Real Shock and Awe

More powerful than was imaginable,
We are almost in a state of collective shock/awe.
The promise -- Antigone before the king comes to mind -- wonderfully hard to process.
He looked as a man with providence; the opposite mirror of Bush.
There was humility inside it.
He was even careful not to get too frenzied -- gave a soft landing.
Sober, reflective, determined... emotional beyond words.
The world looked to America... we showed our best.
For one night at least, the world was sane.
The planet sighs in relief and deserves a righteous party.
We have beaten back the worst in ourselves, the old and inevitable forces of cynicism and greed.
No more patriotic primates to rule the roost.
Real change will take sacrifice, vigilance and will.
The bailout of Wall Street, the wars and the final gorge of the right wing must be stopped now, a return to Keynesian balance.
Bottom up instead of top down.
The gold standard that every human has value -- be awarded respect, dignity and opportunity --
The currency of grace.
A wave of renewal and possibility.
And now the real work begins.

Comments

[tckinmt]

you, Mr. Cusack, have missed your calling

i've always enjoyed your movies, and wondered why you're not in more

but, as a guy that reads a lot, i gotta say, you, sir, are an excellent writer

and it doesn't hurt that i agree with everything you are saying :)

[Centaur]

Excellent post as usual, John. Right triumped over wrong, and hope rose over fear.

[c91201]

Yes, we can. And yes, we did. We will continue to do, because we can.

Last night, when CNN panned to the crowd gathered on Grant Field in Chicago after calling the presidential election for Obama, I cried right along with the rest of them. It was the most moving, profound, surprisingly emotional moment I've had in the last seven years.

And no, I'm not black. I'm a single white woman just enjoying the satisfaction that our brilliant, caring American president-elect is able to string together a coherent sentence. He'll be able to get the job done in one hour when it takes our current president three weeks (and sometimes a lifetime) to complete the same assignment.

[callings]

Yes, McGone got 46%, but it was the third greatest margin of victory for a Democratic presidential candidate, behind only FDR and LBJ. this was not a close election, and the demographic changes, pervasive and subtle, were nationwide. they still have most of the confederacy, but the change is coming. Virginia. North Carolina. the old racists are dying off; yes, there are young racists, but the perverse, Jim Crow, de jure segregation is now a generation behind us. I do not think this election was an aberration. Yes, Obama is an extraordinary man, perhaps even more extraordinary than we imagine. The aberration was the Bush/neocon nightmare, now in it's richly deserved death throes.

[sheisme]

John, you are a poet. Nice post.

[margaretinsandiego]

HuffPost's Pick

Definitely a time for celebration. Most of the U.S. has finally opened their eyes to the horrific behavior of our government, and said, enough.
"...the gold standard that every human has value -- be awarded respect, dignity and opportunity"
Eloquently put. I wish my fellow Californians would have thought about that statement when they went to the polls yesterday. Prop 8. The proposition of discrimination and hate. PASSED?!?!? When are we going to learn that discrimination is wrong? Looking back at the numerous examples of discrimination in our history, have we ever said to ourselves, "Thank goodness we didn't let females have any rights, that would have just been crazy," or, "Segregation based on race, that was really the right thing to do." We've looked back on these times and have been ashamed and now California has a new reason to be ashamed. Eliminating rights for a group of people based on who they are is wrong and always will be. It is plain and simply un-American. If my 5 and 7 year old can see this, why do so many adults have a problem? I was born and raised in California, and this is the first time I've actually been ashamed to live here. I can't believe it. So for what it's worth, from a 30 year old, heterosexual mother of two, I apologize on behalf of California.

[Elysiumfire]

Margaret, the passage of 'prop 8' is not for Californians to accept blame, this was definitely a process of self-interested groups and lobbyists putting pressure where they could to achieve their derisory reward. These are people who cannot look outside the stricture of their own narrow-minded little box. They are mill-stones around the necks of the many willing to embrace the diversity of the nation, and the valuable input it brings to national character.
I cannot assume to posit any meaningful response to assuage you from your feelings, but as your thoughtful post speaks volumes as to the warmth and open-ness of your heart, be assured that people are wise and discerning. They know where the blame really lies, and thus the campaign to bring them to a court of the people's conscience must begin.
The road ahead for your country is going to be one of hard in-fighting, because there are mindsets who pander to hateful and divisive creeds and ideologies. For the sake of America, they have to be engaged with an equal determination to win them round, as that of Obama to bring America's diversity together in order to bring about the much needed change. The struggle is only just begining, and no matter how hard or how long a struggle it becomes, fortitude and perseverance will win the day.

[Wilson201]

California was not the only state to pass such measures. Crazy.

[robbie44]

Gold wings landing on arrival...............Obama Biden 08

[eurohack]

The world looked to America... we showed our best.
For one night at least, the world was sane.

Last night, I think for many of us outside your shores, when the moment came we all felt American - if only for an instant of shared hope and jubilation. The real work does only just begin, and in circumstances that make one wonder why anyone would want to attain high office. But let us enjoy the state of grace, the wonder, the sheer unbridled joy of the moment.

I'm still amazed you guys made it. Bravo.

[FebM]

Life is not about the breaths in every moment but the moments that take our breath away. One day, that day, with That One.

[JerryFreeman]

Great post John, I share your sentiments. You're also helluva an actor. Thanks!

[Angelika]

Well said John, you write like a poet.

Although I'm not american and I live in Australia, his speech brought tears to my eyes. He truly will bring change to your country.

Best wishes

A

[northstar11]

great except that the first republican spokesperson i saw on tv said we must oppose his every move.

i asked myself why ? why must you oppose? your way was tried. it failed and was repudiated.

[paixa3]

John, great blog. The real battle to rid thyself of neo cons is just beginning. You as a nation, MUST do that to get your country back. Remember please 46% voted for McCains HATE campaign. That my friend is scary.

Peace to you from France.

[joedirtfromaz]

Here Here!
I trust the remaining right wing residue will give President Obama the same respect
they gave President Clinton. There will be more smears, lies, and attacks for years to
come from the likes of Hannity and Limbaugh. 46%. How unfortunate.

[WendeeM]

Once again John, you have said it all for all of us. And so eloquently put - heart of a poet indeed!

I look forward to your next posting almost as much as I look forward to seeing the CHANGE come to life in this country!

All my love and respect,
Wendee

[ndolomar]

"He looked as a man with providence; the opposite mirror of Bush. There was humility inside it. "

Literary haiku.
Electoral high coups.

[MonroeMagic]

Obama was so humble, he really wants to fix things and not "just" to say he was the "FIRST". I wonder if it will take longer to fix than it was to ruin. I hope he stays strong and steps smoothly over anything and everything that's thrown in his path, but hes got michelle, her strength comes off of her.

I sat in the dark, darkness so thick my eyes could never adjust, I could sense a man standing who I sat behind with my legs folded, I could feel he was waiting for something, anticipation. Then a sliver of light appeared in front of him level with his feet..the main focus. I saw they were bare and sweating on their soles making foot prints that evaporated when he shifted them. The sliver got bigger and bigger, it was a door, it was opening wider and wider, light filled the room so bright the man was completely washed out, I couldn't see him, only his movements and every now and then the outline of his hands. A voice came from the door that said "This way" the man spoke excitedly but I couldn't understand him.....only his tone, he took a step and the room was filled with the sound of hard shoes on a polished floor, I looked down and could just barely see that now he wore shoes, he took another step, the same sound, this time I understood him when he said "Yes".

?,

Satisha