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Obama Inauguration: A New Tone. No More Fake Optimism for The People
I know that Barack Obama is incredibly smart, and it's not that I'm surprised that he gave a fantastic speech. But I've been following American politics for a long time, and sometimes you see something that works on so many levels that you kind of have to gasp at its sophistication.
This speech marked a sharp line in the sand, breaking overtly with the past administration. That message was clear and intentional. It is a much more confrontational approach than inauguration speeches have typically been in America. I am overjoyed.
I thought Obama did three things impressively. Firstly, he sounded a note of our dire circumstances that was in line with a reality that many have been in denial about. That is technically brilliant, because he's inheriting a mess, and he's telling people, "We're not going to dig ourselves out of this easily." But also, "Don't blame me for it all."
The second was that he reasserted the primacy of the constitution and the rule of law. With Bush sitting behind him, that was like showtime at the OK Corral. I have written in the past that it is going to take a grassroots movement to support him in reasserting the rule of law, because there are so many vested interests that stand opposed to it. But that was a shot across the bows.
Thirdly, most amazingly, I feel that he dialled down the threat level of the US with just a few sentences. He reached out a hand to the Muslim world. For Obama to say, "I'm not going to demonise you" - that is extraordinarily stabilising.
On top of all that, he gave plenty of red meat to the right, honouring the military and their sacrifices. The choice of the conservative, anti gay-marriage pastor Rick Warren to pray sent a message to the conservative base of the opposition that this is going to be a values-based presidency, that he's not going to dismiss the substantial proportion who opposed Democrats not because they disagreed with their economic policies, but because they disagreed with how amoral our policies have often been presented as being. It is not how I would wish for things in an ideal world. But Obama is playing poker brilliantly, because he has handed over something that is not very valuable. And he did all of this without a single partisan sentence. He spoke about Republican policies, but not Republicans. He isn't missing a trick. I thought it was a home run.
The great leaders in the US weren't the cheerleaders who promised morning in America. They were the ones that forced us to look in the mirror. Since Reagan there has been this tradition, which has become a cliche, of promising morning in America, this fake optimism, we're the best, the city on the hill.
In fact the great American task is self-scrutiny. Abraham Lincoln gave speeches about the civil war in which he said, in essence, "We've brought this on ourselves by enslaving Americans." Obama's speech was a diagnosis: "We have to take steps to rebuild our nation." I'm not saying, "Hooray, he offered a tough, dark recognition of our reality." I'm saying "Hooray" because he has recognised that the only way to save America is to confront it.
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Show All"implicitly denying that the US (which leads the world in dropping bombs, invading & occupying other countries) does any "destroying." "
I totally agree with you. We cannot absolve ourselves of blame by placing an earnest black face on it. Our complicity is all-encompassing. No amount of self-scrutiny will cleanse our bloody hands unless we follow it up with action.
In all fairness though, if he had actually deviated from the script and spit out some vitriol they would have ripped his heart out !
- Here, he's also claiming that all the terror & slaughtering of innocents is done by the bad guys, not by us (and not by our attack dog Israel, which just slaughtered defenseless 1300 innocents in the last 2 weeks, with full-throated approval of both US parties).
Exactly Dave, beautifully said. Only a true hypocrite would dare utter those worlds, only one that believes might makes right. When we do it its fine when you do it we will destroy you.
Look at the condemnation Obama got just for pointing out that we have killed innocents with gunships and you will understand what a line he must toe to not meet the fate of JFK. It is easy to judge him, but harder to step up as he has asked us to, and build a consensus for a post-empire world like the post-partisan America he is committed to.
Skepticism is sometimes healthy, but this is a time to get into cooperative action to keep the momentum accelerating.
In a world of empire rivals, I wouldn't advise immediate unilateral disarmament.
PosiVista
"In a world of empire rivals, I wouldn't advise immediate unilateral disarmament."
Unfortunately there are no 'empire rivals' ... we are the Empire. We must change our imperialist foreign policy no matter what. We must end the support of murderous regimes like those in Israel or Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. We must change the policy of unbridled aggression and conquest. Defending our homeland doesnt mean dropping 1000 pound bombs on wedding parties.
He also managed kind words for "non-believers". He stated that we should not sacrifice constitutional freedoms for the illusion of security (while some ballsy TV producer trained a camera on Bush, squirming and irritated). He also called for dialogue with enemies and importantly, he called not for escalation in Afghanistan (as he had during the campaign) but a "resolution" of the war there.
Hard to know what all those calls are worth. It could just be lofty, clever phrases hiding capitulation to the prerogatives of empire. We'll see soon enough.
Nothing will happen at all unless we keep up the pressure.
Obama's words are nothing but a continuing globalist psyop. Naomi needs to review her 10 signs of fascism and dig into the next phase of applying them to the new regime, which is nothing more than the "good cop" follow-up to the Bush phase.
Yeah I am kind of shocked myself Naomi has gone from America is slipping into fascism to groveling at the feet or power in one fell swoop, not good. :(
Deepa
The inauguration of the 44th president of the USA is an emotional one for us (though we belong to India). We chocked at the sight of this historical event in the US. We were captivated and encouraged by Obama's couragious speech that has subtly questioned the HALLMARKS OF THE US: EXCEPTIONALISM AND EXPANSIONISM.
Till now the US behaved like a MAD DOG towards sovereign countries, with the later captivated by fear that this MAD DOG might bite them. So it was not only the minority communities in the US, but also sovereign countries around the world that were gripped in fear of THIS "EXCEPTIONAL" (exceptional because it was the mad dog)COUNTRY.
We are happy at the change of events in the US. We rejoice with millions of Americans who have been waiting for centuries for THIS CHANGE. We hope that the US as a country in thr world and Americans as fellow human beings will look into the mirror, and behave responsibly towards their neighbors.
Deepa, i do not like to point this out as i appreciate your sentiments are sincere.
But as far as american exceptionalism goes--i saw a clip of obama speaking on c-span a few months ago. It was from a book tour in 2005- and he said that he does believe in american exceptionalism.
Whether or not he changed his mind since then , i couldn't say.
Naomi's upbeat essay is good.
I am just hoping Obama's concept of 'rule of law' is NOT the laws and acts enacted that shredded the US Constitution, removed habeas corpus, redefined public demonstrations as terrorist acts, ......,etc. by #43 & company.
only time will tell.
But I could be wrong !
What Was That Sound?
yesterday losing its grip
tomorrow no longer on hold
yes we can
from this moment on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBeUGqeYsQg
Re: that KoolAid commercial
Yes, of course, that's the other possibility. But should we assume this right away without giving "Yes We Can" a try?
Obama spouts the obvious: "We have to take steps to rebuild our nation." But the solution will not be found in "playing poker brilliantly" and giving "plenty of red meat to the right, honouring the military and their sacrifices" as Ms. Wolf says. What we really have to do is take steps to dismantle the American Empire and all of the extra baggage that's attached to it.
Naomi Wolf is one of the delusionaries. When will she, along with other delusionaries, quit trying to ego-analyze BO's speeches? I would love to be proven wrong about my gut feeling that number 44 stinks. But can we now please - get on with discussing his walk, instead of his talk?
Well, I have to admit that I was cynical until yesterday. I wasn't sure about Obama. I have been through 30 years of Republican bullying and corruption. Obama's first steps in office are remarkable. Could it be that we elected an exceptional president? We have so many who are weak, corrupt, or narrow-minded, but every once in a while, we get an exceptional one. We get one who changes who we are as a people. Thinking about that gave me chills. I told my kids that this president is very different.
All right, Naomi Wolf, now that you are done with the hagiographic talk, let's remind you of some facts. Incidentally, hagiography is not a healthy way of approaching one's leaders. It is basically obfuscatory. It is a religious attitude that ought to be avoided in an Enlightened political system. Leave it to the Catholic Church and to writers of biographies.
Naomi Wolf, you conveniently forgot that to save the United States, it must be confronted with its evil empire of military bases, and that that empire must be dismantled if anything is ever going to change both domestically and in the world at large (see Magarulian's excellent post below).
You need to come down from merely contemplating grand political ideals in order to reckon with the minutiae of Empire and its history. Read Chalmers Johnson's trilogy for a change, instead of the Constitution.
You omitted the massive violence, some of it state terrorism, that has been perpetrated by Empire over the decades since 1945 (see DaveBronstein's post below, which exposes that whole aspect of Obama's speech).
You overlooked the fact that the military ought to be put back into its proper place (one institution of the State among others) and not turned into a quasi-religious order, whose ideology of hyper-violence is disseminated and glorified by television shows, the corporate media, Hollywood movies, video games, certain sports, clothing, advertisements, comic books, toys, et cetera.
Naomi Wolf, how can a speech that "gave plenty of red meat to the right, honouring the military and their sacrifices" be confrontational? Why are you giving us this sort of nonsence talk? Are you in denial of your readers' abilities? Also, why are you using the predatory metaphor of red meat?
Lastly, note that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
"Incidentally, hagiography is not a healthy way of approaching one's leaders."
I know. That she actually got paid for writing this inane gibberish and it was published in both the Guardian and CD is prima facie evidence that "America" is very far from "confronting" itself. Anybody out there knows what comes after farce?
I heard nothing from Obama on the slaughter of innocents in Gaza.
"Silence is betrayal" - MLK
Immediately after the Wall Street $700 billion bailout was passed, Wolf called it a coup d’etat, and a step toward total fascism. She may remember that Barack Obama cooperated fully with this “coup,” and now she writes of him as a saviour. Naomi, which is it?
As far as the Muslim world goes, his silence on Gaza has preceded any lip service he paid them in his inaugural speech — as backhanded as it was. The liberal excuses have already begun. When he shuns his progressive base, he is “playing poker brilliantly.” In other words, don’t worry progressives. The “real Obama” will not betray you, but he must so in a way that fools his opposition. Give me a break! Obama has shown no courage in standing up to established power. What makes anyone think he will do so as president?
Medics and children sniper shot, personnel shrapnel in childrens brains and ceaselessly burning phosphorous rain. Not a word of official USA protest. The USA reaction is to insure that the tunnel lifeline for food, fuel and yes weapons is totally severved. The elimination of the tunnels insures that when israel with a blockade says STARVE GAZA then GAZA WILL STARVE.
Absolutely right, Glenn. Obama has now promised to help close those tunnels that are relied on by Gazans for food and other necessities in the face of Israel’s illegal and immoral blockade.
From his press secretary: “…he emphasized his determination to work to help consolidate the ceasefire by establishing an effective anti-smuggling regime to prevent Hamas from rearming…”
I really am trying to hope, but is really hard to see past Rahm son of Irgun. But as we hope we need to boycott israel and demand justice from Obama for Palestine.
Realism, THANKS, the hype about saint Obama is ALREADY starting to grate on my nerves. :(
JeffreyK said: "Give me a break! Obama has shown no courage in standing up to established power. What makes anyone think he will do so as president?"
Smart people don't waste energy tearing down a wall if they can go over it or around it (or even under it). I think and hope Obama is that smart. The way to defeat empire is to undermine it--not to waste even more lives and more energy trying to tear it down head-on or violently.
Naomi, you are gifted, and today, delightfully surprising. You should know you're not allowed to be upbeat about Democrats on Common Dreams, but if you read the responses, just considering the source should be sufficient encouragement.
I too believe he's one helluva poker player. Gay rights described as an expendable poker chip, will draw you some rightly deserved heat. (I say that while I'm chuckling at the ire you'll incur).
Today, if I understand it correctly, President Obama called Mid-East leaders and proffered the idea of multi-national force to suppress arms smuggling to Gaza, coupled with Aid for the people to rebuild, and assurances for full humanitarian aid and supply.
Yes, he didn't speak with Hamas... but for day one? not bad IMHO.
OK, you wack-job, ideologues can go back to promoting your singular and narrow "solutions" while nay-saying every conceivable approach that doesn't tow your party-line down to the least bit of subtext. Good luck with recruitment.
If Obama is such a saint why do his cabinet choices reflect pro corporate and pro war mongering neo-con idealogies? And yes I voted for him and was frankly shocked that the Chuck Hagels and the Feingolds who were actually against the war and looking out for our civil liberties weren't given leadership positions which instead went to war mongers like Rahm Emmanual, and Hillary, and banksters like Summers. Would does that say about Obama's policy direction EXACTLY?
OK, I'll try to answer that...
I worked on Nader's campaign in 00, and Dennis's in 04 and 08. And guess what? Despite the fact that you and I probably agree on a helluva lot, and despite the fact I did everything I could to put a TRULY progressive candidate forward, it DIDN'T happen. The rest of the country didn't bite.
They--"we," if you want to include yourself amongst the larger group of the American electorate--chose Obama. They chose someone who (gasp!) took money from corporate interests, and made what progressive like us consider to be poor votes on things like the FISA bill and war funding.
Not hatin', hootowl. Just statin'. Just stating that THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. That is what the people voted for, even if they were misled or less than better informed. And despite all that, Obama layed down clear markers yesterday that represent the kind of change progressives should be backing right now.
I feel I was misled by Obama, he threw Hilary's (who I loath) vote for the Iraq war in her face time after time, he campaigned as though he was anti war, and now we are getting a same old crap overtly pro financial deregulation, pro war cabinet? I for one feel gypped and I assure the koolaid drinkers I will go back to voting for Greens for Preznit like I have every year since 92.
I absolutely support you in your decision to build a 3rd Party, hootowl. I have worked and voted for the very same thing. I, too, loathed the Clintons. But remember, she's on HIS leash now. When Barack says, "Jump!", Hillary has to reply, "How far, Mr. President?" If she doesn't, her political career will be over, and her political legacy will diminish. Think she wants that?
Like I said, you and I clearly agree on alot, and rest assured, I have imbibed no Kool-Aid yet. I have not, nor will I blindly follow Mr. Obama when I disagree with him. I was bitterly disappointed in his FISA vote, and didn't support him on the bailout. However, he said he would revisit the FISA issue if and when he took office, so I'll be awaiting action on that.
But man! What a difference a day can make. And it was a very good day, indeed.
Absolutely right on, BlueDenim. Good thing she was writing for Guardian/UK in this piece, and thanks to the editors here at CD for including it in today's views. Of course, I reserve the right to future criticism of Obama, but for today at least, I feel a great sense of relief. It will take much to bring this monstrous ship around, but the first tug at the ship's wheel is underway...
OH, let me add... Did you apply for employment with the administration?
If not, what the hell is wrong with you? are you waiting for an engraved invitation?
Don't MAKE me pull this car over.
Thank goodness. When i read this earlier i actually misread and thought it was'Naomi *Klien*. Whew! I was seriously upset, thinking she may have lost some of her IQ points. Now it makes sense.
Naomi Wolf, at least before this Gaza horror, was a supporter of Israel. I don't know what she has to say about it at this point.
Also, of course obama can't sound optimistic. The blowback has hit hard and there is no faking it, even if he wanted to. People know when they lose their own house or their job or their savings. How would he even be able to say anything else and not look like he is from another planet?
Watching it in Europe, I noticed that the crowd - as far as the TV picked it up - only cheered particularly loudly during Obama's speech when he said that America was of course going to continue to lead the world, or something to that extent. So he has quite a task at his hands getting Americans out of this megalomaniac approach to the world.
His speech contained many other aspects which would have merited much louder cheering than the one he got on these "old" tenets.
I liked his reference to the fact that it was about time Americans grow up. Hey, I thought, this guy might see things a bit more radically than some of his followers assume! Kudos!
What didn't go down too well with my circles of left-wing friends was the pomp and circumstances - why abolish the English royalty when you outdo them on that front by now and BTW have a truly outdated ritual - and a uniquely long transitional period compared to which any European monarchy's rituals look revolutionary?
The heavy use of religion was also weird, and we particularly choked when someone - was it Obama, was it one of the preachers, can't remember - said something like "god gave you human rights." Holy shit! At least in Europe, religion PREVENTED human rights for centuries, the Old Testament is definitely not something Amnesty International would subscribe to, and as far as we remember in Europe, it was mostly atheists who got us human rights eventually.
And last, but not least: Why do African American women still (!!) have to straighten their little girls' hair in order to make them look acceptable to whites?? We are talking heavy chemicals used on kids. What happened to black power and black pride?? Imagine if white girls at that age had been permed for the occasion - similar amount of toxic chemicals. It would have been an outcry, I guess.
That's the one sad part. That African Americans think that they still have to try to look like whites, except for the skin colour in this case. Even down to their own kids.
How's about we let African-American mothers make their own choices about their children's hairstyles? They're grown-ups; they're citizens with freedom to make their own choices. I'm not too worried about Michelle Obama. Frankly, I think she absolutely rocks, and had she been running in the primaries against Barack, I would have voted for her.
The reason why they make those choices is a sign of how far away the old Black Power Movement is, though.
When blacks to a large extent are trying to make their hair look like that of whites, it is not a sign of black liberation at all.
That you don't grasp that at all and are talking about "choices" (you are a white male, I guess, otherwise you'd know what the straightening of curly hair actually implies) is just s sign of our reactionary times to me.
Your right, Araquin. I'm wrong. Henceforth, and despite the myriad challenges our nation and world faces, we--that is you and I--should join forces immediately to pressure the incoming administration to ban all chemical hair products marketed to African-Americans. Our reputation as progressives demands no less. We must endeavor to make this our life's work.
How could I have been so short sighted? Thank you from the bottom of my bleeding heart for awakening me to this grave injustice.
I stand humbled and at your service, and waiting with baited breath for your reply and direction.
Let us sally forth to remake the world in our politically correct vision!
You really haven't grasped anything at all.
But it's YOUR country, not mine, so just dream on.
Where are you? Any room for stowaways? 1/2 :)
Yes, sire. I submit to your higher mind. I grasp nothing, and now I'll just go back to sleep and dream.
No you haven't grasped anything at all.
Civil rights, black power, women's rights, GLBT rights is NOT about replacing old standards of what is good, with some new politically correct standards of what is good. It is not about replacing the old "white patriarchy" with some new matriarchy or whatever.
It is about giving people the right to CHOOSE. If black people want to have straight hair, they have a RIGHT to make that CHOICE. If white people want to have corn rows, they have RIGHT to make that CHOICE. If Asians want to have blonde hair, narrow noses, long eyelashes etc, they have a RIGHT to make that CHOICE. If women want to look skinny and supermodel like, they have a RIGHT to make that CHOICE. If men want the "metrosexual" look they have a RIGHT to make that CHOICE.
Oh yeah, and I'm not white, nor straight.
Did you watch Spike Lees movie about Malcom X? That hair straightener is some nasty caustic stuff. :(
"Our reputation as progressives demands no less."
LOL !! Drift ... thanks .. that made me holler !!
From now on we must and will take our direction from white european muddrf~!@#ers. As history has so clearly shown, they are the only ones who know best ... like Papa.
Right, because individual cannot be trusted to make choices of their own free wills.
They need to have their choices made for them by "enlightened" people.
I thought it was a good point about Blacks straightening their hair to look more acceptable to not only Whites, but to themselves.
Thank you, Naomi Wolf. Thank you for this, and for speaking truth to power as you did consistently these last 8 years. You are a true champion for progressives.
I am pleased to report that I felt genuinely proud of my President yesterday, particularly for speaking his truth so powerfully to all us while lil Boy Shrub and Darth Cheney were obliged to sit there quietly and take some medicine (...and I hope this won't be the only dose they'll have to swallow in the days and months to come).
Obama stuck his neck out yesterday against the worst abuses of our military/industrial complex. He told us to GROW UP, and thanks be that he did.
Tell me, would anyone sniping here right now want to be in his shoes right now? It's not alarmist to state that he is tracking into very unsafe waters right now. Remember what happened to JFK when he was taking this monster on.
Mr. Obama has made only the FIRST step. WE, that means US progressives, should be the first ones getting his back right now. He asked ALL Americans to support his endeavors to end torture, restore the rule of law, and meet our adversaries on common ground in an effort to dial the strife down, and one would hope, farther down the line, to maybe even make a more peaceful world. He's got a long, thankless, even perilous road ahead, but he's inviting us to DARE to make those steps.
Look, what were any of us expecting? That we'd wake up this morning and the Iraq War would be over with all the troops home, Al Queda subdued, moderate democratic regimes established in the Middle East, the country weaned off fossil fuels, a green economy up and running with global warming in recession?
It's time to grow up. There's a f#ck-load of heavy lifting to do to create that world, and time's a-wastin'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBeUGqeYsQg
That's cute, hootowl. But I await your response to what I wrote. As to drinking Kool Aid, see my reply below.
That is my response, deal.
Well then, hooty old boy, I suppose you're all grown up and therefore can take me pointing out that your response is weak, and you still haven't answered a single question I asked.
I'm just guessing that's because you can't. Feel free to prove me wrong.
As I indicated above, Obama had a memorable quote in his speech on Tuesday concerning childishness. Perhaps it would benefit you if you read it carefully and considered whatever thoughts or emotions that occur to you.
I'm just sayin'...
My bottom line i I don't trust the people Obama has surrounded himself with like Hilary "I will obliterate Iran" Clinton, Rahm "I volunteered for the IDF" Emmanuel, Larry "Fed official" Summers, or Joe "I am a ZIonist and credit industry shill" Biden. If you look closely at the policy they have supported in the past it differs not at all from Bush neo-cons and does not serve the interests of the American people or our endangered environment.
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=10329
I for one am not impressed by a lot of shuck and jive if it doesn't change our terrible corrupt establishment system in fundamental ways which this crew won't. If that is "childish" then Martin Luther King was childish as well. I find often that calling people "childish" is naught but another way of saying "shut up and don't you dare question the status quo, or rock the boat too much." The correct response to which is Martin Luther Kings prescient warning about "the tranquilizing drug of gradualism."
The ball sir is in your court. I'd rather fight then give up like you obviously have. I spent my late 30s high in the Redwood trees resisting the depredation of our planet. Can you name ONE substantive thing you have done to help the poor or our imperiled planet?
Proud boat rocker, and rabble rouser, deal! 42 years old and still fighting the good fight, never give up, never cave in to the status quo latte sipping stock portfolio watching yuppies, fuck em' completely.