance. Let’s remember that a little over 40 years ago black people were shot because they were registering to vote. Who would have imagined in those years that we would have an African American president who won not just the “black vote” but the hearts and minds of most of this country as well.
Time will come to have debates over policy. Our country seems to be standing on the edge of a cliff and I think many of the ideas of this new administration are going to push us over the edge. But let’s take a deep breath, stop looking for a fight, and simply be amazed at this moment. You never know if you will get a chance to experience anything like it again.
(with all of that said I do wish that Kieth Oberman and his little protege would be a little less smug. They make it hard to be excited about this moment because they want to keep reminding everyone that they won)