A Peek at Politics: What to do with Obama
I generally don’t engage in political discussions because it’s an area that I have historically had very little interest in (for a number of reasons I won’t go into here) nor have I had much understanding or knowledge of how government/politics works (Sorry Ms. Smith, your 9th grade Social Studies class wasn’t THAT bad). But this morning is different. I’m going to briefly offer a few thoughts on Obama for president given that he was on primetime last night. Much of these thoughts are the result of questions I have been asking myself, even though I’m unsure of what specifically those questions are in written form. I digress.
As a matter of theological/philosophical standing, I love Obama’s offering of hope. This blog, though not maintained on a regular basis, was founded with the idea that there is more; more hope. From an emotional standpoint, Obama speaks clearly to me that America, ahem the United States, can and should offer more to the world. And it is promised that he can deliver this change, this hope. And I agree … there is plenty more that we as a country can and should be doing.
Watching his speech last night at the DNC in Denver, I kept wondering who this man was. My wife and I talked about the emotions on people’s faces as they watched and listened to Obama speak, both noting that on many occasions there seemed to be an air of awe and worship as those in attendance literally screamed, wept, and facially bowed at him and his offerings of hope. Being a therapist, I realize that hope does some crazy shit to people (not to mention me personally). It’ll make folks angry (as I saw on the faces of Hillary Clinton and Al Gore as they each took the podium at the DNC), it’ll make others sad for what should be, and it’ll make others so giddy with excitement that their serotonin levels are probably through the roof. All this to say that Obama creates a lot of buzz (captain obvious, here).
This morning, I am wondering what to do with Obama. My story and theology tell me that I cannot place my hope in humanity. Personally there is danger to believe in the promise and offering of hope in someone, anyone, I have never personally met, let alone someone I do know. But ultimately what scares me about Obama is the god-like status that he seems to command and get from people. Is his god-like status about the message or the man? My guess is that there is some of both … and I realize that my personal hermeneutic comes into play here, so perhaps this entire brain dump is all for naught (though I hope not). But as I watched him speak last night, I couldn’t get away from the faces of those watching/listening to him. There is/was a strange sense of fear mixed with relief that finally, finally we have a person/place/idea to put our (collective) hope. And again, that scares the hell out of me.
It feels premature to end my thoughts now, but I’m unsure of where else to go.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Ahh, so good to hear your thoughts. Seattle (we) miss you…
I think what hit me more starkly than what you refer to as the “god-like” status of Obama, was the degree to which we ache for hope. What I feel when I listen to Obama is a degree of sincerity that I have not previously felt. And more particularly related to your post, I see his willingness to let hope hang out for awhile. I was kind of thinking about it in relation to therapy (shocker!) and the connection that some clients have to their therapist.. such as love, attraction, hopes for friendship etc. that are not necessarily a whole picture, but that are a product of beginning to experience what it means to be close to someone, to be vulnerable etc. Part of the hope comes in realizing that they have that capacity and also in realizing that eventually (hopefully) it will balance out a bit more and the therapist will become more real. I love that there is a candidate who elicits hope, tears, rage, and even “worship” in a sense, because it reveals what we long for and are missing not just in politics, but in our connections to each other. Anyways… wow, … I wonder if you can guess who I’m voting for, hahaha. Oh well, I should just come to terms with the fact that there are a lot of things I’m biased about
August 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Thanks for the thoughts, Meghan. I miss Seattle, too (your wit, specifically).
I agree with a lot of what you said (nice setup, huh? :)), but where my fear takes over is the nature at which hope is being offered by Obama, perhaps it’s my own fear of corporate hope, or hope by/through someone I don’t know. In a therapist relationship, we engage over interpersonal styles of relating, thus allowing for us to be able to work/talk through the offering and meaning of hope. What scares me is that the US in general has a hard enough time sticking with anything around adversity, and so what happens when Obama’s hope/change message isn’t followed through? He won’t be able to accomplish all that he’s promising, and there will be little to no ability for the US to work through this failure outside of becoming more angry than we already are. Which, I suppose, is a good thing for us as therapists because there will be a ripe conversation centered around a lot of splitting that will occur. But ultimately, when you mess with hope, you’re messing with a lot.
The flip side to this is what if Obama really does deliver on most of what he says. What is going to happen then? If you or I think he has a cult-like following now, hu wa (in my best Al Pacino “Scent of a Woman” voice) look out. This guy could do some big time stuff in the world. And I’m all for that, if, and it’s a big if, he’s doing change a result of theologically and philosophically sound reasoning and not for his own glory. I just can’t see someone giving so much hope to people that he/she remains unaffected by the ability to give/grant something like this at will. And perhaps this is what my fear is all about, my distrust of people in general … AND (ha! it’s both/and …. hu wa!) it feels bigger than just my fear.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
It’s good to hear you re: a topic that you haven’t much previously engaged.
I also love Obama’s offering of hope. I agree—that America can and should offer the world more.
But, beyond what this country should offer the world, I also think that America can BE more—for its citizens. That “wee the people” can and should be more, for each other. Maybe that distinction is just a matter of semantics, but it feels like an important one.
What I am becoming keenly aware of these days is that hope—my hope—requires movement from me. And, if I hope for my country, that will require something of me. As to what this practically and specifically will look like for me, I’m not sure yet. But, I caucused for the first time in my life this year, and I loved that experience.
I know that a central criticism of Obama, as evidenced in Palin’s speech last night, is that he is primarily narcissistic—I think she said something like, “What will he do when he’s done parting the waters?” And, of course, that is the fear—that he believes that he is the one who can exact all of this change.
But, I don’t know if that’s the case. With words like “We are the change we seek,” and the question, “What if we are the ones we’ve been waiting for?” it seems like Obama is acknowledging that hope requires movement—from all of us.
I don’t know if it can be helped, that some are drawn to a charismatic figure with the idea that maybe he or she is the One who will rescue me/us. And, out of that conclusion, they then give power away to that person— but I think it’s a kind of power and agency that should never be given to another. And, yes, that is scary as hell.
I think it is important to pay attention to what Obama, or anyone for that matter, does with that kind of power.
As for me, I am currently thankful for Obama’s voice. He is challenging me to put feet to my hope. Right now, I feel more empowered than overpowered in the political process, which is a first for me.