November 2008 Archives

If you're not jubilant
you are simply not among the humans.
Since racism has ended
diversity now means including Republicans.

He's not black, Arab, socialist, African American, nor an agent of (though possibly an opportunity for) change.

Last night, Andrew Young was one of the few people to note that he's not black. I believe he called him "Afro-European-Asian American", which is sort of close.

People are claiming this was a rejection of fear. But the Democrats were using fear of Bush, just as Bush has used fear of Al-Qaeda. But fears are real ofcourse, and both have been misused.

The anticipation that Obama will change things because of his ethnicity is strange given the experience with Thomas, Rice and Powell (at least the last two are incredibly attempting to rehabilitate themselves).

Perhaps most crucially, Obama's election is frequently portrayed as evidence of US exceptionalism. It's widely being implied that it is the end of racism -- all the while being regarded as "historic" at every turn...

Obama: "America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there."

I have reflected on that line a thousand times. I've always wanted to be part of that We. Not because I'm a U.S. citizen, but because I try to be someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness. That "we" in King's speech could mean African Americans, it could mean decedents of slaves, it could mean people who are oppressed. It could mean people trying to act in a righteous manner: Toward a New Jerusalem. It quite certainly was not meant as a nationalistic flourish.

Last night in front of the White House, the chants were the predictable "yes we can", the mildly cleaver "two more months" -- and the ominous "U-S-A"..... As Rahm Emanuel is slated for chief of staff....