(no subject)

[capri0mni]

"I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one… And from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice.”

-- Theodore Parker, 19th Century Unitarian Minister and abolitionist.

"...let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr., 20th Century Baptist Minister and community organizer.

"It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."

-- Barack Hussein Obama, 20th Century secular Community organizer, and 21st century president-elect of the United States.

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Two things struck me, this morning, as I was drifting to sleep after watching the election, and thinking about this passage of Obama's speech:

1. That he was citing great, progressive thinkers and activists from our past, and taking their ideas one step further. It's no longer our role to wait patiently for the arc of the moral universe (history) to bend for justice -- it is our job to reach out and make it bend toward justice.



2. When Obama was born into an interracial marriage in 1961, interracial marriage was illegal in 22 states. And the arguments against interracial marriages are basically the same as arguments about gay marriage.

I have no doubt that there are still people who are alive, who were watching the tv last night, thinking that Barack Obama should never have been born.

My hope is that "identity politics" can be a force for good, too, and seeing his face on the nightly news, and hearing his voice respected as the voice of America around the world will broaden the bigots' view of what a "real family" is. I mean, familiarity can breed contempt... but it can also help to evaporate squick, and the knee-jerk hatred that comes with it.

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it does bend toward justice -- especially if we reach out collectively and pull it in that direction.

Same-sex marriage bans cannot, and will not, be long for this world.

Comments

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I'm not sure if the differemt tones of the two campaigns were communicated by news overseas, but the contrast was stark.

Barack Obama's ads were split between positive explanations of his own plans, and negative explanations of McCain's plans. But even the negative ads focused on policies.

McCain's ads were all negative. And they focused on Barack's character: "Obama pals around with terrorists!" "No one knows who he is!" "He wants to steal your money, and change the very fabric of our government!" They reminded me of the worst of nasty Internet trolling -- the heavy use of buzz words chosen solely to get people upset.

Around here, on Tuesday, it was raining heavily all day, and people who went to vote early before work had to stand in line for several hours. I was beginning to have real hope that Obama would win Virginia's electoral votes when I was hearing reports on local radio that everybody standing in line were in a good mood, chatting up their neighbors, and bringing their children along...

I almost titled my post, that night: "The Pro-Fun Trolls Won the election!"

The Republicans really have to have a long self-examination and talk about who they are, and who they want to be in the future. I certainly hope that, as a whole, they'll start moving away from aligning themselves with the Fundamentalist Baptists, which began with Reagan, in the 1980's. Then, maybe, we won't have so many people trying to make state laws out of Biblical laws.

Then, maybe, I can start believing that bipartisan government is possible, and perhaps a good thing.

[spiralsheep.livejournal.com]

I hear the Westboro Baptists are planning to "protest" at Obama's grandmother's funeral.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Oh, Good Lord (Save me from your followers)!

*Facepalm*

On the bright side, considering the reception Obama received in Grant Park on Tuesday, if the Westboro Baptists do try a stunt like that, they will show themselves for the smallminded, meanspirited, people they are. And they will do so on a very big, stage.

And the Republicans, if they are sane, will push them further to the fringe.