Subscribe to this blog's feedIt's the dawning of a new age in America. Suddenly I'm all red white and blue. Suddenly I say god bless America with no trace of sarcasm in my voice. Suddenly the definitions we had for many things no longer apply.
This week Barack Obama became president. My entire work closed down for two hours on inauguration day and everyone gathered in Joe's Pub, and we clapped, and we cried, as we watch the action unfold on the big screen.
This week I stopped by the Grenadian Consulate and picked up my new passport, an official sign that I am now a citizen of my ancestral homeland of Grenada. Everyone asks me why I'd want to become a citizen of such a dinky country in the west indies, but I think that's like asking a Jew why they'd want to visit Israel - should this be obvious? But of course there are business reason - Grenada is a British Commonwealth and so hopefully this duel citizenship of mine will make it easier for me to move to the UK one day. Which begs the question - why England? I suppose the most simple answer is that I have a longing in me to run away from my life. Why? There's no simple answer to that one.
As these two events come to their fruition, I feel like gazing up at the sky and thanking the world for being just what it is. What an amazing place, where such things are possible as a black president and a boy from Montana being reincarnated as a real life west Indian on the very same day. God is truely good.
As one chapter closes, another opens. As the US is welcomed back into the international community, I am welcomed too. And while I can't quite connect these two events yet, I'm certain that they both mean something - and that this something is the very same thing. Just on the edge of something, just on the edge - oh lord - again, just on the edge.
My friend Sammy K asks me "How will we be able to teach the past what the future is?" My answer: Tell the past that the future is just like it is, only bigger. The future seems so expansive, so full of possibility, it shocks the mind close to paralyzing me when I try to wrap my head around it all.
How will we do all the things we've promised to do? How will we fulfill a destiny that is so large? What if, when we are in midstream, we change our mind? What if fear spills in? Or, worse, a different inspiration than the one that started us on this journey? How will we make it?
Hand in hand - arm in arm. Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Who knows where we'll be? But we can make it there if we work together and shirk off our hesitations - and trust that our instincts will take us where we really need to be. There is work to be done - in this country and all countries. An entire world out there. An entire future, just waiting to be discovered.
its really sad that pe needs someone of their own color as President to feel part of the US or to prove that those who oppose a candidate because of their color is really a very small percentage of the population. I personally could care less what the color the president is or religion as long as he is fiscally responsible. We know Obama like most US pols has no idea what that concept means.
The question is,how far are we away from a dictator? Most productive US americans have had their life savings destroyed because of government corruption and socialist grifters and those who voted for Obama because of something free he promised them are also gonna be pissed when he cant deliver. We are on the verge of having a situation where upper,middle and lower class are going to demand change that they can not get from ballot box.
re: Jack's comments
While I agree that's it's sad that people need someone that looks like them to feel a part of a thing - it's not unexpected. Ask a playwright, he'll tell you - oh wait! I am a playwright! So I'll tell you: if you want an audience to connect to what you have on stage, they HAVE to see themselves in one of the characters. If they don't, there will be no connection. So yeah Jack, it's human nature.
Concerning your comment insinuating that Obama may become a dictator - well I have to say that usually when all classes in a society are unjustly treated, they rise up and have revolution. So if you're actually promoting revolution and I misinterpreted you, well then, rock and roll!! Bring on the Molotov cocktails!!
If Obama turns out to be the antichrist however, me and my roommate Travis have promised to put out a Youtube video apologizing for our support of him.
Well, as a descendent of slaves (who built the white house Jack) I can understand (as well as every other African-American in this country) the historical and culturatl significance of this moment. The reason that President Obama got elected is because of the absolute MESS that Republicant's and "Fiscal (Greedy) Conservatives" have made of our constitution- and a mockery of our government. How far away are we from a dictatorship? Well- you tell me, Jack- Secret CIA prisons, Abductions, TORTURE, WARRANTLESS WIRETAPS- Oh, I'm sorry Jack, Unless you were asleep- or hiding under a ROCK for the past eight years...This was right here in the good' ol' US of A. Obama didn't start this- he has been left to clean up the mess that was started by the Republicant's and those like em' WAKE UP. It amazes me when people say things like "you needed someone of your own color in office to feel like an American" Jack, I go to work in my office every day in a suit and tie and can't hail a cab in the Nation's Capitol (where I live) Racism is alive and well in America, whether you choose to admit it or not. The struggle is NOT over. We still have quite a long way to go, Jack...I repeat- WAKE UP.