Listen, I don't even know if I can necessarily label myself a "Progressive". The reason being is that most progressives I know, whose blogs I read, whose podcasts I download, whose meetings I attend; are simply some of the most brilliant individuals I have ever met. Individuals who are passionate about changing the world and who have an unwavering command of both language and history. I've definitely got the passion part covered, but I guess we all need to start somewhere right?
That said, as an American ex-pat--with a unique experience--I can't understand why Progressives cannot appreciate Barack Obama. Before he has even started, many are talking, blogging, and podcasting away about him in a negative light. The reasons? He's pro-war, pro-capitalism, pro-death penalty, pro-Israeli lobbying machine (Rahm Emanuel anyone?) and anti-gay marriage (I'm sure there is more to add to the list).
Even though these are all reasons I completely agree with (aside from the Israeli issue--as I am still studying this issue). I disagree with the tone of the very progressives I look up to. The fact of the matter is this: I am a strong advocate for Human Rights--a true egalitarianist. I believe that all people should be treated equally--regardless of race, heritage, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability, illness, etc. I am (now) anti-war and I am anti-death penalty. But here's the thing, when it comes to Barack Obama, the fact of the matter is that he IS American. And I am not exactly sure everyone really knows what that means.
What does it mean? If you are well versed in American culture, you'll know that Americans are indoctrinated with "Americanism" at a very young age. Americanism is something I would describe as a sense of immense pride, entitlement, and arrogance having to do with nothing other than the fact that you were born in a particular place--which happens to be called the United States of America. It doesn't matter if you're white, black, hispanic, poor, rich, educated, or a drop out. Most all Americans wear their sense of pride on their arm like a tattoo--no matter what the government has done or failed to do for you. Americans are simply very proud to hold that title, because they are taught to be proud of it.
It's something we were taught in kindergarten as we stood EACH AND EVERY DAY to say the pledge of alligence, for 13 years until we finished high school. It's the way that Americans were only taught about American history and never about the history of the world--but through only very brief fly-bys. It's the way parts were left out--like the way the government spent decades oppressing Black Americans, or the way Japanese Americans were placed in quazi-concentration camps, or even the parts that talk about the slaughtering of Native Americans, or the fact that the US dropped more than a couple of atom bombs on innocent people in Japan--nah, we didn't focus on that. We learned about the victories, the great accomplishments of our fore fathers, the amazing American inventors, the millionaires, and the innovators. We learned about the amazing non-violent activists like Martin Luther King and Ghandi--we never learned about Malcolm X. Somehow we managed to skip over that stuff.
Every year we celebrated--in a big, elaborate fashion--the 4th of July; Independance day, everyone had that day off. We even celebrated the guy who founded the United States by complete accident--Christopher Columbus. Living in the United States, no matter how abused you actually were, was sold as a priviledge. We were a melting pot and we understood that people from all over the world, who had it much worse, risked their lives to live there, to be around us, and we were proud of that. 20-plus years of indoctrination is really hard to wash off... believe me.
Naturally, there are many who were lucky enough to learn a different way of thinking--a more progressive world view. This difference in thinking was likely due to a role model, or an awakening of some sort that they were fortunate enough to encounter. For many it was war that changed them, or it was the civil rights struggle, or the struggle of being a Gay American--those who weren't giddy with Americanism had likely experienced oppression and they sought to fight against it. However, for the most part, most Americans never got there. And many are still nowhere near.
To be honest, for most of my life, I was a completely different person than I am today. It took a blantent and painful swipe of human & civil rights, by the United States government, for me to truly "awaken". But the truth remains, for the longest time I was just like most Americans. I was like the American that thought war is a normal "American" activity--as our history teachers so proudly highlighted. The American that thought capitalism is the tool that will set the world free (laugh out loud). I even believed, for twently some odd years, that I was actually free...most Americans still believe this. Now, when I look back, it is painfully obvious to me I was indoctrinated--with no hope of realizing any different reality because there was no reason for me to question it.
If you take what I've said into consideration and apply it accordingly to Americans in general and to Barack Obama who is also American, how can you not look at him through respectful eyes--when he is clearly of good intent? After experiencing the contrary for 8 years, how can we as progressives openly complain about things that are beyond the comprehension of many Americans? The truth is most Americans think war is justifyable. Most Americans also think capitalism is fine and dandy--most can't even consider an alternative, as they were never truly taught any. Think about it. If being American means you've been indoctrinated with Americanism for your entire life, how does one expect the American public to elect someone like Ralph Nader; who presents solutions that are alien to the way most Americans think--even if those solutions are the right ones?
And in conclusion, consider this: Barack Obama is a man of color. A man who was in close acquaintance with a person like Jeremiah Wright (J.W. is not who the media says he is, you should read about him). A man who has been to Kenya to visit siblings that live in shacks. A man who is from a background which deviates drastically from that of the average American President. Honestly...What makes you think he's not just playing the game? What makes you think he's so middle of the road? Clearly he's brilliant--just use the campaign he just ran as proof...Even if he's playing no game at all, and he's just an American who has good intentions...he's still American. See what I'm saying?
Voting for a candidate like Ralph Nader and then complaining about why no else is voting for him gets us nowhere. Recognizing why no one votes for candidates like Ralph Nader and then figuring out how to educate a nation of people who think like Americans makes more sense and is equally as futile. But I'm no Pulitzer Prize Winner so what the eff do I know right?
So I ask this: Even though Progressives know what is right... do we know how to play the game?
