The Election and Inaugration of Barack Obama: A Political, Historical, and Cultural Look At Our Next President of these United States
Whether you like Barack Obama or not and whatever your position on the electoral spectrum (libertarian-conservative-progressive-democrat) you have to admit the historical significance of his election.
This video from cultural critic Jay Smooth puts my thoughts and our national moment into a little perspective, especially for those asking “what is the meaning or impact of the election of Barack Obama?”
I like his quote from Chuck D, “voting is like brushing your teeth in the morning. Its a necessary thing–but its only the first thing you do….It doesn’t mean you’ve done a full days work. “ I hope we channel the joyous moment into practical results for all Americans. The focus on citizens mobilizing for social good and in conjunction with government is echoed by “America’s Soul Reboots Today” by technology blogger Mark Dykeman:
To my American friends and family: you do have a new day and a new chance to do things differently. There will be good days and bad; triumphs and mistakes. Just remember: you’ve elected a charismatic man, a personally powerful man, but ultimately he’s just another human, like the rest of us. Ultimately, it comes down to you, your neighbours, and our will to do things better.
In other words, it’s all up to you.
Hopefully the millions of yous out there can come together to great a sum that is greater than the parts and which honors our principles of justice, volunteerism, and E Plurbus Unum. In this way our collective joyous moment can harnessed for important issues like the onesDavid Lane the CEO of ONE illuminates in “Hope for Obama“ on the Relevant Magazine blog:
“President Obama can invite the world to see America from a new perspective, to see the America of compassion and healing hands, the America that’s a force for good. Our efforts to fight global poverty and disease are not an obligation, they’re an opportunity. Effective, proven solutions that save lives from AIDS or prevent a child from getting malaria don’t need discovering, they already exist. President Obama’s task—which all of us share—is to put those solutions to work for the world’s poorest and in the process make a better, safer world for us all.”
As the American soul reboots with the swearing in of our next President, we all collectively must re-orient ourselves toward pragmatic common ends
What issues should our joyous moment be leveraged for? Are you excited about the inauguration of Barack Obama as our next president?
Happy presidential Inauguration!
What do you think is the importance of the inauguration of Barack Obama historically and politically? Or better yet what do you think of the ramification and significance of Obama as president?
Update: The impact and political significance of the election of Obama as President on African Americans
New American Media points out:
“For many African-Americans who have struggled against the tide for much of their lives, and who up until now may have been inclined to believe that they had little to show for it, the promise of America shines brighter today – not only in the reflected glow of Senator Obama’s victory, but also in the eyes of our children and grandchildren,” said Joint Center President and CEO Ralph Everett, who moderated the event Wednesday at the Center’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. “They now have in President-elect Obama an object lesson that in this country anyone can achieve their dreams if they set their minds to it and if they work hard enough. The value of this moment to future generations is immeasurable.”
Update Two: For the technology implications of the Obama election, I imagine Rebooting America by the folks at Tech President will be insightful.
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