obama1

2 quick random notes first: (a) i finally caved in a bought a laptop. i guess my will power was not as strong as i thought; i couldn't last more than a couple weeks without one; and (b) everyone raves about the banking industry here in sa, but i must say after going to the bank for the 3rd time today and then over an hour later, being almost done opening a bank account, i would beg to differ. I still have to wait till next week for it to be finalized and then i must pay ridiculous monthly fees to the bank for the privilege of banking with them. dumb.

on to the subject du jour:

up until now i resisted reading barack obama's second book, the audacity of hope. basically i figured it would simply be a partisan, politics book like many others we were force fed in college. also i thought i knew obama's politics enough to find little value in the book. well i was wrong on both counts; his first book, dreams from my father, was a very enjoyable read and the 2nd is just as good if not better.

whether you consider yourself a liberal or conservative, democrat or republican, moderate or communist, i would recommend reading the book. while never hiding or ignoring the fact that he's a staunch democrat, obama is able to discuss issues in an intelligent manner, recognizing that little can be done today without both sides understanding where each other stand and having the ability to give and take (compromise is not such a bad word). the best thing about the book? obama's ability to inspire people from all walks of life. i am inspired by his views and proposals on how to fix america's inner cities (one of the most forgotten and most critical issues in politics and govt today), on how to tackle health care, education, america's tarnished image, the erosion of 2-parent families, values (how they must play a role in politics), poverty elimination, and real, meaningful, and sustainable aid to developing countries.

why is the ability to inspire important? a little over 40 years ago, in the midst of an unpopular, seemingly endless war, severe poverty around the world, an american economy that desperately needed a boost, and a slipping american image both at home and abroad, american's boldly elected an "unelectable" president who challenged, inspired, all americans to be a part of something bigger than themselves. His words: "ask not what your country can do you you; ask what you can do for your country". he asked the nations of the world to join together to fight he "common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself", and to "ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you." I think it would have been neat to be around during JFK's time. when i listen to those people that were around, they tell me stories of how that speech and the consequent establishment of the peace corps led them to volunteer months or years of their lives to work in an under-developed part of the world or how there was renewed passion among many to be involved in politics (as a means to help people and bring about change), or policy, or public works. They were inspired. by a man. and a vision.

the peace corps alone not only helped spread the values of benevolence, care, love, common purpose, etc, it also, in business terms, helped spread america's brand and image around the world. america could now be seen not solely as a big bully trying to convert every nation to their brand of democracy, but also (more importantly) as a true city (country) on a hill. the most powerful nation in the world actually cared enough about its neighbors to send its own into the "dark areas" of the world and assist them in anyway they could. whether or not america's motives were that noble, the fact remains that sending inspired young americans out onto the world field to take on non-selfish issues that were bigger than themselves, instilling in their minds the common values that bind us together rather than tear us apart helped heal deep wounds and drastically improve our world image (as well as its image at home), more than merely sending troops, waging in wars, or threatening the use of nuclear weapons to convert societies to democracy.

some of my friends are serious activists who believe change happens at the grassroots level; other friends are more of the institutions type, adhering to the belief that real change must come from the top-down. both groups are wrong. fierce in their beliefs, but nevertheless, wrong. change cannot happen without equal efforts from both the grassroots level as well as from the top (what i call a 2-pronged approach). the civil rights movement, the end of apartheid, the independence of formerly colonized states, all would have never happened without the "2-pronged approach." My point here is that some leaders have grand plans, but if they are not able to inspire individuals, to move people to mass action, to well coordinated grassroots organizations, those plans will never succeed in bringing about a real difference in the lives of americans and our world neighbors. this ability is what jfk had; and although his zeal for social improvement is often compared with robert kennedy's (and not john's), i believe that obama has this ability as well.

obviously, i am a fan of obama's; however, i am not necessarily writing this to advocate for people to vote for obama (tho i dont see why you wouldn't!). what i am advocating is that people pick up his book and read it. i think you will be inspired not by his politics or views necessarily, but the way in which he frames his positions on issues. he challenges and inspires readers not to simply take the traditional conservative/liberal stamped positions, but to examine what core values and beliefs shape our arguments. by taking this one step back, we are able, not only to develop our own positions on issues, but to understand the positions of opponents (which is critical if we are to reach compromise and actionable results on today's issues). president or not, i think obama will continue to be a strong and active leader in politics for the next several years. we have the opportunity right now to create a generation that is remembered years later as the generation that was inspired, in the midst of an unpopular war, a slipping US image, and a bad economy, to help solve the problems in our inner cities, to help those in need all around the world. to aspire to something bigger than ourselves.

ok, for the 2 of you who actually read all this, thanks much; i hope it wasn't a complete waste of time, tho it turned out to be more of a ramble..