A Surprise for the Right: Obama's Election Has Caused a Patriotic Spirit to Sweep America
It just doesn't square with the right wing narrative. They painted Barack Obama as an unpatriotic, "terrorist sympathizing" candidate whose values are foreign to the American way of life. How could it be that his ascendance to the presidency should be the occasion for the new patriotic spirit sweeping America?
Yesterday on the mall in Washington hundreds of thousands belted out "This Land is Your Land" led by 90-year-old labor activist and folk singer Pete Seeger who was blacklisted in the 50s. The eyes of white middle aged working guys moistened as they listened to a black children's choir sing "America the Beautiful". And throughout the crowd -- even among the aging 60s activists who had struggled against the Vietnam War -- there was a genuine, deep admiration for the men and women who risk it all every day in our armed forces.
And it's not just in Washington. As unlikely as it might seem to the right, the election of Barack Hussein Obama has caused an intense feeling of patriotism to well up across the country. I think there are four reasons why:
First and foremost, Obama and his call to service -- to commitment -- has touched our most fundamental self interest -- our desire for meaning. Obama understands that to have a real sense of significance, you have to have a commitment to something outside of yourself. You have to be willing to sacrifice. The right wing's belief that if every one simply pursues their own individual interest the "invisible hand" will assure that the public interest is served doesn't work in practice -- a lesson delivered graphically by the 2008 crash of Wall Street. But more important, it doesn't address our overwhelming need to live lives that mean something.
Eight years ago, my wife, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, decided that -- as painful as it was -- she should attend the swearing in of George W. Bush. I accompanied her and sat with the other Congressional spouses. Most of the spouses that year were Republicans women who were decked out in diamonds and furs. Bush's speech was pretty unremarkable, with few applause lines - at least until he called for tax cuts. With that the fur bedecked spouse section leapt to its feet and gave the new president a standing ovation. How far we had come from "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
The last eight years have demonstrated that true patriotism isn't about xenophobia. It isn't about "where's mine". It isn't about Bush's call on everyone to "go shop" after September 11. Patriotism is about commitment to other people - and willingness to sacrifice for the common good. And that's why President Elect Obama chose to commemorate Martin Luther King Day- his last day before taking the oath - by calling on Americans to participate in a day of service.
Second, Obama -- his campaign and his transition - have been unequivocal in their willingness to hold up and unapologetically celebrate the principles that lie at the heart of traditional progressive American values: unity not division; hope and optimism not fear and cynicism; tolerance not prejudice; that it's the right thing to help your neighbor not just yourself; that we're all in this together -- not all in this alone.
They have refused to allow the right wing to claim the symbols of America for their nationalistic, exclusionary vision of "patriotism". Instead Obama has reattached those symbols to the traditional progressive values that have always defined what is best in America. In his new book, The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be, political strategist and author Mike Lux documents that tradition and challenges us all to be part of creating its next chapter.
Third, the new patriotism results from relief. Americans are relieved that they once again can be proud of the way their government acts in the world. Obama has pledged unequivocally to end torture, secret prisons, the practice of capturing people on the streets of foreign nations to "rendition" them (or disappear them) to other countries. He has pledged to end the Neo-Con doctrines of unilateralism and pre-emptive war. In other words he has pledge to return America to its standing as a moral leader in the world -- a country that holds fast to the principles of human rights - a country that understands that if our children are to be prosperous and free, the children of every nation must have that opportunity as well. Americans are relieved that in our dealings with the world, we have returned to the progressive principles elaborated by John Kennedy in his inaugural address 48 years ago:
Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" -- a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Finally, the election of Obama makes us proud of ourselves. We are proud that we have elected the first African American president. We are proud that from the all-white "Norman Rockwell" communities of Iowa; to the roadside bar with "Rednecks for Obama" on the marquee; to the suburbs of Philadelphia -- our fellow Americans have been willing to put centuries of prejudice behind them. And we are proud that we have reaffirmed America's founding principle: that we are a society that truly believes that all human beings are created equal; that America truly is a society where every child, of whatever background, can aspire to be President of the United States -- or anything else he or she wants to be.
Tomorrow will be a day that Americans will remember for years to come. It will be a day when most Americans -- whatever their partisan bent -- will feel particularly good about our country. But it will also be a day when people around the globe look at America differently than they did the day before. And they too will be inspired that everyday Americans mobilized successfully to take our country back -- that America did not fail them. The world will celebrate that we chose to chart a future governed by the American principles that they have long admired -- not the arrogance and selfishness they had come to loath.
So tomorrow the celebration will not be limited to the mall in Washington, or the inaugural events that that exploded across our country. America flags will be waved by people of every background, on every continent. Tomorrow will be a day to be especially proud to be an American -- an American citizen of a new World.
Robert Creamer is a long time political organizer and strategist and author of the recent book: Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win, available on Amazon.com.
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as an evil conservative i must say i knew obama had a good shot at winning.
he is hip, young, black, liberal, no record. it is hard to win against a rockstar who has media,money and oprah in his pocket. mccain faired pretty well againts those odds.
here is a hypothetical to put libs in a pickle...w
its offcial, obama.....
Oh please...g
Rats, I hate when that happens!
We elected a United States senator, a constitutional scholar, former editor of the harvard review. A great communicator, a motivator. A quick thinker, a very intelligent human being. A loving father and husband. He rejected big bucks after law school for service to the community.
Contrast that with a United States senator, graduated near the bottom of his class, bad temper. Cheated on and divorced one wife and then married into big bucks. Chose as his running mate Sarah Palin, whom the majority of Americans saw as not ready for the job. Spin it any way you want, those are still the facts.
I thank John McCain for his service. I can't imagine the horror he went through. That doesn't make one qualified to be president.
Sorry Cqpate, but all you can do is go back to your Karl Rove creche and long for the old days.
Your Orwellian doublethink reacto lies don't work anymore.
cqpate. Just make sure you recycle that can you keep on kicking, please.
Conservatives are not so much evil as they are blinded by ideology, a failed ideology.
I think all American's are overwelmed by the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Our government leaders and political parties should by law be required to read these documents before developing agenda's, policy, laws and platforms. These legal documents are the laws of our land. All Executive, Congress, Judicial, Military, etc. swear to uphold these laws.
Not to let the EAGLES fly from or hearts, but to maintain the standard of all our actions republican or democrat, conservative or liberal.
"The right wing's belief that if every one simply pursues their own individual interest the "invisible hand" will assure that the public interest is served doesn't work in practice -- a lesson delivered graphically by the 2008 crash of Wall Street."
If you don't understand a person's beliefs, don't speak for them. Conservatives believe in service for others, not forced by the gov't, but on your own accord. The crash of wall street was fueled by as many dems as repubs, can you say Buffet, Soros?
unity not division; hope and optimism not fear and cynicism; tolerance not prejudice; ...we're all in this together -- not all in this alone.
The dem congress is already practicing this "unity" by trying to prohibit Repubs from bringing anything to the floor of congress. The tolerance is unseen by anyone with conservative values.
Obama ...to end the Neo-Con doctrines of unilateralism and pre-emptive war. In other words he has pledge to return America to its standing as a moral leader in the world -
If the dems can not state their morals, how are they going to stand behind them? When Iran says its missles are on a ship off the US coast, do you believe Pres Obama will not "pre-emptively" try to find them and destroy them?
Great words, libs use them all the time, where is the beef?
Finally, the election of Obama makes us proud of ourselves.
In one of his Special Comments last year, Olbermann predicted a day of national thanksgiving. He was right on the mark!
There is a vast chasm between obsequious obeisance and commitment to a common purpose. That this difference is lost on the right, and that they call one "patriotism" and the other "opposition" is the essence of wha will be there eulogy as a movement.
It can be said with assurance of this amazing day that "America has itself a very good start at recovering its identity".
Why I support Obama
I have been an underdog for my entire life. From day one beaten down by the deceptive cudgel of the responsible achievers crowd, only to see them foist by their own petard via the Wall Street meltdown.
This is my revenge. I will never own a fancy car/watch/
This is pay-back time against all the powerful. This is why they loathe the Employee Free Choice Act so much. It is Freedom against their tyranny and lies
Great points. For me, the simple explanation is that it's my country, too.
Too many of us for too long have witnessed in frustration as a relatively small group of people hijacked the American dream. Our reactions have varied from silent simmering to all-out protest and civil disobedience, but I'll wager that we've shared a sense of patriotism that transcends flag pins and knee-jerk nationalism.
We've understood that opposing unjust wars IS patriotic, that holding our leaders accountable IS patriotic, that embracing diversity IS patriotic, that striving toward a more perfect union REQUIRES analyzing and, yes, criticizing our current imperfections.
President Obama knows it's our country, too. He understands the reality of patriotism, the purpose of patriotism, which is not necessarily well-served by the symbolic trappings of patriotism - not in and of themselves. He understands that WE can create a more perfect union by working together, not by merely waving flags and offering blind obedience to an inflexible ideologue if that's who happens to be in office.
.......And the country is still broke, and getting broker. And ALL the politicians were only too happy to let the gravy train flow through the boom times. The new president will not be able to print money and get us out of this mess.
All you liberals who think that Obama is just going to shower money on poor people are in for a rude awakening. Bush, Barney Frank, and Chris Dodd pretty much tried that with housing, and look how that turned out.
this liberal does not expect Obama to shower money on anyone, as there is, in actuality, no money. that said- at least it won't be Bush, showering his imaginary money on the CEOs of failed companies.
To a point, you're right. Bush has been showering money on the wealthiest of the wealthy and that hasn't done a darn thing for the economy, except let the financial aristocracy keep their place on the gravy train. All aboard!
"All you liberals who think that Obama is just going to shower money on poor people"
kay, let's have a show of hands, "liberals", who thinks Obama is just going to shower money on poor people?
Nobody?
How interesting.
I love how "conservatives" come on here and post comments that are so deluded that they start out with a premise that is false anyway (and only "true" to their misguided conservative minds) and then try to criticize "all us liberals" for believing the supposed false premise.
Trying to wrap one's head around it just gives you a headache.
Thanks for the reality check. My understanding is that all of us liberals (and a whole bunch of other people) think that WE can improve the way our government works by taking responsibility and working hard. Working hard is nothing new for us, but it's likely to have better results now that our government will be working with us, for us, and not against us.
That's because people who spout off the loudest about patriotism often don't have a clue what it really is.
Words are easy. Deeds and actions really count.
The GOP Grinch stood alone in the snow,
his withered old heart refusing to glow.
Though around him were smiles from a crowd most exotic.
They hugged and they wept. They sang songs patriotic.
There were Blacks, there were Whites, there were Indians too.
He saw Asians, Latino’s all manner of Who’s
A Muslim and Christian were having a chat,
An Atheist was offering a Jew his wool hat.
Gay couples with children had turned up this day
standing by Sailors and Soldiers to watch the parade.
They all waved Old Glory, they were filled with fresh hoping.
The Grinch clutched his heart “this is all too revolting!”
“This crowd, most exuberant, is not GOP!”
He puzzled and puzzed asking “How can this be?!”
It came despite Hannity throwing his rocks.
It came despite Limbaugh and Coulter and Fox.
“This Obama!” He spat “Why it must be some trick!”
“The Who’s are ignoring our GOP shtick”
“Endless war! Trickle down! And barbed-wire borders!”
“Hating what’s different! Unilateral world order!”
“The joy that I see, the hope which is brimming”
“is making me ill. My poor Grinch head is swimming”
“The people are speaking!? What could be insaner!?”
But the Grinch cracked a cruel smile “Well at least I have Boehner!”
Creepy...
Excellent!
I wondered what Mr. Grinch was up to since christmas.
Great poem, Rockwell.
it shows the class that those on the right have for the United States and the office of the President.
Too bad the right has almost destroyed America. Real class.
Again with the divisive talk, isn't that what this ISN'T about?
What?!
Er...sorry Kepary but I think you misread the article and what it was saying; just like the right misreads most of America.
What are you babbling about? There is American (left, right, center) and there is anti-American (left, right, center). The GOP for all it's faux patriotism and flag waving has become a deeply anti-American clan, rejecting equality, justice, human rights any inconvenient laws and a good chunk of the Consitution.
So please spare us your laughable posturing that your ilk has a monopoly on what it means to be American.
A perfect read on the situation, Robert. Thank you!
McCain and (god help us) Palin are so 2-dimensional in comparison. I think McCain may realize that he lost to greatness. Palin is so out there I'm not sure she'll ever get it.
We have taken back America from the people who have always despised it.
And if the Haters don't like it, they can go to Russia or the PRC.
The right wing party is dead and gone for ever. The american people will not allow them to oppose PRESIDENT OBAMA in any way. The Republican Party better change their old ways or they will be left
to deamonize hteir own, because the american people owns this country now.
Isn't this the kind of talk in nations run by dictators?
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