Does a Man Make History, or Does History Make the Man?
Most often, our lives pass in daily routine with little awareness of the bigger picture or larger stage in which we play a minuscule part. Sometimes, however, we are fortunate to recognize that we're watching history in the making. So it was yesterday, November 4, 2008, and every American who fulfilled their obligation of citizenship whether or not they were of voting age, played an important role.
Ironically, if it were not for what we were, it would not be possible to look with hope at what we might become if we remain active, vigilant, and inspired. Our country with its turbulent negative history of racial strife has elected a new President, and he is a Black man proud of his birth and his background. How strange it will seem to present and future school children to look at the picture gallery of U. S. Presidents and see only one non-white face, that of the 44th man to hold office.
This victory is even more amazing when viewed in the context of today aligned with benchmarks from the past. Our Civil War was begun to foil dissolution of the nation, yet the ultimate end in 1865 allowed the elimination of slavery and that is generally accepted as the wars major factor. In a nation only 232 years old, 143 years is but a moment in time, yet that time span no doubt felt endless to those affected. It was only forty-five years ago that Dr. Martin Luther King made his "I Have a Dream Speech," looking toward the day when a man was judged by the content of his character rather than the color of his skin, yet the struggle for equality was long, ugly and bloody, no doubt feeling endless for those with their dignity and their human rights at stake.
Ironically, in the last forty years and most particularly during the last eight years, all of us regardless of ideology, skin color, dreams or experience were diminished by what history will no doubt judge as the worst Presidential tenure in the history of this country. Our Constitution that so many fought to uphold was subverted by extremist thinking. Camouflaged by religious leanings and the rights of the corporations and wealthy, middle class jobs vanished, safeguards to health vanished, exploitation increased, and poverty grew unabated. It might well be that the only good to come out of the Bush presidential years was that he created such a toxic environment for the daily lives of Americans that in order to survive, people of divergent views and backgrounds banded together to create an atmosphere in which Americans could do something extraordinary simply because it was right, it was essential, and it re-opened the way to hope and dream. Barak Obama was not elected as a Black American so much as he was elected as an inspiring American who would lead us to needed basic changes and a major change of direction for our country.
Contrary to media reports on the physical election process yesterday, when I arrived at my polling place there were no crowds so there was no waiting. It was far different from going to the polls when I lived in New York, but it was no less auspicious. My area of residence is primarily upper middle class, mature with empty nesters and retirees. It is resoundingly Republican. The culture in my locale is congenial, southern gentility, with smiles and kind gestures all around with only subtly hidden suspicion of those with widely divergent appearance or manners. Ours is not a community much given to displays of either positive or negative emotion, unless, of course, one is watching a football or basketball contest. Yet, yesterday there was an aura of anticipation; and quiet eagerness on every face I encountered.
Last night it was inspiring to watch all the gathered crowds in many parts of the country as shown by the media, whether for planned joint celebration such as at Grant Park in Chicago or spontaneous gatherings of joy like in front of the White House, or in various cities once projected results were announced. I don't recall seeing such displays of hope in all my many years of voting. In spite of tears of joy and passionate outpourings, it was the first positive group emotion in far too long a time. May we all retain that determination, that generosity of spirit, that sharing of purpose, and that willingness to serve something much larger than just ourselves as our President-elect begins to assess, organize and build our new government.
I can't help wondering what the comedians will do for material now that this election is decided. Bush and all his mangled sentences, his stumbling starts and stops, his pettiness and foibles made great fodder for those comics. I also can't help supporting the idea first espoused by David Letterman: "Would anyone be upset if he (Obama) started early?"
I also can't help wondering if Obama, the man, might have second thoughts about what he's accomplished and the tasks he has set for himself. It will not be easy. Improvement will not come quickly. Real long term solutions will require great thought, dedication, and collective effort. Our domestic environment desperately needs jobs as badly as our domestic infrastructure needs attention. I also strongly hope those charged with his security and safety become and remain extra vigilant. The bulk of voting Americas did not see his color as a negative factor, but the extreme fringes of our voting population probably do not feel the same and we, either as individuals or a nation, cannot be confronted with anything so disastrous as to cause us to lose our new found hope.
Were I to come face to face with our leader elect, I would offer congratulations and best wishes as he undertakes this daunting task. But even more, I offer congratulations to the American people for confronting their fears, their biases, their confusions, and their festering anger to stand up and vote for a change in direction and purpose and for finally - after eight long years - acting on what they say they value.
Anyone given to introspection and reviews of history and context should give some attention to the question asked in this title to this post. Does a man make history or does history make the man? At this moment in time, in my opinion, history demanded a leader come forward who embodied the best of our past, the essence of our democracy, our traditional ideals, and our best hope for an inspired future. It remains to be seen just how much history President Obama, with the help of the American people, can make.
Ironically, if it were not for what we were, it would not be possible to look with hope at what we might become if we remain active, vigilant, and inspired. Our country with its turbulent negative history of racial strife has elected a new President, and he is a Black man proud of his birth and his background. How strange it will seem to present and future school children to look at the picture gallery of U. S. Presidents and see only one non-white face, that of the 44th man to hold office.
This victory is even more amazing when viewed in the context of today aligned with benchmarks from the past. Our Civil War was begun to foil dissolution of the nation, yet the ultimate end in 1865 allowed the elimination of slavery and that is generally accepted as the wars major factor. In a nation only 232 years old, 143 years is but a moment in time, yet that time span no doubt felt endless to those affected. It was only forty-five years ago that Dr. Martin Luther King made his "I Have a Dream Speech," looking toward the day when a man was judged by the content of his character rather than the color of his skin, yet the struggle for equality was long, ugly and bloody, no doubt feeling endless for those with their dignity and their human rights at stake.
Ironically, in the last forty years and most particularly during the last eight years, all of us regardless of ideology, skin color, dreams or experience were diminished by what history will no doubt judge as the worst Presidential tenure in the history of this country. Our Constitution that so many fought to uphold was subverted by extremist thinking. Camouflaged by religious leanings and the rights of the corporations and wealthy, middle class jobs vanished, safeguards to health vanished, exploitation increased, and poverty grew unabated. It might well be that the only good to come out of the Bush presidential years was that he created such a toxic environment for the daily lives of Americans that in order to survive, people of divergent views and backgrounds banded together to create an atmosphere in which Americans could do something extraordinary simply because it was right, it was essential, and it re-opened the way to hope and dream. Barak Obama was not elected as a Black American so much as he was elected as an inspiring American who would lead us to needed basic changes and a major change of direction for our country.
Contrary to media reports on the physical election process yesterday, when I arrived at my polling place there were no crowds so there was no waiting. It was far different from going to the polls when I lived in New York, but it was no less auspicious. My area of residence is primarily upper middle class, mature with empty nesters and retirees. It is resoundingly Republican. The culture in my locale is congenial, southern gentility, with smiles and kind gestures all around with only subtly hidden suspicion of those with widely divergent appearance or manners. Ours is not a community much given to displays of either positive or negative emotion, unless, of course, one is watching a football or basketball contest. Yet, yesterday there was an aura of anticipation; and quiet eagerness on every face I encountered.
Last night it was inspiring to watch all the gathered crowds in many parts of the country as shown by the media, whether for planned joint celebration such as at Grant Park in Chicago or spontaneous gatherings of joy like in front of the White House, or in various cities once projected results were announced. I don't recall seeing such displays of hope in all my many years of voting. In spite of tears of joy and passionate outpourings, it was the first positive group emotion in far too long a time. May we all retain that determination, that generosity of spirit, that sharing of purpose, and that willingness to serve something much larger than just ourselves as our President-elect begins to assess, organize and build our new government.
I can't help wondering what the comedians will do for material now that this election is decided. Bush and all his mangled sentences, his stumbling starts and stops, his pettiness and foibles made great fodder for those comics. I also can't help supporting the idea first espoused by David Letterman: "Would anyone be upset if he (Obama) started early?"
I also can't help wondering if Obama, the man, might have second thoughts about what he's accomplished and the tasks he has set for himself. It will not be easy. Improvement will not come quickly. Real long term solutions will require great thought, dedication, and collective effort. Our domestic environment desperately needs jobs as badly as our domestic infrastructure needs attention. I also strongly hope those charged with his security and safety become and remain extra vigilant. The bulk of voting Americas did not see his color as a negative factor, but the extreme fringes of our voting population probably do not feel the same and we, either as individuals or a nation, cannot be confronted with anything so disastrous as to cause us to lose our new found hope.
Were I to come face to face with our leader elect, I would offer congratulations and best wishes as he undertakes this daunting task. But even more, I offer congratulations to the American people for confronting their fears, their biases, their confusions, and their festering anger to stand up and vote for a change in direction and purpose and for finally - after eight long years - acting on what they say they value.
Anyone given to introspection and reviews of history and context should give some attention to the question asked in this title to this post. Does a man make history or does history make the man? At this moment in time, in my opinion, history demanded a leader come forward who embodied the best of our past, the essence of our democracy, our traditional ideals, and our best hope for an inspired future. It remains to be seen just how much history President Obama, with the help of the American people, can make.
posted by kaz at 12:12 PM
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