Ch-Ch-Changes
February 5, 2009, by Connie Stetson
The day after the election I left my house in an elated state; filled with hope and joy and possibility. Visiting business after business passing out fliers and gathering support for our local domestic violence agency, Mountain Crisis Services, I was feeling empowered and basking in that “Yes, We Can” glow, when I saw a bumper sticker that read, “I’ll keep my guns, bible, and my money—You can keep the ‘change.’” Why, thank you knuckledragger, I think I will.
Already our new, young, biracial, intellectual, forward-thinking, forward-looking president has closed that bastion of shame, the Guantanamo detention center; has banned secret CIA prisons overseas and pledged to fight terrorism “in a manner that is consistent with our values and out ideals;” banned TORTURE and is moving to restore our precious, unique country to its promise. Remember, America promised the world that no matter what your background, no matter how humble or disorganized, that if you worked hard and participated in this system, that you, your children and your grandchildren, could live a better life, and you could rise as high as your dreams could lift you. My heart tells me that we are again, back on the path to showing the world that we keep our promises.
And speaking to that, the Senate has reversed a Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult for women and minorities to address wage inequality. President Obama signed the Lilly-Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, unlike former president Bush (God, it felt great to write that last bit) who wanted to veto it. The president also issued a statement saying that the government “should not intrude on our most private family matters” and has reaffirmed his support of a human being’s right to choice. In just a few weeks in office, our new president is holding a lantern high, lighting our paths to help us find our way.
Change is a force, ongoing and moving forward. You can choose to shun change and have fear be your master, or you can open your heart and your mind and go with it, like floating down a great river. It’s happening. It’s evolution. Of course, there are still those out there who choose to believe even that force does not exist, and the best they can do right now, is just get out of the way.
This will not be easy. Even in our personal journeys, profound change often comes realized through profound pain. But that moves us forward to knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment. Who would trade backwards?
February 5th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Connie,
Although I sometimes get overwhelmed thinking about the millions of barbarians who listen to, and believe, the rhetoric of Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly, I have to remember that Obama won by a landslide. I think, thanks to the internet and the lightning-quick way information travels around the planet, that truth and hope DO have a chance. I have to believe that…or I’d dig a hole and climb into it. I hope light pierces darkness, I hope love conquers hate, I hope compassion overwhelms greed…I hope you’re right, that global consciousness can change and evolve for the good.
Pru
February 5th, 2009 at 8:18 am
The days of ignorant redneck rhetoric are over! Rush and his brethren are losing in popularity. Listening to the radio yesterday, I heard our president say something (of importance, as usual) and I found myself clapping! Applause, yes! When our past president (he who shall not be named) would come on the radio, I reacted by changing the station.
And what about that stem cell research? Even Bible thumpers will benefit, I doubt they’ll say no when it’s an issue of their own life and death. I’ll take transparency, intelligence and change any day. Screw that bumper sticker…let’s just leave those gas-guzzling, gun-toting knuckledraggers in the dust.
February 5th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Let us not get into the trap of thinking that the days of ignorant redneck are over. We can be handed Nirvana on a platter and then spend the rest of our lives fighting to keep it. And we must…be vigilant. Redneck idiocy is a cousin to cockroaches. They never really die, just hide in the cracks and wait for an opportunity.
For the moment I stand and pause when I hear our President’s voice (I was in the crowd which turned Bush off the minute I heard him) and like Cathy I frequently end up applauding or shouting out “You Go Mr. President!”
February 5th, 2009 at 8:33 am
“we must…be vigilant. Redneck idiocy is a cousin to cockroaches. They never really die, just hide in the cracks and wait for an opportunity.” Well said mellimel, well said…
February 5th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I can’t remember ever seeing an op-ed by the president of the united states before. Here it is in today’s Washington Post http://tinyurl.com/dmqhj3
February 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I even love that our new Mr. President admitted that he “screwed up” with Tom Dashcle. I love that he’s hosting cocktail parties in the White House, instead of prayer meetings. I love that feeling of accessibilty, of honesty, of moving forward. Long may it last.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:41 am
And again, from me – perfect!:
“we must…be vigilant. Redneck idiocy is a cousin to cockroaches. They never really die, just hide in the cracks and wait for an opportunity.” Well said mellimel, well said…
February 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Stay vigilant, we must. Just when I think everything’s going great–like every time I hear the Prez open his mouth and say something NOT embarrassing–I get a crash landing back to reality. Just one example: While doing research, I accidentally ended up on a site called American Renaissance magazine yesterday, and it turned out to be run by a racist who calls Obama’s presidency the beginning of “black rule.” The comments on that site were frightening. And here I thought Americans were now going to start looking past skin color. It made me realize that we are surrounded by those who still fear change (and I mean fear with a capital F); and you know what that kind of fear can lead to. It’s a scary world out there, but I remain hopeful. Obama’s presidency and all it symbolizes is just the beginning, but a beginning is a beginning, after all!
February 5th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Another thing about that racist magazine: the writer and all the people commenting did not sound like yahoos. They sounded smart, well-informed and not crazy.
February 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Not only do those venal whackjobs fear change, they’ve changed fear so that it works for them. Cheney is still promoting fear from whatever rock he’s lurking under now, trying desperately to keep otherwise thoughtful Americans from removing their heads from their nether regions and breathing in the fresh air of change. Vigilance is indeed called for, and humor, and compassion, and participation.