compared to what

A lot of people, for reasons much more personal and profound than mine, will look at our next president and see someone they identify with. I don’t share Mr. Obama’s racial background or multicultural history. But one of the things that is mostly deeply satisfying to me personally tonight is to have a president with whom I identify:

Someone who values deliberation and communication. Who believes in paying our own way, instead of borrowing from our children and grandchildren. Who understands that being a good American means being a good citizen of the world, and knows what that means because he’s lived elsewhere in the world. Someone who sees the practical and the intellectual as cooperating and aggregating forces, not competing ones, and both of which should be prized, respected and developed. Someone who sees our diversity as a strength.

I’m thrilled and proud that we have taken a step that proves that all Americans are valued. But mostly, I’m thrilled that we’ve returned to the idea that competence matters.

Unfortunately, I suspect that he may not have all that much groove. No matter. We can do that part ourselves. Here’s a start, let me know what you’d add. First, the excellent Cohen song mentioned by eastonwest yesterday:

Democracy - Leonard Cohen

Sail on, sail on
O mighty Ship of State!
To the Shores of Need
Past the Reefs of Greed
Through the Squalls of Hate
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on

And because one must boogie:

One Nation Under a Groove - Funkadelic

categories: thought