Please forgive me if what I am about to say comes off as the ramblings of a confused, but extremely happy, old man. Actually, old I may not quite yet be, but I am an aging white man with a back that often hurts and an energy level often on par with the chances of the Cleveland Browns winning another championship. Despite a continued enthusiasm for activism, at this point in my life "Takin It To The Streets" means getting in my car and driving to work and "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" simply means that a change of seasons is coming. I watch too much television and I eat too many cookies.

    Last night I ate too many chicken wings while watching the election returns with friends at Ralphies. When Ohio was called for Obama, I cheered. Actually, I went crazy!  We celebrated and went home. When I got home, I cried. I turned on the television and watched more of the election returns with my wife and daughter. I saw Jesse Jackson weeping and I cried some more. I watched until the wee hours of the morning, slept for a couple of hours, got up, and cried some more.

    Something happened yesterday. I can never totally understand how Jesse Jackson feels today. I can not feel the level of pride that Black Americans must feel today. Nevertheless, I would hope that Mr. Jackson, Congressman Lewis and others would allow me to share just a little in the happiness that flows through the African American community on this beautiful day. I do not want to overstate what I did. I was a speck in the sand. But I remember so well the beach and the tidal waves that seemed overwhelming at times. As a young idealistic activist in the 1960s and 1970s, I was in the civil rights and anti-war marches. I was called names by other whites who could not believe that one of their own would join with those minority radicals. I was in agony when Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. I was angry when the murders at Kent State occurred. I was hurt when my candidate, who I worked so hard for, was clobbered in the 1972 presidential election. I have been involved in many political campaigns, most of which (but not all) ended in failure because my candidate espoused views that were unpopular. I spent many hours, days, months, and years angry and feeling alienated. I have been called unpatriotic, a communist, a  ........lover and other names that I can't mention here. All because I supported causes which today are not far, if at all, out of the mainstream of social and political thought.

    Something happened yesterday. It went far beyond one man or one political party. What happened represents a new beginning. That is good. We like beginnings. We don't like ends. But forgive me if I take a few moments to celebrate an end- an end to a chapter. A chapter in the history of this nation and a chapter in my life. Perhaps I am being presumptuous in saying that I do share something with Mr. Jackson and others. But, so be it. Yesterday represented an end of "a" struggle. Not of all struggles but "a" struggle. It was a struggle that consumed so many of a generation that at least symbolically yesterday passed the torch to those who are younger and more energetic. They will approach policy making in a different way, on a foundation that is solid. It is a foundation of greater opportunity and greater equality because of what people like Jesse Jackson did. And, I believe that many of us would like to think, perhaps displaying egotism, that what we did and went through played some small part in creating the environment that enabled yesterday to happen.

    Today I am tired. I am happy. I am smiling. And, I am still crying.

Dale

Wednesday, November 05, 2008 10:54:39 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [6] | 

I have read with great interest the comments that have been offered after a recent post that I made. I will respond to questions about what I was advocating. Sarah Palin, like any other politician, regardless of party affiliation, should not be sheltered and should be asked tough questions about the positions that she takes. Further, any inconsistencies in the positions taken and the ideologies that she espouses should be probed. The personal views of the questioners should be irrelevant. A liberal media person should be tough and demanding in questioning a liberal politician. A liberal politician who rants about pollution should be challenged if he/she seeks a lessening of regulations on car companies because he/she is from Detroit.

My personal views on the subject at hand are irrelevant and one should not presume to know how I feel on any particular subject. Those who have had me for classes know that I take the role of the teacher as one who asks challenging questions very seriously. The questions that one asks are even more important than the knowledge that one displays. Further, the ability to think critically (and that does not mean to be unnecessarily negative or demeaning) is a vital skill that we, as educators, should be seeking to develop.

My views on many subjects are fluid. However, my view that politicians not be allowed to easily avoid answering tough questions does not change and does not depend on the party affiliation of the individual. What I am advocating, once again, is that a politician, in this case Sarah Palin, be challenged just as any student in my classes would be. It is time to stop sheltering her and let her convince the public that she has a command of the issues and is being true to the ideology that she promotes. If she is not, then let her explain to me why. It is quite possible that she can convince me that she has good reason for believing as she does. Let her do it. And, let us hold all politicians to the same standard!

Monday, September 15, 2008 9:13:09 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

I love politics - sometimes. Not today. I am teaching an American Government class this semester for the History Department. Like most students that I have had in the past in PLS 122, many this semester are not terribly excited about the subject. My initial reaction to their disinterest is to be horrified. Why do they not have the same passion that I do for government, public policy and politics? I just can't figure it out. Then I get home last night to discover "lipstick gate" has swept the nation. Okay, I am reminded effectively of why many turn off to any mention of politics.

I have been involved in politics for years. In my past life, I actually was active in running political campaigns. I thought that I had seen everything. Guess not. Now, a "major issue" about lipstick and pigs! I saw the clip in which Obama uttered the phrase, "you can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig" and , of course, I was outraged (yeah, right!). He had been talking for several minutes about Bush policies and how McCain was running from them even though he had supoprted them. In characterizing McCain's "change" argument, he used the "lipstick' line. Now, naturally he was talking about Palin who used the word lipstick in a speech. What the HECK? Are you kidding me? Oh, the anguish from the McCain camp. The "slur" had hurt some feelings. What slur you ask. I have no idea. But McCain certainly saw one, or at least his campaign strategists had told him, probably on a teleprompter, that a "slur" had occurred. Oh, the unfairness of it all! Leave Sarah alone you pigs!

I have my differences with Obama. His willingness to move from one quagmire in Iran to another unwinnable fiasco in Afghanistan (please place call to Russian leaders) is distressing. His willingness to reconsider eliminating tax cuts for the rich at this time is unfortunate and his support for charter schools, which serve to cost public schools needed money, is disheartening. But, at least he is talking about policy issues. Come on John, say something meaningful, if your knowledge of economic issues goes beyond that which can be written on a napkin. Say something about your foreign policy views. Do you believe in Nation building as part of our international role? How many more billions will you spend to spread democracy worldwide? Would a traditional conservative support such efforts? Come on John, say something. And, while you are at it, let Sarah say something. Let her tell us about her desire, as a conservative who supposedly believes in limited government, why the government should be involved in a woman's decision making process. Let her tell us if she believes in "equal pay for equal work" for women.

On second thought John, keep quiet about such things. Continue to discuss "lipstick" and other pressing issues such as who Obama hung around with years ago. That may well get you elected. Then we can spend four more years complaining about all the things that have disturbed us for the past eight years. Joy to the World!

Dale

Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:18:51 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [10] | 

Is Obama sounding more like McCain (i.e tax cuts for rich, charter schools) because he is slipping in the polls and trying to appeal to independents or is he slipping in the polls because he is sounding more like McCain?

When is James Carville going to take over Obama's campaign?

Both McCain and Obama are claiming to represent change. What kind of real fundamental "change" can we expect from them? Federal aid to expand charter schools? Oh Boy! That is "change" that we can retreat from.  Movement from the quagmire in Iraq to one in Afghanistan? Oh Boy! How about a few billion to rebuild Georgia (not the U.S. state)? Oh Boy!

McCain has rallied his base. Has Obama rallied his? Is Obama taking me and my vote for granted?

Can Obama win with his base being solidified, new voters, and good turnout? Does he need to run to the "middle" and does he risk alienating his base in doing so?

Dale

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 4:49:12 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

Dale Lanigan is a new Lourdesworld blogger for 2008.  Welcome, Dale!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 2:02:32 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] |