Snowbama Day!
What a great day today! Not only did our country transition to new leadership, but it also snowed in North Carolina! In fact, we apparently had the largest snow accumulation here in the last 7 years. It's really not much by Ohio standards, but it was enough to close the university and give me a snow day! This was Dewey's first snow, so he had the best day ever playing outside with his friends. We alternated between playing in the snow and watching the inauguration on TV all afternoon.
As I sit here tonight, I am really struck by the magnitude of this day. No matter where you sit along the political spectrum, there is no denying this day is a huge victory for our country. It was emotional for me to see such a diverse crowd gathered in DC and hear individual stories of struggle for equality of respect. Hopefully this is a powerful example for students in my classes, regardless of race, to see that leadership is not simply a privilege of white elite. As a leadership educator, I am particularly humbled by the prospect that the leader of our country recognizes leadership not as power or position, rather leadership through mobilizing people toward positive change. Wow! Politics aside, I have great hope that this administration will challenge America to redefine what it means to be an engaged citizen. I know there are no "right" answers to the challenges we face, but I have hope that we can figure out the best solutions when we engage the people of our country in the process. I have great hope that disenfranchised peoples can find their voice in our society, and our collective voices can be stronger than before. Today is a great day!
*****
Addendum: Days later, still inspired! However, after days (or months) of hearing others gripe about the celebrity-factor of Obama or comparing the excitement to idol-worship, I feel the need to use my own corner of cyberspace to speak my mind. Through my lens, the energy generated around our new president is about the movement he has helped create, not about him. The informed masses are not looking to him to be a messiah or save the world single-handedly. In fact, anyone who pays attention to what he says knows he makes it quite clear that it is not about him. That's what I love about this new chapter in our government. We have seen a remarkable movement form amongst the people of our country - people are answering a call to action to get involved. People who felt like they didn't have a stake in our country or our future now feel like they can have a voice. That's what it takes, people! He's not an idol or a messiah. He's simply a person with a remarkable abilty to enable others toward a common vision. I expect a return to intellectual dialogue & thoughtful action, not a miracle.
That aside, I must also say that my excitement is amplified in reaction to the vacuum of leadership of the past 8 years. It is refreshing to see a change in the oval office - really, almost any change from W would have me shouting for joy from the rooftops. Sometimes we must experience the bad so we can appreciate the good.
Lastly, I automatically discount nearly all privileged white people who tell me they're frustrated by Obama-mania. There is just no way we can understand the extent to which this represents a symbolic shift in our country to black men and women who have struggled for equal respect throughout their lives. I cannot even fathom growing up without seeing someone of my race (or my faith) in a visable position of influence, power, or leadership. I have been privileged to study, interact with, and observe people who look like me and believe like me. Thankfully, I was also privileged enough to have a college education to show me that "like me" is not the reality of the world. For the black students with whom I work, the election of a mixed race president is an emotional and symbolic message. By no means does it indicate that racism no longer exists in America. However, it does mean that we have come a long way. That is cause for celebration!
Sorry if my thoughts offend any readers who might be W fans or Obama non-fans. More non-controversial stories and photos of Dewey will follow soon, but I also need an outlet for issues of deep personal conviction to me. I endured 8 years of W - I've earned the right to be excited about a new era!
As I sit here tonight, I am really struck by the magnitude of this day. No matter where you sit along the political spectrum, there is no denying this day is a huge victory for our country. It was emotional for me to see such a diverse crowd gathered in DC and hear individual stories of struggle for equality of respect. Hopefully this is a powerful example for students in my classes, regardless of race, to see that leadership is not simply a privilege of white elite. As a leadership educator, I am particularly humbled by the prospect that the leader of our country recognizes leadership not as power or position, rather leadership through mobilizing people toward positive change. Wow! Politics aside, I have great hope that this administration will challenge America to redefine what it means to be an engaged citizen. I know there are no "right" answers to the challenges we face, but I have hope that we can figure out the best solutions when we engage the people of our country in the process. I have great hope that disenfranchised peoples can find their voice in our society, and our collective voices can be stronger than before. Today is a great day!*****
Addendum: Days later, still inspired! However, after days (or months) of hearing others gripe about the celebrity-factor of Obama or comparing the excitement to idol-worship, I feel the need to use my own corner of cyberspace to speak my mind. Through my lens, the energy generated around our new president is about the movement he has helped create, not about him. The informed masses are not looking to him to be a messiah or save the world single-handedly. In fact, anyone who pays attention to what he says knows he makes it quite clear that it is not about him. That's what I love about this new chapter in our government. We have seen a remarkable movement form amongst the people of our country - people are answering a call to action to get involved. People who felt like they didn't have a stake in our country or our future now feel like they can have a voice. That's what it takes, people! He's not an idol or a messiah. He's simply a person with a remarkable abilty to enable others toward a common vision. I expect a return to intellectual dialogue & thoughtful action, not a miracle.
That aside, I must also say that my excitement is amplified in reaction to the vacuum of leadership of the past 8 years. It is refreshing to see a change in the oval office - really, almost any change from W would have me shouting for joy from the rooftops. Sometimes we must experience the bad so we can appreciate the good.
Lastly, I automatically discount nearly all privileged white people who tell me they're frustrated by Obama-mania. There is just no way we can understand the extent to which this represents a symbolic shift in our country to black men and women who have struggled for equal respect throughout their lives. I cannot even fathom growing up without seeing someone of my race (or my faith) in a visable position of influence, power, or leadership. I have been privileged to study, interact with, and observe people who look like me and believe like me. Thankfully, I was also privileged enough to have a college education to show me that "like me" is not the reality of the world. For the black students with whom I work, the election of a mixed race president is an emotional and symbolic message. By no means does it indicate that racism no longer exists in America. However, it does mean that we have come a long way. That is cause for celebration!
Sorry if my thoughts offend any readers who might be W fans or Obama non-fans. More non-controversial stories and photos of Dewey will follow soon, but I also need an outlet for issues of deep personal conviction to me. I endured 8 years of W - I've earned the right to be excited about a new era!
posted by Julie at 6:05 PM
2 Comments:
Julie,
I wish you would write more self-described "rants" like this. I love them.
I was reminded of an article that a friend and Kettering colleague wrote about the phrase "We are the ones we've been waiting for." It discusses how different phrases, words, and images mean different things to different people, particularly when there is a history attached to them. It gets to the all-too-often dismissed meaning by those with privilege that you allude to in your post. For me, all of the talk about Obama being too rhetorical, or him being a celebrity, really just shows how privilege can manifest itself in so many ways.
Here's the link: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/15970347.html?page=1&c=y
so sad, snowbama day is snowver
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