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Music for the Morning After
By Mark | November 5, 2008
They are still counting the votes in Minnesota and Alaska for some downticket races, but no one is paying much attention. Barack Obama will be the new President of the United States of America. Ink will be spilled aplenty about President-Elect Obama (and how awesome is it to say THAT?) and his future policies and administration, so I will hold off on writing about him until a later date. I will instead tell you about some of the things that have run though my mind, both yesterday and today.
I think of my parents, who came to the US to seek a better life for themselves and for their children. That was a braver decision than anything I have ever done, taken when they were younger than I am now. I think of other immigrant parents, from all over the world. Their kids may one day be President.
I think of John F. Kennedy, who squeaked by in the election of 1960 with the help of Chicago and some creative voter registration. No shenanigans needed this time, President Kennedy. We won it, 349-163.
I think of the University of Chicago and Hyde Park. No longer will the most prominent people associated with it in public life be Donald Rumsfeld and Antonin Scalia. Barack Obama is not “too U of C, too Hyde Park” for the country; he is exactly the amount necessary. I swell with school spirit. Does anyone remember the cheer? “Themistocles, Thucycides, the Peloponnesian War…”
I think of the staff members who let me volunteer with them over the last year, and of all the work, sweat, and hours apon hours of their finite lives they devoted to this campaign.
I think of the other volunteers, who number legion. Even the smallest act, multiplied by thousands or millions, can change the world.
I think of Louis Agassiz, the pioneering natualist and biologist, who believed that evolution is a crock and that black people are an inferior race. Professor Agassiz, the Presidency of your adopted country will be in the hands of a man who respects and supports modern science, a science without oppressive theology, and that President will be a black man.
I think of John McCain, who showed in his concession speech why everyone, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, admired and respected him. As a man and as a hero, if he could show that much class and humilty after losing a race he cared so much about, it would not be an exaggeration to say that his example should be emulated by all of us, red or blue.
I think of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in California, who was assassinated 30 years ago. I’m sorry we couldn’t defeat Proposition 8 for you, Mr. Milk, but I thought of you when Barack Obama mentioned the unity of all Americans, “gay or straight.” No other candidate has ever defended homosexuals in his acceptance speech before, so I have hope, Mr. Milk, that we can tear down the Bastille of homophobia, brick by brick.
I think of Sister Cecilia Gaudette, the 106-year-old nun living in Rome, and Ann Nixon Cooper, the 106-year-old daughter of a former slave, who both voted for Barack Obama. Those two women have seen the world change, and we have a responsibility to those of us who will be alive 106 years from now to do what we can today.
I think of the social or goverment worker, presented with a new application for food stamps for a single mother, over forty years ago. The baby’s father had left her, and she had child to feed. “Poor thing, raising a little boy on her own,” the worker must have thought, “and that poor child.” No, ma’am. Not a poor child. That child is rich in all the ways that matter. That child will be elected President.
I think of my clients, some on public assistence, trying to get past a raw deal and/or their own mistakes. When I look at the information for their children, I must now acknowledge that that child may one day be President. It is not an absurd story, nor simply a nice story. It is a story that happened, goddamit; it happened last night.
***
There will be a lot of work to do, both for the vision that President Obama will have for America, and to keep him and all levels of government in check. Speaking truth to power is now more important than ever, and if we all want a transparent, functioning society, then we all have to work to acheive it. Like we did last night.
***
The title of this blog is from one of my favorite albums, MusicForTheMorningAfter, by Pete Yorn. That album and Another Ticket, by Eric Clapton, have been in my iPod a lot during this election.
Another Ticket, by Eric Clapton (Click here to listen to it)
Why can’t it stay like this forever?
Why does it always have to change?
Everytime you think you’ve paid the price,
Seems you’ve always got to pay it twice.
Everytime you think you’re near the end,
You turn around and find another ticket.
Oh my love, time is running out.
Oh my love, time is running out.
Why must we wait until tomorrow,
When we already know the score?
Everytime you think you’ve paid the price,
Seems you’ve always got to pay it twice.
Everytime you think you’ve got it made,
Seems you’re only lying in the shade.
Everytime you think you’ve run the course,
Seems you’ve got to ride another horse.
Everytime you think you’re near the end,
You turn around and find another ticket.
Topics: Politics, Music, City & Urban, UChicago | Trackback | Comments RSS
November 5th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Dear Mark,
Emily just sent us this address for your Blog, knowing we would enjoy it. I’m so excited you were there last night!! You did a beautiful job of putting into words what I have been feeling and thinking during this remarkable time. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Wendy Johnson
November 6th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Great post! Definitely captures the hope this nation has now and should have had all along. So many people will have renewed faith in government and in the possibilities for their own futures. I can’t wait to see how this all unfolds! I assume you will be around for the inauguration?
November 6th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Marko,
As the states turned blue on Tuesday night, I wished I could have been in Chicago with you and our new president-elect. Christmas-morning-like-glee doesn’t come close to explaining it. Lets meet up for the inaugural GULC party.
Thanks to your parents for getting you here. I feel like the world is a better place.
Shana
November 6th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Great column Mark! We will keep working for this.
November 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I knew there was a reason I liked you when I met you so long ago at the wedding in Austin. You have wonderful perspective. Great blog!