What struck me most about the commercial last night was that it seemed to be channeling an FDR fireside chat updated for the 21st Century. more below the fold....
Like FDR, Barrack was calm, reassuring, and confident and at the same time there was the soaring call for courage, to live in accord with our better natures and to express the highest and best of American ideals.
I have been disaffected since the Vietnam War. I watched our country terrorize another nation and commit unspeakable atrocities in the name of freedom and democracy. Back then, I marched. I have followed the country politically as we have intervened only for our own economic interests in many dirty little wars since then. I have watched as we have laid waste to the environment and consumed earth's precious resources in a drunken binge of consumerism. I have seen us thoughtlessly decimate other cultures in a quest for mindless globalization and ever expanding balance sheets. I have seen us disregard the poor and disenfranchised in our own country to allow the Gordon Gekkos to become obscenely wealthy. I have watched us intervene in the politics of third world countries for no real reason other than we can. I have watched our laws change to diminish the power and liberty of the people in favor of corporate power. I have watched our tax codes erode the backbone of our economy and the heart of our middle class. I have, in short, been disgusted by what my country has done throughout my lifetime. I am a lawyer by training and more than a little cynical.
Yet, last night, after 35 years of deep cynicism over our country's policies at home and abroad, I wept. Just a tear or two, but I wept.
For the first time in my adult life that I can recall, I felt a moment of unalloyed and unsullied pride in being an American. I felt the decency and kindness and wisdom and strength of its people channeled through the vision and optimism of a born leader. I saw America through the eyes of another. I saw the America that could realistically come to be and rode the faith of someone who believes it can be so. It only lasted for a short time - but it felt - not so much "good" - but more like a quiet determination and humble confidence in my solidarity with other citizens who want to take this country back.
I have noticed that the last times I have seen Barrack speak, the crowds (as a whole) don’t boo very much. It seems that his presence isn't allowing it...his message doesn't allow it. That disrespect for fellow Americans seems somehow out of place and rude. David Brooks talked about this...that Obama is not so much seeking the approval of the crowds he speaks to as they are seeking his. What a remarkable thing that is to watch - I never thought I would live to see such a sight.
I have the sense that not only is next President a decent man, a compassionate man, but that he has the centered giftedness to be one of these nation's great presidents. The commercial last night only deepened that sense. These things that are wrong with our nation will not change quickly, if at all.
I know that I will wake up on November 5th and the world won't be much different. That this takes time and hard work. We are still likely to have dirty little wars and corporate power may not be dissipated anytime soon, but for this shining moment there is an inspired hope in the hearts of many Americans that perhaps, just perhaps, this is the dawn of a New America.
May it be so.