A series of recent diaries have emphasized the need to keep our eyes on the prize so to speak and cautioned against getting so worked up that we commit fratricide. While I have never done a simply personal diary, my colleagues have moved me to do so in support of their calls for caution. Pardon me if I touch upon ground that others have, but on the questions of tone in political discourse, we are dealing with a topic that is difficult to discuss in the abstract, and as progressives, we will inevitably have overlap in our views and experiences.
At the same time, because political change is so dependent on maintaining motivation within the rank and file membership, the tone question warrants exploration from a multiplicity of perspectives. I know that I have benefited from the reflections of my fellow diarists, and I hope the thoughts that follow will do the same in some fashion for others.
In these turbulent times, I believe it is useful to pause and reflect on where we have been and what we have become. I remember as a youngster being mesmerized by the Watergate hearings, knowing that real, serious issues were being raised, but having very little clue as to what they might be in a larger sense. In 1972, I voted for McGovern in my public school elections in Alabama, and I did not do so because my parents told me to. In fact, my parents guarded the secrecy of their vote even from me, their son. I did so because instinctively the other side made me worry.
When I cast that "vote," I was surrounded and harassed by a group of white students. Oh, by the way, I am white. A fellow black student, Ronald Madison (yes, I remember his name), came to my side and joined in my defense. No, we did not become storybook fast friends, but we did look each other in our youthful eyes, and I am convinced that we shared a sense that something was wrong. We could not of course anticipate or understand Watergate, but I would like to think that we shared a feeling that all was not right with the world. That was a personal introduction to Nixon's Southern Strategy, which I have never forgotten.
Today, somewhat older, and hopefully, the wiser, I am slightly chagrined at the tone of some of what I read here and on similar blogs. There is a certain angst, pessimism, and urgency that seems to me to rule the day too often. I applaud the concerns that my fellow progressives express, and I do what I can to support our common causes. At the same time, I think back to the youth that is behind me, and I am constantly astounded by what we have been able to accomplish.
I believe progress is real, not because my expectations have been low, but rather because the task at hand is enormous. Those that possess power and resources make many sacrifices to obtain, or retain, them. While they may be moral or political, as opposed to financial, they are nevertheless concrete. Once those sacrifices have been made, we can rest assured that everything will be done to protect the gains, ill-gotten or otherwise.
However, right now in 2008, I see something on the immediate horizon that I was not sure that I would ever live to see. I see people of all races, religions, economic classes, and creeds, working together for change in this country. This movement for change is not abstract, but rather concrete. For me, Barack Obama embodies that sentiment in ways that are both conscious and unconscious, but in all senses terribly exciting and encouraging. Cynics may say that he is absolution for past indignities and injustices, and too often, I feel my fellow Obama supporters lean toward claims that he is the leader of a revolution in government that will bring sweeping changes to this land in his first term. In fact, I believe he is neither.
To ask Barack Obama to be either is unfair to him. In our republican form of government, he will represent our aspirations and commitment and lead us in a fight for them with his intelligence, wit, love of this country, and political acumen. However, he cannot do more than lead as important as that is, and he will need the fortitude and stamina of people who are committed to the messy, day-to-day aspects of reforming a government that has been ravaged through serial mismanagement. The difficult road ahead will not be travelled with a single election, and he will need massive ongoing support following his election.
Please don't misunderstand. I am confident that you, my colleagues here, comprehend this state of affairs, but I also know how hard it is to maintain that optimism, confidence, and focus over time. If we are to succeed in a sustained campaign for progressive change, we need all the help that we can get. Many of the current Clinton supporters, and maybe even some McCain supporters, can be an important part of that team for change.
In fact, some of my closest friends are Clinton supporters. We can disagree energetically on who is better equipped to lead, and I always do my best to keep the common ties that bind us together for change at the forefront. Of course, I am not always successful. However, I also know that these people matter to me personally, and I will have another chance to repair the damage that I may have wrought from getting carried away.
In the blogosphere, I am not so sure that is possible. Bridges are burned much more rapidly. Moreover, the conservatives are masters at throwing gasoline on smoldering, progressive embers. The MSM Infotainment Empire stands ready to profit, literally and figuratively from progressive fratricide. The genius of the Republican Southern Strategy is how easy it has been to maintain and expand upon because it relies on the insecurities and fears of people. To overcome this tired political assault based on fear, denigration, and division, I believe we need every single, progressive foot soldier we can to enlist in the cause. Our progressive agenda is more difficult to move forward than those who oppose us. We want to change things. They are threatened by change, and they want to prevent it.
That said, I believe that progress is real and can be accelerated. This site--with its critical, thoughtful, and researched postings--has helped mobilize progressive forces on a number of issues, and nothing like it existed for most of my life. With the political tide turning in this country, I believe we will be able to strike a massive blow against the politics of division and hate that has hung over us for decades. I want us to make sure that we maximize the resources available to keep this agenda for change moving fast for the period that follows. As we take on the issues that remain in this primary and election season, I hope we can redouble our efforts to keep a tone that points out the excesses of our opponents with a sense of graciousness, confidence, and poise, which our progressive movement has earned the right to possess. So, I join my fellow diarists on the subject, saying let the conservatives drown themselves in the cacophony of despair. We have too much to be optimistic about.