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Obama and the Call: "I Am America"
Rarely has a public figure done as much good for himself with one speech as Barack Obama did with his victory speech after winning in Iowa. Commentators did the fastest flip in broadcasting history. You could visibly see their minds whirling as they went from Position A: Obama appeals to intellectuals and naive idealists, to Position B: Obama is unstoppable.
The reason that the speech worked such magic is that Sen. Obama suddenly sounded "presidential." But how can a major transformation happen overnight? The reason is that it didn't happen overnight and yet it did. Both are true. Students of history were reminded of a famous incident from the career of Benjamin Disraeli (himself a very unlikely prime minister, being both Jewish and a romance novelist by trade). Giving advice to an Oxford student who wanted to enter British politics, Disraeli wrote, "Young man, there are only two things you must know to pursue a career in public life. You must know yourself and you must know the times."
Everyone now agrees that Obama knows the times -- his call to turn the corner echoes JFK's four decades ago -- but it's the first quality that few have pointed out. Sen. Obama has written eloquently about his search for identity, and those who have met him personally come away believing that he knows himself deeply, sincerely, and truly. With such grounding in self-awareness, Obama gave himself something that can't be gained from the outside: the ability to evolve personally and the flexibility to adapt quickly as the times demand.
When France fell into a national crisis of confidence after World War II, Charles De Gaulle rallied every citizen by assuming the mantle of national identity on himself. He said, "I am France," which was taken not as astonishing egotism but as an affirmation that all the French could look to him for leadership. At that time, bitter rancor divided those who had fought in the Resistance and those who had collaborated with the Nazis. De Gaulle offered a noble illusion -- we are all one people -- and it turned into reality.
In essence Sen. Obama's speech said, "I am America," and amazingly enough, people from all walks of life, political persuasions, faiths, and ethnic backgrounds believe him. It's an audacious rallying cry. Obama made himself both lighthouse and lightning rod. (I imagine some part of himself quakes to think on what he's done.) Watching cynical reporters and political commentators believe in him almost instantaneously is breathtaking. There was no guarantee that the tide would turn. The climate of division has been long and deep-seated. Nobody from either party had called upon Americans to show their better nature -- indeed, we have been mired in our worst nature, seemingly for the foreseeable future.
I'd suggest that the X factor which sets Barack Obama aside as a unique candidate is his hard-won self-awareness. If we are lucky, we will wake up and begin the journey back to self-awareness as a people. Disraeli wasn't entirely right. To make a career in public life a person must know himself and know the times. But to make a historical career in public life, the times must seek you out. That happens only rarely, and now it has happened to a junior senator from Illinois. If Barack Obama makes it all the way to the White House, it will represent a quantum leap in American consciousness and a promise to restore America's position in the world.
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Gag me. I like Obama, but not as much after this piece. Makes him sound like a cult-leader.
Apparantly good does always beat evil in the end. Thank you Obama for restoring my faith in America and humanity
Obama's campaign is not called "Obama for President." It's called "Obama for America." I think that is very telling as well, of Obama's focus not on himself as the candidate, but on America and all of us in his drive to re-unite this country and bring back "citizen government" to our democracy. He has concrete proposals to make involvement in our government easier for all Americans and his inspiring words and spirit may help bring out the best in all of us in our daily and civic lives.
Wow! I have heard Obama speak on TV and he still has to mesmerize me the way all those who have heard him speak in the flesh write about him - like he is some sort of Messiah!
For a person of Deepak Chopra's stature to fawn over Obama and compare him to De Gaulle and JFK could mean either of two things. The first obvious conclusion is that Obama is really a Messiah, who has come to heal our fractured political landscape and unite us behind a common purpose.
The second possibility is that Mr. Chopra's take on Obama is going to be as valuable as his previous take on the game of golf? I understand that Mr. Chopra's new book is called "The Third Jesus" - any connection to this new Messiah?
Our current president was first elected because the people chose style over substance. If the people really believe that that worked out fine, heck - let's do it all over again!
Mr Chopra: you have captured the essence of the Obama core- character. He has set a high standard for himself and can speak authentically about Americans also needing to look inside themselves to find their core.
Barack Obama will make a great president.
"There was no guarantee that the tide would turn." And there is absolutely no guarantee that Obama will do anything. Where is his agenda? Which of his positions do you think will make America better? If everyone "unites" as you say, what will they do except just feel good?
Deepak, you have been a student of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. You of anyone should know the enlightened have fully developed heart and mind. Obama's charisma shows great speaking ability, but you and others looking for the next Messiah have put him in front when he is weak. Obama needs to learn the ropes. He needs to be held accountable for his moderate Johnny-come-lately positions, for his "present" and pandering votes and for his surrogates’ horribly negative, siftboat style campaigning.
Until then, neither his heart nor his mind can handle the pressing problems our country faces.
Do you even know what his policies are?
This is the most accurate description of the Obama phenomenon. Chopra is clearly in touch with the method and recognizes a fellow traveler.
Obama has woken up what it is that makes us love ourselves because, like the walrus, I am you and you are me and we are all together.
good post, thank you
Obama IS the idea whose time has come.
Give me a break.
Dr. Michael Maccoby, author of "The Leaders We Need: And What Makes Us Follow" (Harvard Business School Press, November 2007), wrote:
. . . Experience without foresight and purpose is a drag, not a value.
I have to agree. Hillary has utilized political expediency as her justification for making decisions, rather than foresight. And her purpose (to be the first woman president of the United States) is not a sufficient "purpose" for her to serve as president.
Know thyself is the essence of being wise. A wise President would be quite something.
Dear Dr. Chopra,
Excellent post, it sure was something to behold eh?
Just wanted to stop by to wish You and Yours a Happy New Year. Agape.
Wholeheartedly agree Deepak.
What a great thing it would be-if just by example-Sen. Obama could show us that speaking from our heart, our souls-could create such a better dialog.
When I watch him, it's funny to me to see that he doesn't get-or doesn't seem to phase him-what the hoopla is about him. the past few months-his speeches get better and better as he is more self-aware and confident.
I don't think he even realizes what a great President he truly could be-one who unites the world and our country, not to mention getting rid of partisan politics.
I have to say that Obama touched me with his Iowa speech. He turned me into a "believer." We have been missing someone like him in our discourse since 1968. I fear for him, however, because this is what the military-industrial-complex is most wary of. They would not allow JFK, MLK, or RFK to continue their pursuit of power, just because of their very ability to rouse people in the special way that Obama has. I truly pray that Obama has strong protection from the forces that would attempt to hurt him.
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