Time for a Change

The awkward schedule of ceremony delaying the inevitable, collective relief - less cheers and shouts than easier breaths, a feeling summed up as: "finally...". The roaring wave of nomination's momentum has come to finality at reality's shore, as foamy surf, to soak into the sand while already our eyes look toward the oceans of possibility once more, to await the next wave. We will move forward, it seems, finally.

Before the poet begins to speak, the mall is already dispersing, and replicas of Abraham Lincoln's inaugural china await the scraping of fine silver, forks and knives hungrily diving into chicken, perhaps. Still some cynicism remains, still some skepticism eats away at this moment's silver lining. For so long government has been a merciless machine, ingesting constituents and pumping byproducts into corporate coffers, while voices of protest drowned in the mechanical din. Now this person has promised change, to dismantle that machine and give we, the people, the tools to build together, a new machine. I wonder, though: what machine will we make? How will it hunger?

This country has been without a leader for at least eight years. I don't remember Bill Clinton much. Barack Obama's rhetoric so far has been inspirational, and comforting, mostly, just to hear what sounds like truth and resolution, as if he actually believed the words he spoke. I'm happy that the man chosen to the highest office in our country, who represents America to the world, is intelligent, compassionate, and rational. Barack Obama is a leader, without a doubt. This country has needed a leader, and I'm glad we have one, but I'm wary of the hero-worship and idealization that has already accumulated at Obama's feet. Huey P. Newton once said, "Heroes ain't nothin but sandwiches." Everyone has the same potential, which is limitless. The danger of heroes is that they blind people to their own potential, as if the brightness of their heroes seem to outshine their own attempts at greatness. But everyone can be great! Everyone has something to contribute, a perspective to offer, and certainly love to share. I think Barack is keen to this empowering thing, with his calls to service, and his emphasis on we, us, the people, not on himself as a "decider". I'm glad to hear that sort of language in his speeches, and I hope it resonates. I hope that as the millions of ears around the world hear his words, the millions of eyes watching turn inward, and discover the potential slumbering within. We need less heroes. We need more action. This country should be loud, and wild, and buzzing with life. I hope that in the next 4 years (hopefully 8!), we will begin to awaken, and look to a new world with open eyes.