I have been buried under work and blinded by the barrage of the banal for lo these many months. But I have a brief moment to share a shame and speak my soughts. I hope many fewer months may pass before my meandering mind's musings find a place here.
First, a Furious confession: I had not, until a few days ago, listened to a single Martin Luther King, Jr. speech. Sure, I had sat in my Southern schoolhouse and listened as the well-intentioned teachers told us about the Civil Rights movement, some from first-hand knowledge, but many more from an "Approved Lesson Plan", and I listened with rapt attention to the fables of an unlikely leader lecturing to millions who had marched as Lincoln's likeness anchored the images and message of the oppressed masses. But YouTube led me to listen for an hour (and follow from speech-to-speech) to a man whose value and vision I had placed in the realm of legend, of history, and not the perils of the present. To my most Furious followers, I apologize.
I was subsequently led to the 'Yes We Can' video by Will.I.Am (say what you will about him and his methods). And I was reminded of a hope that led an entire generation to move again, to straighten its back and go somewhere. After eight long years of tragedy and trivial triumphs, our nation (and the world) was plummeted into the worst recession in our memory (short though it may be). After a self-righteous regime eroded the basic rights we fought to maintain, there was a sense that the world could change. It did. For the worse in many ways (and hear me out). I couldn't imagine this time without our first black president at the helm. We have been led through difficult times with expert precision, and yet we pick apart his policies and invalidate our victories. Why aren't we still hopeful?
What has happened in the last year that has turned public opinion against Obama? Yes, he hasn't closed our offshore, shameful prisons (housing many innocent Americans) in his promised timeline. Yes, he hasn't legalized gay marriage. Yes, he hasn't shifted America's trade deficit away from China. Yes, we are still in Iraq. And, yes, we just committed more American lives and money to a 'war on terror' in Afghanistan. So I suppose we have cause to quarrel with the architect of our hope. What has he done?
Our leader has provided health care for all Americans. Sure, it will take time. Yes, it will need to be changed and adjusted over time. Of course, it will impact the private sector. But it is an incredible step in stabilizing our nation at its core. Blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians....AMERICANS, both rich and poor will have access to a healthy, more productive life without being beholden to an industry whose primary purpose is profit, not healing.
Our leader holds the financial system accountable (as best he can) for its sins and profits. And we have avoided catastrophe in exchange for crisis. I would rather have crisis. His policies continue to create jobs and stimulate growth despite a credit shortfall. And we all learn to deal with the struggles our parents and grandparents have known.
Our leader has reached out to the world. And he has been given a Nobel Peace Prize to help him along the way. Has he deserved it so far? Perhaps not. Okay...No. But it's a sign from the Nobel committee that there is Hope. And we weren't promised the "Promised Land". Only change. And change is OUR responsibility.
This post is shorter than I would like, but the hour is late. And the topic is heavy. So let me know what you think.
Do you still have hope? What changes are you making?
And are you still Furious?
