Post by Honeylioness on Jan 22, 2009 14:58:29 GMT -5
Am I the only person who is glad the Inauguration is over? Honestly, I have followed elections and presidencies and transitions for a very long time. But I have never seen the kind of frenetic idolistic focus as this country has exhibited he last two months.
Election results in previous campaigns meant we heard snips here and there about who the new President would be looking at for this cabinet appointment, or that posting. We did not get the kind of in-your-face media events that accompanied this turn over. For all he SAID "We only have one President at a time" I felt as though his actions did not really support that statement. If you truly believed it was not your call yet to speak to certain situations or issues - then WHY didn't he keep his mouth shut?
Perhaps as a pasty-skinned white 40+ woman I don't GET it. Yes, we elected a man of African descent raised by a single mother. Yes he is younger than the last few previous guys in the office. Yes he has young children, a well educated and talented wife and is considered articulate and urbane.
So?
Perhaps because I grew up when and how I did, and never experienced first hand the hostility many blacks did in the 1960's and 1970's I took it for granted that anyone can be anything they want to be regardless of race or gender.
I really cannot even pin down just what specifically has me feeling so annoyed/irritated/about the transition and our new President. It's partly the overtly worshipful attitude of the media whom I swear could not possibly get their noses any farther up Obama's ass if they tried. The waste of millions and millions of dollars for a public spectacle while so many are losing their homes, have no jobs and little food. The assumption of most everyone around me that of COURSE I must be thrilled with the outcome of the election. And the feeling that to actually say to anyone that you do not think he is ready, or the best choice, and that you are scared of how much he is going to f-u-c-k up and leave us more vulnerable with his naive idealistic views.
Well, to do so is to be looked at with not only confusion but scorn. To wear the specter of racist. That you can no longer criticize or disagree with the Commander in Chief because he is black ... and doing so makes you akin to those sheet wearing nut jobs down South.
I don't like him for many reasons, none of which has to do with the pigmentation of his skin. His manner of speaking makes my teeth clench. I don't trust anyone THAT controlled - they will always explode sooner or later. The fact that he never shows ANY real emotion that I have seen. His smugness. His lack of experience with international problems and hostile governments. And his dove-like leanings.
So we have a new President. Yet I do not feel hopeful I feel more oppressed. Congress may not have issued a written edict, but my feeling is that for non-black citizens the social/media pressure to join them in their slavish fawning and the failure to do so - will drive deep underground any honest dissent or disagreement from being voiced. Sounds like a couple of other countries instead of the United States doesn't it.
Perhaps it is time for my afternoon noodles.
Election results in previous campaigns meant we heard snips here and there about who the new President would be looking at for this cabinet appointment, or that posting. We did not get the kind of in-your-face media events that accompanied this turn over. For all he SAID "We only have one President at a time" I felt as though his actions did not really support that statement. If you truly believed it was not your call yet to speak to certain situations or issues - then WHY didn't he keep his mouth shut?
Perhaps as a pasty-skinned white 40+ woman I don't GET it. Yes, we elected a man of African descent raised by a single mother. Yes he is younger than the last few previous guys in the office. Yes he has young children, a well educated and talented wife and is considered articulate and urbane.
So?
Perhaps because I grew up when and how I did, and never experienced first hand the hostility many blacks did in the 1960's and 1970's I took it for granted that anyone can be anything they want to be regardless of race or gender.
I really cannot even pin down just what specifically has me feeling so annoyed/irritated/about the transition and our new President. It's partly the overtly worshipful attitude of the media whom I swear could not possibly get their noses any farther up Obama's ass if they tried. The waste of millions and millions of dollars for a public spectacle while so many are losing their homes, have no jobs and little food. The assumption of most everyone around me that of COURSE I must be thrilled with the outcome of the election. And the feeling that to actually say to anyone that you do not think he is ready, or the best choice, and that you are scared of how much he is going to f-u-c-k up and leave us more vulnerable with his naive idealistic views.
Well, to do so is to be looked at with not only confusion but scorn. To wear the specter of racist. That you can no longer criticize or disagree with the Commander in Chief because he is black ... and doing so makes you akin to those sheet wearing nut jobs down South.
I don't like him for many reasons, none of which has to do with the pigmentation of his skin. His manner of speaking makes my teeth clench. I don't trust anyone THAT controlled - they will always explode sooner or later. The fact that he never shows ANY real emotion that I have seen. His smugness. His lack of experience with international problems and hostile governments. And his dove-like leanings.
So we have a new President. Yet I do not feel hopeful I feel more oppressed. Congress may not have issued a written edict, but my feeling is that for non-black citizens the social/media pressure to join them in their slavish fawning and the failure to do so - will drive deep underground any honest dissent or disagreement from being voiced. Sounds like a couple of other countries instead of the United States doesn't it.
Perhaps it is time for my afternoon noodles.