Deserved Leadership

We often hear after an election that we get the leadership we deserve. Those saying this are usually on the losing side, blaming the stupidity of those who made the wrong choice. But the expression works both ways. We always deserve effective leadership, and many are ready to say that as of January 20th, we have it.

Not to get religious on you, but the Bible, whether you believe in it or not, is full of stories of seemingly unlikely people being elevated to positions of authority. The most famous example is Moses, who was tending his father-in-law’s sheep when he saw the burning bush. When the Lord told him he would be leading the Jews out of Egypt, his reaction was, “Who am I?” He didn’t have President Obama’s oratorical gifts. I guess that’s why the Lord needed the stone tablets to get the Ten Commandments across. David didn’t look nearly as much like a king as his brothers, but he was the one chosen by the prophet to reign over Israel. And Jesus was just a carpenter. He had a lot of trouble convincing others that he had been anointed.

During the presidential election campaign it was pointed out that Barack Obama lacked experience; his work as a community organizer was demeaned, and, of course, he is black, or half-black, to be precise. Many probably still feel that Hillary Clinton and John McCain would have made fine presidents. But it just didn’t happen that way.

The jokes about Obama’s election representing the second coming abound. But the fact that 2 million people stood out hours in the cold to watch him take the oath shows how many believe that that’s what we deserve. Did we get it?

Of course, we won’t know the answer to that for a while, and in a year from now, many of us may have very different feelings about Mr. Obama. As for comparisons to Jesus, well, it seems a very good bet that our new president won’t be ascending into heaven before our eyes anytime soon. At least not before the end of his second term.

There, now I’ve said it.

The Real Minorities

I’m distressed to report that someone I know who was upset about the election of Barack Obama refused to watch his inauguration on TV. I don’t know whether the motive involved was political or racial, but on a day when most minority groups are celebrating, this individual must be a member of a tiny minority indeed.

The networks told us that this presidential inauguration was the most viewed or listened to media event in the world -- ever. Billions experienced it. Those who couldn’t consume it live – because of work or lack of access to TV, radio, or other modes of transmission -- would see or hear it as soon as they could. But those who could consume it and simply chose not to – that group should be fairly easy to count, if anyone wants to.

There are some critics who have expressed concern about how much this inauguration cost, especially in light of the economic crisis. This is another minority group. The country really wanted to have a party, and you know, we really deserve it. We did something we haven’t been able to do in more than two centuries: elect a black person President. And it may seem uncharitable to say this, but much of the party mood has to do with showing Mr. Bush the door.

Those who think we’re partying too hearty can take comfort: Wednesday is coming, and everyone agrees the party will be very much over. Whatever glow we may be feeling now, it’s safe to say that the next few months, or years, won’t be any fun. So we need our moment, and for you party-poopers out there, please poop somewhere else, thank you.

There, now I’ve said it.

Stretch for the Tag

At the risk of demeaning the august and historic nature of this week’s presidential inauguration, one of the images that comes to mind for me is tag-team professional wrestling.

The analogy breaks down even before I can get started, but I’ll plow ahead anyway. It’s like this: One wrestler, a member of a two-man tag team, is in the ring. He started out the round OK, but now he’s getting the snot beaten out of him by his opponent. Maybe even both members of the opposing tag team are in the ring, beating on him, even though that’s not allowed. But the referee does nothing to stop it.

Meanwhile, the victim’s tag-team partner is standing on the ropes in their corner with his arm stretched out, straining to make the tag with his downed colleague. He plays by the rules and won’t go in to the ring to relieve his partner until the tag is made. The fans are straining along with him. They want to replace the other battered wrestler yesterday.

Somehow the tag is made, and finally, the victim’s team member comes to the rescue, using all his pent-up energy to reverse the team’s fortunes. He delivers a flurry of punches, drop-kicks and body slams in quick succession, stunning his opponents. For the audience, it’s a tremendous feeling of exhilaration. But can he keep up the momentum and win the match?

The way these bouts are scripted, the wrestler to the rescue rarely scores a quick victory, in spite of an impressive start – and his team may not even win in the end.

We can hardly wait to see what Barack Obama is going to do on his first day in office – which unpopular Bush policy will get the first boot. But this country’s problems are not going to fall like dominoes -- many of them took a lot longer to create than eight years, and some may not be solved in the next eight.

It’s not just about whether Mr. Obama has the right stuff. It’s really about whether we have the patience to let the necessary changes be made.

There, now I’ve said it.