Photo: APThere was media attention to the stories of some attendees, like wheel-chair bound, 105-year old Ella Mae Johnson. She recalled her college days in 1924, when W.E.B. Du Bois' visit to Fisk University led to her joining a student walkout. Most of the time, it's notable to find anything resembling real history in the mass media. This day marked not only a new milestone, but also held the deepest resonances of the past.
Obama has received a dual inheritance from the Republicans: an eight-year disaster to deal with, and a Noise Machine primed to block every effort. And the Noise Machine will do everything possible to fuel racism, even as they now point to Obama himself as proof that racism doesn't exist.
After decades of Republican control, another New Deal is needed so desperately that it's becoming possible to promote such an agenda. Knowing that, the Noise Machine is busy rewriting the history of the original New Deal, and will do everything to prevent a new one from happening.
Much of Obama 's inauguration speech seemed to take this background into account, and to aim at preempting some of the opposition he'll face. The fact that the camera loves the entire family is an enormous plus, and something the Reich Wing media may have a tough time getting around.
If the economy ultimately can improve for enough of us—"angry white male" included—"divide and conquer" will begin to lose much of its power. "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now"—the truth of MLK's thought is certainly in front of our faces.
Though right wing propagandists will add Obama's presidency to their phony arguments that racism has ended, this is also a juncture where there are new opportunities for true progress. I think that is where some of the most important impacts for this society's future can be.
About the regime that just slunk out of town, I'll leave today's last word to Hugh, creator of a vast list of Bush outrages.
I share the worries about how centrist Obama will be, when we face the result of eight years of unparalleled right wing radicalism. But for the moment, I'm rejoicing to know we've exchanged a psychopathic frat boy for a human with a functioning brain and heart—both formed by growing up among real people, instead of a cosseted elite.
It's been impressive seeing how Obama relates to his daughters in public. The family is on display for a public purpose, yet he's simultaneously "there" for the girls.
Way back during the primaries, there was a picture of the candidate and daughter Sasha at the Iowa State Fair. An expression like this on the candidate's face is not something a campaign operative would (or could) order on cue. But a parent joining in a child's excitement is a different story.
(Scott Olson/Getty Images)
And this can only have been good practice, for the so very bumpy road ahead.
No comments:
Post a Comment