From Margin to Center

That is my prediction for the 2008 presidential election. The margins will move to the center, both from the African American populations and other minorities and from the youth vote. The country will be overwhelmed by the ways in which the Obama candidacy has inspired those previously disenfranchised to come out and cast their vote.

I spoke to a friend yesterday who was predicting what, I suppose, is the opposite–that racism will drive people to the polls. Especially, in particular, those who are racist but unwilling to admit it. This point is a perfect place from which to illustrate my departure with this belief. I feel strongly that the racist drive will have less of an effect than the determination present in Obama supporters. In other words, voting for Barack Obama because of what he stands for and his leadership and yes, his African Americaness, is a stronger force than intolerance and the historically situated racism that exists in this country.

I am harried today, trying to get my littlest to school, too tired I was to write last night, and eager with anticipation to vote. But the final point I would like to make, before the throes of election results start coming in is that this entire election cycle has felt significant in a way no other has before. I know that it is easy to associate oneself with significant historical events, as when you live through them they feel so important, but this time is something special. Our country is hurting terribly, and we have a choice today. We are looking at two options–both very different. One is driven by a tortured history of redemption and the other is focused on overcoming oppression through hope. In all places we see a contrast and it is a moment we must seize to remake the fabric of what we believe it means to be American. The choice we make today will have magnified consequences, the rapidity of those effects will be apparent only after the fact. Today, I call to the margins of this country and to the margins in myself and my community to have a clear vision of where we need to go. NOW IS THE TIME. Tomorrow we will have elected Barack Obama as President of the United States and our transformation will be just beginning.

The Final Stretch

Last night, after a pretty full day of work I was feeling, to say the least, “overdone.” But instead of going straight to bed after getting the kids down, I had something else I really wanted to do. Because I was working at 7 pm last night during Obama’s “Infomercial” I desperately wanted to see what it was, how it was constructed, and what the effect might be. While I have not had time today to really see how the nation as a whole responded to this piece, I would like to share my humble opinion. HE TOTALLY BA-ROCKED IT YO!

I loved it, every single second of it. I felt as if all the parts were suddenly woven together and for the first time in any election I can remember, I had a strong sense of a whole vision of the candidate under consideration. While it could be argued that the vision presented was a fabrication, or construction, what overwhelmed me was that the authenticity of this person exceeds even his own construction. In other words, he doesnt’ have to create himself for public consumption, who he is already meets our expectations.

As an evidence of this I would like to highlight my favored moments of the 30 minute piece: The fact that Obama’s voice told the stories, not some unknown narrator; his ability to address the seemingly contradictory areas of oil drilling and conservation in a way that brought them together; the way he spoke of war, while still setting a standard for peace; the shot of him talking to school age children and clearly enjoying himself; the many shots of him with his family. This last point was the most humanizing of all. Seeing him with his girls and hearing about who he is as a father and husband was inspiring. I know that my husband and I were brought to tears at this segment. We have struggled as young parents to feel competent and up to the task, and it was amazing to hear that Obama too, sees the struggle, and chooses to prioritize his family. At this most base level he demonstrates he is the role model we need. He makes me want to be a better person and he makes me want to be the best mother I can be. It is this kind of motivation that our country needs right now.

I was also taken with the stories of other Americans that were told. Instead of sugar coating America or over-dramatizing our problems, we all got a taste of the reality that for many people, of diverse backgrounds, things are hard, harder than they were a while back and harder than we expect them to be. Obama presented real policy recommendations to deal with these issues, and left me feeling hope and urgency simultaneously–the ingredients for the kind of generational “stepping-up” that he also called for.

The best part of all though? He didn’t mention McCain or Palin once. There was not a negative element in the entire piece. At a time when the R rallies are dominated by vicious attacks on Obama, this was such a relief.

Back in the primary season, I wrote a post about how I really hoped Obama would not go negative. My argument was that if he is to be a truly transformational figure, he cannot go negative. Of course, the general election has called for “negativity.” But what I saw last night was truly transformational politics. It gave me faith and hope and all that I needed to know, in my heart, that I was watching the next President of the United States. I look forward to more years of his leadership, and as we enter this final stretch, I am so grateful to have held on for this ride.

Addendum: I just looked at some critiques of the infomercial–the salient point? The picture Obama espouses for solutions is not realistic. To this I say–Well, thank goodness we have a leader visionary enough to actually articulate solutions! I am interested in the politics of possibility. I am not a Pollyanna–I believe we are hitting dystopia soon. But this is the guy I would like to be the leader, precisely because his approach looks to the best of all worlds, instead of dwelling on what we are NOT capable of.

THE OTHER

HOW I HAVE REMAINED BLOG SILENT OVER THE LAST MANY DAYS SINCE THE DEBATE, I DO NOT KNOW. I THINK I HAVE REACHED A STATE OF NUMBNESS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ELECTION, WHICH IS NOT GOOD AS I SEE IT AS THE FIRST INGREDIENT OF APATHY.

But really, I am not sure I have it in me to bare the weight of two/three, many struggles at once. Whether it is winning the preservation of environmental integrity, or offering support to the vote calling, or door-knocking and fund raising for local candidates, or just holding myself together enough to get my kids lives moving forward each day, sometimes one or many have to shut down.

I find the comments that have occurred at McCain rallies and town hall meetings to be absolutely deplorable and a sad indication of the effects of fear mongering and otherizing deployed in this election. It is hard in some ways to not sound like one is condescending in a discussion of the social illiteracy demonstrated in the comments made by the elderly woman about Obama being “Arab.” Nevertheless, I must point out those illiteracies and it is critical we reflect on where we have failed as a country to communicate the pertinent context we live in. I am sure there are many things that I too “just don’t get.” Economic exchanges based on the stock market do not interest me terribly as I have never had an opportunity to invest. No interest or knowledge based on a lack of experience. Understandable. This woman clearly has not been interested in other cultures beyond a xenophobic examination of the threat of the “other.” By the way, before they made their debut on the t.v. show Lost “the other” was a term coined by Edward Said in his book ORIENTALISM, altough Frantz Fanon developed the conceptual grounding on which the postmodern “other” is created in his book BLACK SKIN, WHITE MASKS. What is happening in this election is a process of otherizing made all the more severe by the presence of a man of color in the race.

The other is necessary for a definition of the self that is based on a hierarchy of the inferior being at the will of the superior. A rather boring and inane dichotomy, the master/slave dynamic is at the heart of otherizing and instigated via the protection of self interest around resource access. The shifting of that balance, where a leader may be “other” is frightening to people, so frightening that they take the thing that scares them the most and supplant it into the entity that represents that hierarchical shift–in this case the potential selection of an African American man to the office of the presidency is associated with fear of terrorist jihad waged by masses of “Arab” people.

Someone, of course, needs to explain to this woman that being a Muslim, does not make you an Arab, as a matter of fact, Barack Obama’s father was from Kenya and decidedly not Arab. Arab is a demarcation of ethnicity tied up in geopolitical space, genetic blood linkages, and religious consistencies. But being Muslim, does not make you Arab, and besides that point of descriptive accuracy–who cares if he is? That is the fundamental question we should be asking: “And so? What if he is Arab? Why is that,on base, an issue? It would be extraordinary–to elect an Arab president. it would be impossible, but why do we let ourselves continue to go with that dominant view–that Arabness disqualifies one? We gasp at her ignorance, but we allow and enable it.

Maybe that is what McCain did when he corrected, disenabled that ignorance. “No Ma’am, he’s a decent family man” So, being Arab makes you not “decent”? Even his answer maintains the othering, and no one is calling that out. How is that possible?

I was speaking to a friend of mine yesterday who is taking a class at the University on the elections. He was saying that in spite of the dissatisfaction with the Bush government, 40% of his class is voting for McCain–they defend Palin. The primary argument made against Barack is that he is a good orator, and that’s it, but he is not qualified to be president.

I said, “They’re racist.”" He argued the point hard with me, “No, they are just entrenched in the two party system–it would not be any different with Al Gore or John Kerry.” I simply cannot believe that. I am inspired by Barack Obama. I think he is an amazing human being and an exceptional leader. I believe in his judgements and his integrity. I know he is smart and capable. The lack of ability to be inspired by this man comes from a place fo resenting his presence in a position of power. He is the other, dark, Arab, dangerous, terrorist.

The fear stoking happening at Palin and McCain rallies should be watched closely and called out constantly. You notice the tenor of his issue accelerating as we approach election day? This is the confrontation and it may come to a head in the next debate. I am curious to see what happens in the public sphere during this time. Will we continue to promote the dichotomy of the other? To maintain a distinction which avoids synthesis? Or will we embark on a “dotherfication” in which we somehow transcend the impulse to categorize and create hierarchies that distort the reality of Obama’s character?

A Little Inspiration

When I was 10 my parents and I moved to London for 3 months. To pass the time in the flat alone I listened to Les Miserables over and over and over again. I actually do have the whole soundtrack still memorized. Of course, I have seen it performed live 5 times too. So, I really, really, really, liked this YouTube and I really, really, really needed it today.

Les MisBarack

Catch Face the Nation

This Sunday morning Bob Schieffer interviewed Barack Obama.  It was a wonderful interview and I cannot recommend it enough.  At the end Schieffer remembers his ‘62 coverage of the admittance of the first African American to ‘Ole Miss, and the violence that ensued as whites fought for the maintenance of segregation.  He contrasts this with his most recent trip to cover the debates–also worth a watch.

What Will Be?

I read a piece from Tim Wise that was in the 9-13 issue of The Nation on white privlilege today. This is a very important piece in my opinion.

Race, as I have stated before, has been silenced as an issue in this election, it has been silenced by the notion that we live in a post-race world. It has been silenced by the notion that Barack Obama somehow proves we live in a postrace world and therefore his achievments cannot be evaluated within the context of the color of his skin. Within that context his achievmetns are remarkable. Within that context he carries a new potential for great leadership based on a perspective of experience at the margins. He is the hybrid embodiment of a nation within a dialectical exchange based on a colored dichotomy. Here we are then. What will we do?

That question is the one that leaves me uneasy still. As the election draws near, I continue to wonder how racist attitudes will play in people’s vote. Any exchange I have where a person tells me that they are progressive but voting for a third party, I bring up the latent racism that may be at play in such a choice. But that is certainly not enough. I really would like to start a real conversation on race, name it, debate it, talk about our fears, our anger, our beliefs and values. How they differ, what is in common. And why it is we cannot come together to refuse racism. How is its insidiousness more powerful than the effort to transcend it?

I predicted a confrontation over race in this election. We are getting so close, but I sense no apex of ignited debate. Is something still to come? Will we stay still while segments of this nation refuse a candidate based on this socially constructed and historically meaningfully descriptive category of race? What are our options? Will we sleep through another winter of withered hopes after this election? We will see.

A Good Reason To Vote for Obama

His plan to address the growing need for veteran’s care is impeccable. This has been one of my greatest worries, whether the government will care for all our soldiers.

THE ANTI-OBAMA DELEGATES BLOG

No, I am not renigging on my endorsement of Obama, despite an intuitive sense that the older tough white guy appointment of Biden as VP somehow does not ring well for the campaign overall. It smacks of tentativeness to me, despite the ways in which I see its pragmatism. I have been thinking of the name of this post the “Anti-Obama Delegates Blog” ever since a tumultuous plane ride I took from Boston to La Guardia. It was not turbulent due to airstreams, it was turbulent due to the fact that I had the good fortune (and I mean that completely seriously) to be sharing the ride with a socialist anarchist 21 year old radical from New Mexico that had just attended the Think Outside the Bomb National Conference with me at MIT. The details of what occurred for me at that conference are lost in my activist psyche and or will manifest here and on my personal blog as they sprout from their myriad seedlings. Nevertheless, the conference culminated with this ride in a beautiful clash of radical consciousness, that I hope left both of us highlly perplexed and somewhat more informed.

The basic premise we debated, from our two positions, was the utility of backing a two party electoral system clearly mired in capitalist frames of exploitation and ultimately out of touch with the reality of most Americans. Michael’s position was framed by several crucial tenets 1) Obama and McCain are essentially alike, since each is part of a narrow system of power that he has no allegiance or interest in 2) The only way to reform society is to crush this two party system–preferrably before the next election via massive demonstrations at both the RNC and the DNC–if not then, then certainly before the next inauguration 3) to support any aspect of this system, especially by advocating as a “progressive” for Obama is counter to any actual radical movement of revolution and change 4) the anarchists and other radical elements in this country, that have disavowed the two party system are organized enough and ready to build a better society than what we have now. The final position, unlike the ones above, and acknowledging that I may be missing several in between, is one that I will unequivocally align myself with 5) A crisis much bigger than we can even fathom is coming and in many ways is already upon us. The crisis is at least 3 fold: economic collapse, energy security collapse; climate changes to chaos; sever subsequent societal unrest.

Taking this final point as my place of departure, both because it is a perfect cliff to jump off of and because it is the place of base commonality between Michael and I, we will start backwards and counter 4) While I believe there is an organized movement of peace makers in this country, I am not yet confident that they are organized enough to do a massive reworking of society. I do see the potential for regionalized groups working on building infrastructure together. But I do not believe we are capable of governance. Maybe that is precisely Michael’s point, as an anarchist, creating the space for the inability to govern. 3) I counter, to vote for Obama is a radcal act and to do otherwise stinks to me of a racism much deeper than we can fathom. Are you kidding me? Right at the moment when a black man is about to be elected president you’re going to ditch out and declare revolution? Excuse me? Explain to me how overcoming slavery and winning the civil rights movement do not lead to the fulfilling of the highest office in this country. I know Obama’s ancestors were not slaves. So what? He is a black american man and he is going to be president. VOTE. It may be the last chance you have since we agree on the time-frame of crisis coming within the next 5-10 years at current rates. 2) I see a massive protest coming at the RNC. I see not so much at the DNC. I think that their is a wave of dissent embodied in the democratic party like it or not. Cause to oppose the war we had to go to either side, and when we failed to stop this war WE FAILED TO STOP THIS WAR. In 2004, then we led more to die. This is greater than that, this is more than your narrow vision of your virtues, this is about who we want to lead when the crisis comes. I believe John McCain will not be an equitable governor if elected. Not with his interests nor with his waste, not with the weapons to control every place.

Obama is someone I can believe will attempt to lead when the crisis overwhelms, and whether we are able to organize and survive rests on him. He. She Free and WE.

1) Have I already mentioned my covert racism false consciousness thing? Please. Obama is nothing like McCain. Get real. The guy doesn’t know how many houses he owns. Really, Obama gets the value of a home, a place, the way the economy has warcked havoc on the housing markets leading to huge numbers of foreclosures. Surely, it is clear that distinction. And do not ignore the distinction of race and the implicit strain of that history. Nor ignore the hardened and aggressive posture of John McCain. Ready for battle, ready to fight on . BOmb BOmb, BOmb.

Really, to argue otherwise is to hold the bar far too high. You have no chance to compromise,. This is not a game for idealist eyes. The differences, they may be strong. To struggle we need to bring Obama on.

I didn’t mean to break into a song. I have to say I just do not agree. I feel a stealthy racist tone. I see a crisis and the need for real leadership. I am afraid, truly of what that crisis would mean with John McCain. I agree with Michael that we would be better off without a two party system. I think soon our political system will be obsolete. So I believe it matters who holds the power over the resources and weapons and the force of a possible police state. I am unwilling to relinquish that ability to Senator McCain. I hope the anarchists and others are organized, I will watch the RNC and DNC for action. For me, when I got home to Boise and went to work after Boston, I was rewarded with the sight of the Obama office just above my work space. It gives me chills everyday as I walk down the stairs to feel so close to this vote here in Idaho. For me, this is a crucial and radical action,–to elect Senator Barack Obama. And on this my anti-delegates blog CONGRATS TO IDAHO DELEGATES I informally nominate Barack Obama as the Presidential Candidate of the Democratic Party and the Progressive Element for Peace in this Nation and this WORLD.

PROGRESSIVES, GET A GRIP!

It is becoming too late and so this is a post I have, as I often do, been waiting for the “energy” to write. The importance of the issue is one I need to ensure I do justice to. Nevertheless, I am writing it now.

A week ago, exactly, I had the good fortune to be present for a talk by Naomi Klein–author of Shock Doctrine and No Logo. Her thesis is that in moments of crisis, such as Katrina, the Tsunami, and the war in Iraq (or 9/11 generally) a dangerous machine of anti-progressive political strategy will emerge from what we traditionally call “the right.” This happened in New Orleans, she argues, when just days after Katrina, the Heritage Foundation met with others to discuss the “Free-Market Solution to Hurricane Katrina” The list included the resortization and industrialization of the devastated area, and drilling in ANWAR. You get the point. And from what I understand, that is largely what is happening in New Orleans and Newt Gingrich is leading the charge to ANWAR. Her point is that progressives need to be able to insert socially just agendas in crises much quicker than they do currently. The right takes advantage of the shock, the left should genuinely attempt to heal.

This is the crux, the lesson, my bone to pick with progressives: When I asked my question of Naomi, on nuclear of course, she allowed me about 2 minutes to answer after endorsing my position generally. I mentioned Obama at the end, how I thought he would democratize power. I GOT BOOED. I was in a room of progressives, in a bar known for its leftist politics, in Washington D.C. and I got booed for endorsing Obama. They all were snickering about the FISA vote.

PROGRESSIVES GET A GRIP!

This is not 2000, this is not even 2004. Sure, it is easy to believe that the immediacy of this moment is no different than any others. We may be paying more at the pump, our children (of this world) may be dying everyday in Iraq, food crises are globalized, and global warming is leading to drastic changes in the environments we know how to inhabit, but the attitude seems to be one of arrogant hostility to the urgency of this moment. Progressives do not have room to criticize Obama now. Someone has even mentioned Ralph Nader to me. People, this is a problem. We have our nominee. We must do everything we can to elect him. This is serious. Many of you have seen the New Yorker cover. Already a racist bent is at work which is undercutting Obama’s character. I have recently heard that the new racism is something called “cultural regionalism” that is at play here to. Barack Obama, as Naomi Klein explained when she later addressed her feelings about Obama, is not our savior. He is a man who, I believe, history has brought forth to deal with the present. I believe he will be a great leader. I do not expect him to solve our problems. I do not expect him to agree with me on every issue. I do not even expect that he represents the majority of my ideals. But he demonstrates a commitment to the core ones. He shows me he listens, he offers support to the marginalized, and he inspires hope, vision and action. I trust him in a way I have not felt trust for a President before. That is what matters. O.k. ,Naomi didn’t say that, but she did say that it was up to us to tell Obama what we wanted and hold him accountable. That is something we should all intend to do. After we elect him.

You’ve Got to be Kidding Me! Right?

A poll released yesterday shows a rapid shift in energy priorities of about 10% in favor of drilling for oil and specifically in ANWAR among those surveyed.  While, put in perspective, 10% is a lot less than 25%, it is still a pretty evident trend since the change happened in the last six months.

This is explainable. People truly are panicking about the price of gas, and other energy use technologies.  I am becoming super vigilant about lights in my house, and have stopped using my clothes dryer. I hang my pants to stop the plants.  But I am not doing enough, and I could certainly do more.  

To get to that point one must be empowered by means, and organizing life so as to be able to truly conserve and be more efficient seems, often, too great a task.  So people want to ensure the staying power of the energy guzzling things they enjoy.  This will play a huge part in the election.  Obama must contrast himself with McCain on energy. He must discuss the very real opportunities for the nationwide enactment of a diverse energy portfolio with renewable energy as the standard.  There exists at the precipice of realization exciting technologies and renewable possibilities, but the question remains, how do we get people to realize this need for change before a crisis?  The answer seems to be that such an epiphone is not very likely.  So, who do you want to lead this country through crisis? For me, and likely for you, that would be Barack Obama.  

 

Obama’s position at the moment is good.  But to be bold and visionary, he must look to the technologies that could be so easily promoted and rather quickly bring us on our way to a new energy future in America.  S.Q. has perplexed many with the cutting of renewable funding.  But Wall Street remains in support.  Obama is in good standing to argue for a change in the way energy policy is being priortized right now.

Final Note:  We are not seeing the nuclear industry in a revival, we are seeing it in a reaction to the way renewable energy could truly encompass the energy market.