Ignagural Idea, and Ignaural Ideals

[tekla]

I've been kicking around some ideas lately with other people, on other forums, and I kind of like this one.

When President Obama stands there, and takes the following oath:

"I (state your name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

At that moment, when history is going to change in some pretty radical ways, we all ought to stand up, and state our name, and in place of the PotUS, just put citizen, and we also should swear - or affirm - that we too will, to the best of our ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. 

Indeed the failures of the last 8, if not 16, if not the last 28 years, have not been Reagan's or BushI and Bush II, or Clinton.  They have been our failures too.  George Bush did not torture people, he did it in our name, and with our consent. 

Time for that to end.  Time to think less about 'our rights' and work a bit more on 'our responsibilities.'

We ought to swear in with him.  His triumph or failure will not be his alone, nor will it be upon him alone.  It will fall to all of us, and save us, or damn us.

I kind of like that idea, so I'm going to do it.  I'm going to swear to preserve this nation, protect ALL the people in it, and defend it against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.  This is my time, I'm going to take it.

Sincerely, Dr. tekla k. west.

[Alyssa M.]

Good post. I recall a conversation a couple of years ago with an Army officer who'd been in Iraq, quite conservative, who defended Bush because he was her Commander in Chief. I reminded her that her oath was first to the Constitution. (I just looked it up at http://www.history.army.mil/faq/oaths.htm) She wasn't pleased.

Of course, at least at present, I question authority way to much to do well in the military -- but there's such a thing as questioning too little as well.

But a question, Telka -- why do you think Obama getting sworn in will have such a profound effect on history? Not that I disagree -- I'd just expect a bit more cynicism from you. So I'm curious.

~Alyssa

[NicholeW.]

Let's see, two I can imagine from the git. 1) He's not going to have the default skin-tone of every POTUSA to date. 2) His name is going to be rather off the beaten European track of presidential names when he says it.

Tekla, I like the post as well. And Alyssa, I can imagine that your friend maybe didn't much realize that. Too bad, one would hope every officer would realize that she/he swears to serve the Constitution instead of the President. AND that they have every right to disregard and actively subvert illegal orders.

Thanks, Kat for promising to protect me! And all the other citizens of this country as well. My goodness, you do have your work cut out for you!

Nichole

[tekla]

I work, and pretty much always have, whether academia or theater, with a pretty diverse cast of characters.  My mate (as the Aussies would say) in doing the rigging is African-American.  We depend on each other for our safety, when one of us in the in air (and we rotate) the other is on the ground, spotting, helping, and ready to go up if something goes wrong.  We are very good friends.

But the day after the election, when we meet as we always do, as union brothers, and as brothers of the deck and the rigging, we meet as brothers who both had a huge burden lifted off of us.  I can't explain it exactly.  But I've felt it again and again.  And in conversations, I know my brothers and sisters did too.

On election eve, I had the really, really good champagne chilled.  Ready to go when - as it turned out, not unpoetically - Ohio put Obama over the top.  And there I was with my Hispanic GF.  Her family has been in this country longer than mine. (1820s vs. 1840s as it turned out) And after the first huge "YOW!" I popped that cork, but I didn't pour it.  I looked at her and she was crying.  And so was I.  And so was her sister on the other end of the phone.  And through the tears she simply said, "I belong here." 

I think a lot of people are thinking that way.

This nation belongs to a hella lot more people today, and after Tuesday then it ever did before.  I think that's why we all need to take that same oath, as citizens of the US as he takes it as the PotUS. 

I watched that concert today, and I for one could care less about missing some Bishop giving a prayer.  Really.  Like a concert needs a prayer.  But I saw Bruce Springsteen sing "The Rising" with an all black choir behind him, watched Mary J. Blige sing "My Country Tis of Thee" in the spot where Miriam Anderson sang, where the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King gave a speech that - though it took a few years perhaps - rocked the American nation to it's very foundation.  I watched singers, black and white, male and female, gay and straight, and American and Irish, and Columbian tear it up (not that I get out much, but it seemed to me that everyone, from Garth to J.C. Mellencamp, from Usher and Stevie Wonder, and the every amazing Beyonce (when you need a diva, only a diva can, and will do) sing with emotion, feeling and heart that you can't fake.  That was, at 89, Pete Seeger (once blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee), doing a song by Woody Guthrie, (accused by the same HUAC). 

In his last speech, Dr. King said he had been to the mountain top.  This is that mountain top.  It ain't the last mountain in our way, but its the first huge one.

Like you, I'm into technical climbing - or I was back when I was a bit younger, I still do, just not the same.  But I know, as you do, that the first ascent is the hard one.  With that one under the belt, the next mountain, high and steep, is at least, well, doable. 

That is worth celebrating.  And working for.

And it's not just me protecting you Nichole, and I will.  It's you protecting me, us protecting and work for our kids.  It's all of us working for each other, looking out for each other - democratic government, as it turns out, is a team sport.

[Shana A]

I agree, we all need to roll up our sleeves and do the work to have the kind of gov't we want.

The profound feeling that I got on election night, and again yesterday listening to Pete Seeger, grandson Tao Rodriguez Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen leading 100,000 people in singing along This Land Is Your Land is; we got OUR country back!

Z

[Alyssa M.]

The racial aspect is huge -- but I don't think it's the only thing. When someone tells me they're vegetarian, I can think of at least half a dozen a dozen reasons why they might be; when someone tells me the Obama administration will be transformative, I can think a number of reasons as well.

He's inspiring without being jingoist. He has a broad progressive vision with a sense of priorities and responsibility  (I think). He actually knows something about the Constitution, more than your average poli-sci major. He's leading with the post-Southern-Strategy Democratic alignment of Congress. He's just flat-out smarter than your average president.

The racial symbolism is huge. But I don't think that it alone explains why people are so inspired, as for instance you were, Tekla, to write what you did.

[lisagurl]

The big show takes away from the real needed work. It seems to be just more marketing. Too much show and very little go. Lets hope he spends more time solving problems than entertaining.

[RebeccaFog]

I agree with the sentiments of you that came before me.

As far as I'm concerned, the 20th is the beginning of the 21st century.  Everything won't happen all at once, but if the foundations are put into place and made strong, we should see a lot of difference in the future from our pasts.

I'm not being entirely emotional.  I think much of it will begin with the meat and potato issues.  Turning the economy toward the greening of America is one of those things that will pan out in ways that are hard to foresee for certain.  Now is a beautiful time to build and rebuild infrastructure.  New materials, better technologies, and people needing and wanting the work.


Post Merge: January 19, 2009, 05:23:02 PM

The big show takes away from the real needed work. It seems to be just more marketing. Too much show and very little go. Lets hope he spends more time solving problems than entertaining.

Right now, we need more than hope.  We need faith.  And I have it. 

[tekla]

Heck no, but after 300 years, its a huge deal.  But ya, its going to be nice to have adults in charge.  Might be nice having someone making science appointments who like, oh, say, believes in science.  I'm kind of tired of faith based science myself.

I'm also impressed with the people he has chosen, in not just picking his buds, pals and cronies.  It's not going to be a bunch of yes men and women around him.  No choice for Sec of State could have been better than Hillary, she has all the tools that the best people in that office have ever had, and she is motivated to excel.  I'm sure she is going to be great.  I listened to her hearings she was fantastic.  And in its own way, I think she will be a much better SoS than she ever would have been as President.

I'm hoping for some civility to return too.  Some small bit of class and elegance, some cool and calm and not what amounts to tantrums. 

Where GW said he was a uniter not a divider, he proved to be anything but.  I'd like to see some unity, some outreach.  Yeah, we are not going to always agree, but the at the throat quality of a lot of our discourse has worn very thin.  Reverend Rick is entitled to his views, and gay people are entitled to their lives.  He is free to make religious statements, but not public policy.

If you have been watching this the excitement is electric.  The spirit is moving.  I'm not sentimental, that kind of excitement is what we do at a show, and though you can't see it, you sure can feel it.  I can sit backstage and feel it - or the lack of it.  People who are old grizzled Washington reporters, the real inside stuff, they can't stop saying "I've never seen anything like it."  Nor have I.

Do you think any of this would be going down if McCain had won?  Me either.  Simple as that.

And its not mystical, magical or any of that.  Its the power of people united.  Its the greatest power the world has ever known.  As Margaret Mead once said, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.  And its something like that. 

Bush really blew it at 9-11 in so many ways.  I remember walking down Haight Street in SF the next day or so.  And, OK, its not the most flag waving street in the nation.  But all the flags were out.  And Bush missed that opportunity big time. 

I think people want and need to feel a part of something greater than them selves, less of a feeling of 'the homeland' and more about 'our nation.' 

As Harvey Milk once said "You've got to give them hope."  Perhaps that hope is only, and often, symbolic.  But you have to admit these folks are pretty good at symbolism. 

And they all seem adult enough and committed enough to do the hard part too.  Like, governing for a change.

[lisagurl]

If you have been watching this the excitement is electric.

I do not watch TV. I care less about the show. I want to see the national guard park their equipment at their armory.

I would also like to see philosophy taught in schools so people can understand why they are doings things and not just following the leader. Remember Hitler he used the same propaganda and had the electric excitement.

[tekla]

Sure, so did the Romans, almost any group, be they government or religion.  Most people like being with other people.  They like a celebration.  After the last 8 years they deserve it.  And it will have a powerful effect on the government to see a couple million people show up tomorrow.  Political types don't know much, but they do know how to count.

[RebeccaFog]

The numbers matter. The parties are good for letting off steam and building morale.  I don't do parties, but I can appreciate the happiness other people feel at a good and positive event.

[tekla]

I do parties, both as a party person, but I've done my fair share of setting them up and helping to organize and plan them.  They have a place, most humans are social, and I think that a lot of people gain strength and a feeling of being attached from them.

And yeah, when the number of people showing up for something, in this case the swearing in, are in the millions and millions more than have ever done that, well, like I said, they can count.

[lisagurl]

I think that a lot of people gain strength and a feeling of being attached from them

Till they get the hangover.

[Alyssa M.]

Ah, I will cherish the momory of some hangovers I've had! And I'll cherish the momory of some parties I've been at and never had the slightest hangover -- my sister's wedding, for instance, where I was having too much fun to ever drink enough to get drunk, much less hung over.

Jeez, girl, you have got to be the darkest, most cynical person I've ever come across. You really ought to allow youself the occasional slight glimmer of joy in your life sometimes.

[Sephirah]

I'd just like to say a big congratulations, and thank you, to the guys and gals in the US. On behalf of most of the rest of the world... thank you for doing the right thing.

[lisagurl]

Jeez, girl, you have got to be the darkest, most cynical person I've ever come across.

Work for the Feds for a few years and be part of what they want the public to believe and you will be cynical too.  There are two governments. The one you see and the one that runs things.

[tekla]

I've worked for DoD, and DoE under Bush I and Clinton, and the Bechtel Corporation during the Reagan years, I believe Nichole did a bit of government service too.  Your perspective is not unique.  Your cynicism is.

I'm looking at SF Values, as the right wing likes to call them, now running the nation.  Wasn't that two women, Nancy and DiFi both from SF, running the show?  Isn't that a real big city - and non-Southern person elected?

We can hope, or pray if you must - but really, its works when we do, and does not work when we don't care, or are too cynical to believe, as we have seen.

[lisagurl]

We can hope, or pray if you must - but really, its works when we do, and does not work when we don't care, or are too cynical to believe, as we have see

It has nothing to do with hope and praying. Of course there is the placebo effect or you can say your prayers set your subconscious to make decisions that effect your life. I rather have goals and a step by step plan and follow it, fixing mistakes as they happen. Do not plan for luck or wind falls, just have a surplus of tools and energy to accomplish what is planned.

[tekla]

Its weird, cause in the end, it ain't science, not technology, it's not faith, nor even fortune -  but in the end people working with other people.

It's synergy.  That many people working together can create more than the sum of the individual parts, and even in science that is true.  There are no 'mad scientists' working alone in their labs, its much more of a cooperative effort in science, even when working with people whose social skills were not exactly the most fantastic part of their academic experience.