bitterfig

A few final thoughts on the election.

First, this is a huge deal for Chicago.  I talked to my father this morning and he said “It looks like Chicago’s taking over Washington.” I believe my response was “Hell yeah!”  I have a co-worker who’s sort of an old hippy and didn’t vote but even he was excited about the rally in Grant Park and the appointment of so many Chicago people to Obama’s Cabinet.  He was saying at work yesterday “I didn’t support Obama but I think it’s really great that the over night the eyes of the world were on Chicago.  Not New York, not L.A, but Chicago.” 

In my last post, I expressed some apprehension about Obama’s win.  I can always count of WBEZ to help me work through things. 

Yesterday on Morning Edition they had some really excellent pieces looking at Obama’s election, what it means, and what’s going to happen next. 

A segment titled “Obama Must Manage Great Expectations” took a hard look at the problems the Obama presidency is going to be facing (including the war and the economy) and realities like budget restrictions and political divisions across the aisle and within the Democratic Party.   A lot of people, including myself, have very high hopes for the Obama presidency but it’s important to keep in mind that there are going to be limitation to what he himself can do.

However as later segment beautifully illustrated, Obama isn’t in this alone.  His big accomplishment so far is that he’s motivated thousands of people, many of whom have felts powerless, voiceless and helpless for a long time.  Obama had been able to galvanize his supporters and inspire them to work for change.  He’s the face of a movement that contains boundless energy, potential and real power.

This collective energy and enthusiasm is what can get us through all the difficulties and problems.  It’s vitally important not to let it be dissipated by the disappointment of too high expectations.  Real change and reform will not come quickly or easily and it won’t come at all if the burden of bringing it is laid on a single man.  It’s up to all of us to keep the momentum going. 

And finally I’m so glad the campaign is over.  It was nasty and ugly and I lost a lot of respect for both McCain and Obama over the course of it.  I felt like McCain did show a great deal of the sort dignity that had been sorely missing on both sides in his concession speech and I wish him the best. 

I feel towards McCain rather like I felt towards Cesar, an assistant Team Leader at work who transferred to another store a few months ago.  Cesar and I had a bit of a rocky history.  I felt his supervising style was intrusive and bullying.  He put me through some pretty hard times and I in turn questioned him on certain issues.  I saw him again last week when he same back to the store for a conference and I gave him a hug and asked him about his baby and the new store he’s working at.   I think he was pretty surprised, but honestly, I always kind of liked him.  I just didn’t like his style of leadership.  I never had anything against him I just didn’t want him being the boss of me. 


Barak Obama Chicago Reader cover by Derek Erdman


Alternate cover in case John McCain had won.