Nothing False About Hope

There has been no shortage of ink spilled and hot air expended in the wake of last Tuesday's midterm elections. And while there was a spirited combat joined for the most ridiculous assertion made post-November 2nd - if you must know, 2nd place went to CNN International's proclaiming of "A New Republican Era" - top prize in my view must go to those who uttered things along the lines of:
"Go back and listen to Obama's 2008 speeches. They sound so naive now."
"Obama shouldn't have used such soaring rhetoric during the campaign. He just set himself up for failure."
"The President who is now in office is a long way from the idealistic, fiery candidate of 2008."
There's a word for this kind of talk, and if you'll kindly click that link below, you can find out what it is.

NONSENSE. Sheer, utter, mind-numbing nonsense. First of all, to not-so-subtly imply that inspiration and hope are suddenly things we want to remove from the otherwise-bleak theater of American politics is to do a disservice to America and Americans. Why else do we engage in the grinding saga that is political activism and personal causes, if not to be lifted up every once in a while to a higher plane of purpose? Did aiming high go out of style after JFK vowed that we would go to the moon? I didn't think so.

Secondly, I'd like to ask what candidate Obama was supposed to have said in place of the idealistic and too-high rhetoric. Who among us would have voted for someone vowing to maintain the untenable status quo in Washington? Who among us would have devoted hours on the phone and in the streets for a candidate who didn't tie us in to a greater purpose, a cause bigger than ourselves? Would we have elected someone who did anything less than appeal to our highest ideals & most fervent hopes, with a vision of what America could be on its best day? Inspiration always seems foolish after a setback, especially inspiration viewed in hindsight. But that does not diminish the power of the inspiration - and the passion behind it - at that time.

I will not fall into the trap of being an Obama apologist, though I will acknowledge the unprecedented difficulties and all-too-real institutional hurdles that greeted him on January 20th, 2009. He is the President, and part of running such an inspirational campaign is working tirelessly to live up to the expectations you have set for your fellow Americans. Do I think he could have done a better job at meeting those expectations? Of course, but the work is not yet completed. And, if anything, the sting of the recent midterms should - I hope - provide the wake-up call he needs to set himself anew to attaining at least some of the lofty ideals he laid out in 2008. But in no way do I begrudge the soaring rhetoric and bold aims set forth on the campaign trail. It inspired me, it inspired my parents, it inspired millions upon millions of Americans desperate for a new hope and a new light in American politics, to be sure, but politics in general as well. And the day we stop aiming high is the day we should get out of professional politics.

"This is a time for American heroes, and we reach for the stars."