Big Opportunities, Big Change
November 5, 2008
Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama!
Barack Obama warned us that some would try to make this big election be about small things. My warning is that we don’t let this big opportunity only lead to small change.
Big Opportunity
More than 137 million voters cast ballots this election, up 14% from 2004. 63.7 million (56%) of those people voted for Barack Obama, giving him more votes than any candidate in the history of US Presidential Election history. That is what you call a mandate.
Being the candidate with more supporters than any other President has ever had, Obama has been given a chance to serve more people than anyone could imagine. He can impact the finances of millions of people. He can improve the health of hundreds of millions of people. He can increase the moral standing of a nation in the eyes of billions of people. What a great opportunity to carry out public service and set the tone for the spirit of shared service & shared sacrifice that he so eloquently espouses.
Big Change
To whom much is given, much is required. (Luke 12:48)
The level of support and passion surrounding Barack Obama says more about the people supporting him than about Obama himself. It says that Obama is an inspirational figure, but that was evident before he started running for President. More importantly, it says that people are hungry. Hungry for change. Hungry for a new approach. Hungry for something to do. This is why Obama always talks about this election not being about him, but instead being about us.
With everybody so hungry, the onus is on the Obama team to give us something to eat. I don’t want a snack. I want a full, seven course meal. Legions of people do not organize for incremental change. Armies form to march forth into bold victory.
Now is our chance to make real, fundamental change in very progressive ways. This change will not happen because Barack Obama is a progressive. It can & will happen if we push our government, our newly-elected President, and, most importantly, ourselves to work towards the new kind of politics that Barack Obama helped us to believe was possible.
Let’s be bold. Let’s ask for a lot out of this administration. Let’s make Barack Obama a successful President by ensuring that he keeps his promise to start making big changes to the way America works. We helped him make history on November 4th. Let’s keep making history for the next 4 years.
One Love. One II.
P.S. Homework assignment: Everyone under 30 should talk to someone over 60 about what this election means to them.
Comments
3 Responses to “Big Opportunities, Big Change”
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I don’t disagree in essence with your point of Obama making big changes; though I have a caution and an addition.
The way you go at big changes with the myriad of immediate dire situations: two difficult wars to traverse and the financial calamity, not to mention the looming energy crisis; it is important that you don’t move just to move and move poorly causing larger problems for himself and us all.
That’s my caution.
My addition is that while Obama must do what he must do from his position of power and leadership; whatever agenda his supporters want, they must support it beyond the vote. That means the work at the community levels and activist levels that synthesis the agenda up must continue full speed ahead, and legislatures must be held accountable by voters, as they are ultimately the law makers.
I have a post discussing this notion in more detail that I’ve already written, just not edited yet; that will be up at http://www.BlackPerspective.net tomorrow morning.
Peace
[...] The Super Spade: “Now is our chance to make real, fundamental change in very progressive ways. This change will not happen because Barack Obama is a progressive. It can & will happen if we push our government, our newly-elected President, and, most importantly, ourselves to work towards the new kind of politics that Barack Obama helped us to believe was possible.” [...]
Yobachi, as always your perspective is on point.
I agree that the pending Obama administration must act thoughtfully and substantively, not just for the sake of acting. That type of “action” is what got us TSA. Do you feel safer at the airport? Didn’t think so.
Your call for organizing at the community level is in line with mine if wanting us to ask a lot of ourselves during this time of opportunity. Barack told us to believe in our ability to change things. Let’s translate the belief into action.
Everyone, check out Yobachi’s post today.
One Love. One II.