We is us.
I got sad watching Barack Obama’s speech Tuesday last night. And yes, it was something he said. First Obama stood, basking in the unabashed passion the crowd was sending his way. And then he reminded them:
“Change doesn’t come from the top down, it comes from the bottom up.”
The people roared. And I felt sad because I realized how few of them really heard what he said and understood what it means for our future as Americans. Beyond all of the all of the hullabaloo surrounding the campaigns to put Obama or Hillary or McCain at the top, is the necessity for us, we the people, to change OUR ways. If we want change as much as we say, the question is what are we as individuals as neighbors as families as strangers prepared to do differently to have that better America?
In most cases, including my own, not a helluva whole lot.
I think in terms of “fighting” for my vote to be counted in the Super Tuesday primary. I wrote emails, I made calls, I donated to the Courage Campaign to support their legal initiative. But did I go downtown, get a protest permit, and carrying a sign that read “COUNT MY VOTE!” go walking back and forth in front of the Los Angeles County Registrar’s office? No. I thought about it. I fantasized about the press it would generate. I envisioned becoming a YouTube phenom and inspiring folks all across the country to take matters into their own hands.
But I did not take direct action. I moved on with my life and my obligations.
I think about the 2000 election. And although I am thankful that neighbors didn’t start hacking away each others’ limbs when they disagreed over how the election was decided, mostly there was a lot of limp, rational blah blah blah without even an insinuation of repercussion for “stealing an election.”
Even as Florida prepared to prematurely certify its election results, all of us who were alarmed stayed home and watched it all go down on cable. We didn’t hop on planes, trains and buses to get to Florida to scream our displeasure in unison. Can you imagine how the last eight years might have been different if 100,000 of us had shown up in Florida? Just imagine…
You have to respect the Conservative movement’s commitment to action. Whoooweee there were a lot of calls made when the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill came up. Sparked by airwave filibusters by hosts like Sean Hannity and Al Rantel, listeners one after the other called in to report what calls they had made, who they had spoken to, and any responses received. When the host would suggest another place or person to call, the callers would flood that office. No matter what you thought of the issue, it was an awesome display of the power we have as an electorate — if we use it.
And then there was the election of 2004. It is widely believed that Karl Rove had the inspired and sinister idea to encourage as many states as possible to put the question of gay marriage on their ballots to drive evangelical turnout. Conservatives opposing gay marriage turned out in droves. And don’t even start with me about Republicans and voter disenfranchisement. They are not the only ones. I know what happened to my vote in this latest primary. I know what happened to many New York votes in this primary. I don’t know what happened to many New Hampshire votes in this primary. And more than a decade ago, a well-known black “leader” sat down with me over dinner in New York’s Chinatown and explained how “walking around money” was distributed routinely by BOTH the Democratic and Republican parties. He laid out how that cash is funneled through black churches and community organizations in an effort to buy, sell and manipulate black votes. This was explained to me while I was a producer for ABC News working on the Ed Rollins scandal. This person just laughed at my inquiries about what Rollins said he was doing. My source told me, on background, “This happens all the time. It’s the way you do it. Rollins just shot his mouth off, that’s all.”
So if Obama or Clinton wins, what are you prepared to do to change this country from the bottom up? And perhaps more importantly, what are you prepared to do if they don’t?
Posted by: Carmen D. in 
An Obama victory SHOULD accomplish the singular feat of thrusting the doors open on Government.
What attracts me MOST to Obama is his advocation of Open Government.
Having an elected official who encourages people to pay attention (as opposed to heres 500 bucks to stimulate the economy post 9/11 now go shopping while I work on fudging the reason for going into Iraq)SHOULD do wonders.
We shall see.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:30 pm -Carmen, I think this is so much on the mark. I’ve seen a little of what people can do by really acting, and I’m not doing enough of it either.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:31 pm -Hey Inkog, yes I agree. But Obama can only turn the lights on. We’ll all still have to walk in and clear out that old cob webb filled room. And it’s going to be messy.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:08 pm -Hi Tom. It’s a hard balance to find. I do what I can as a volunteer. And I know a lot of people are doing good things for others. But can we band together to force health care reform and green industry expansion and job creation for instance? And we WILL have to FORCE change if we care about these issues.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:12 pm -America, a nation of constitutional illiterates is in for one hell of a
February 21st, 2008 at 11:19 pm -wake up call when they find out that the promises liberal politicians are
making do not fit the branch of government that they serve.
They can make all these pie in the sky promises and speeches but
when nothing happens… they are absolved from blame because
they never had the authority to enact what they promised….
that is unless the constitution is suspended and we become a fascist,
socialist, dictatorship… then they will be fulfilling their promises.
The changes being proposed are a smokescreen that will further entrench a broken system! America deserves better!
Well fcg#p, no one has trampled more on our constitution than the current administration. Habeas corpus, anyone? Not to mention the dumbing down and abandonment of America’s kids with ‘No Child left behind.’ And as Bush (and Bill Clinton) cozy up to the Saudi’s, we support a regime that will inevitably fall and we will have no relationship with more moderate Islamic forces that might share some interests with us. (Like what’s happening in Iraq) I agree with McCain on Guantanamo and waterboarding, but he’s not talking about education. And that is one of my “big three.”
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:28 am -I wasn’t defending the present admin. I am saying that there are so many systems and procedures in our government that are antiquated and just plain stupid that it boggles the mind. the engine needs an overhaul and a new perspective… not an infusion of open doors and socialist policy that will bankrupt us in every way for the sake of being different. remember what happened the last time we did that….
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:28 am -“Can you imagine how the last eight years might have been different if 100,000 of us had shown up in Florida? Just imagine…”
Perhaps I’m being the cynic here (which is unfortunate, b/c I try to be a purveyor of all things positive), but I don’t suspect that much would be different. The Supreme Court wouldn’t miss much sleep as they appointed the presidency to Dubya. Likewise, I suspect that this new-aged activism will continue to be ineffective in dealing with most of the social ills we face (or stand to face).
People have been protesting the war for years. But troops still continue to die. Wal-Mart has been the focal point of many-a-marches. Yet that damn smiley face is still go around the store slashing prices.
I don’t presume to have the answer to this, but I’m almost sure that a bunch of tofu-eating activists who only wear animal-free makeup won’t successfully dissuade the ‘powers that be’ from continuously screwing things up. Launching a successful campaign against these screw-ups can only be accomplished if their economic, political, and social balance runs the risk of being thrown off by said activism. But truthfully, I’m not holding my breath.
I hate playing the role of the realist, Carm. But I guess somebody has to…
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm -Hey fcg#p, I did not mean to imply that you were defending the current administration. That’s not what I took from your comment. We will never be a socialist country - but I don’t want an oligarchy either. We have to help children who cannot get dental care or eye glasses, or education or education. Fcg#p, they are depending on all of us to find a way.
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm -Hey fcg#p, I did not mean to imply that you were defending the current administration. That’s not what I took from your comment. We will never be a socialist country - but I don’t want an oligarchy either. We have to help children who cannot get dental care or eye glasses or education or safety. Fcg#p, they are depending on all of us to find a way.
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm -Saturday Blogwhoring…
by matttbastard
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm -Ok, so I missed the midweek linkfarm–my apologies once again. Feel free to sock it to me one time in comments. Oh, and go show the one Melissa M. some love–that teaspoon don’t shine itself, dig?
Stageleft: Affirmat…
DAMN IT! THESE CAN NOT BE THE BEST, BRIGHTEST,MOST QUALIFIED
February 24th, 2008 at 4:06 pm -TO LEAD AMONG US! IF YOU HAVE REAL LIFE SKILLS PEOPLE,
NOW IS THE TIME TO STEP UP!
Hi Carmen, I think you are doing just what you set out to do with stepping up the intensity of your blog this month.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:27 pm -I was around and very very active in 68, a year that was a riot, and not the humorous kind, unless you count the Yippies. {I was 16 that year}
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_find_information_about_the_Chicago_riot_of_1968
So, after all of those extremely involved people did show up, Richard Nixon became President that next January. Hmmm.
Yet, I think we are in a different era now.
Let’s make the most of it.
fcg#p, you are right. period.
February 24th, 2008 at 6:57 pm -