What J awoke in me

It's funny. The other day Liv was describing my blog and she said of Daktari: "it's about politics". I sort of laughed because for the past 8 years, I have been about just about anything BUT politics. Not because of other interests. Not because of lack of time. Because the Bush administration rendered any effort wasted.

One month before I turned 18, Ronald Reagan was elected President. I learned of this news in the Indianapolis Greyhound Bus Station on a black-and-white television set that I pushed quarters in every 20 minutes to get a show. It's been 25 depressing years of watching conservative America perfect their game. Eight years of that madman and then the beginning of the Bush legacy. The Panamanian Invasion was just the first flex of Bush 41's military will. We had the Persian Gulf War, the first armchair war, as its sequel. It just never seemed to end. When Clinton was in office, the Republican Congress seemed unstoppable. Newt Gingrich penned that sickening document, the so-called Contract with America and, worse still, acted with impunity. Liberal America was defeated. I was in disbelief when 43 was elected. But Bush 43 was so bad he formed the end paren or coda to this dark period in American history.

Or so I stand ready to believe. I think this may be why my conversations with J about race, politics, campaigns, gender, historical perspectives, future aspirations and the like have been such an exciting time for me. This is perhaps why I connected so fervently with the Obama campaign. It has been a long road, not devoid of hope, but in which hope was fleeting.

The thing I partly attribute to Obama (and mostly to J) is the re-awakening of that part of myself that is concerned with the world outside my life. The part of me that used to be engaged and excited and determined to change the world. The part of me that was stolen before I was even old enough to vote. The part of me who knew that I was capable of great things. It's the part of me that I mistakenly attributed to youth and assumed I had outgrown. I didn't realize it was merely dormant, hidden in a dark fog only waiting to be called forth. And like Ebenezer Scrooge, I realized that it isn't too late to change. I am capable of great things. There is still time.

Shopping for a Cause

Now that it appears I've got this election wrapped up =), I guess I'm going to have to make good on my promise to change the world. So I'm giving some thought to what I'd like to do. I figure it is best to stick with what I know best. Science and math. Or maybe politics. Or science and politics.

So. I could devote myself to the education of high school or undergrad students for the rest of my life. Or maybe the thing is to pursue a career in state government and work to solve this erosion of math and science scores. Or I could work to change voter registration and state-wide vote oversight.

Geez. There is so much that needs to be done.

For those of you out there who understand my strengths and weaknesses, any suggestions?

Smug one up for Daktari

D is feeling very smug at the moment? Why, you ask?

Because of this. The Economist is a day late and a dollar short. I beat them to the punch with my post on Obamacans. I agree with this opinion piece. This isn't a matter of rats jumping ship when it is apparent it is sinking.

Those prominent Obamacans remind me of something someone said about me once. "You will lead in the absence of real leadership." Colin Powell, Susan Eisenhower, Chris Buckley, George Will, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Dennis Hopper, and Christopher Hitchens (although I don't consider Hitchens a "real" Republican) headline the "celebrity Obamacans". After 8 years of Bush/Cheney co-captains victory-at-any-cost approach, the starting lineup and second string acknowledge defeat, but realize the only way to show good sportsmanship is to walk over to the opposing team and shake their hands and hope that they bring their fans with them.

I'm beginning to realize that there really is a leadership gap in this country. When we can't and don't look to our elected leaders for leadership, it is time to take matters into our own hands. J and I have been discussing ways to make a difference, but oddly enough, I think I might actually be ready to do something. And not some small thing. You know, before I didn't have a lot of faith my ability to make a difference. That's one thing that graduate school has taught me. I can. The world is different than it was. Of course, so am I, but something else is going on here.

It's time for change and I'm not willing to wait on someone else to effect that change for me. I'm ready. Come along. I have big things in store.