Writing a New Day

It’s kind of daunting to be an editorial writer today. So I took the easy way out and solicited my contributing writers to paint a portrait of “right now” from Madison, Wisconsin. I asked them to tell me what was on their minds on the eve of the inauguration of our first Black president, Barack Obama, during such tumultuous times. As I read each entry, what slowly emerges from the dialogue is a collective sigh of relief. That’s no surprise. Eight years after we were encouraged to go shopping as a solution to terrorism, we are suddenly being asked to participate in our future. Change we can believe in? I sure hope so.

First, let’s hear from the baby boomers:

“Two months ago, for the first time in my life, I walked past a young African American child and thought, 'She might be president some day.' Imagine during the rioting of the late 1960s if someone said, 'Hey, there’s an African American child six years old living in Hawaii, conceived out of wedlock, who will be president of the United States in forty years.' All good things are possible." –Denis Collins

“My memory takes me back to Lakewood School in Maple Bluff, January 20, 1961, where we watched John F. Kennedy sworn in on a black and white TV set. I was in seventh grade and one of very few Democrats watching at that place on that day. I have never had as much enthusiasm for a presidential candidate since that day. I actually was a paid employee of the McGovern campaign in 1972 and it soured me on Presidential politics. Until this past year. I remember watching Barack Obama’s keynote speech four years ago and realizing this was someone who was on fire. I supported his bid for President from the very start, but admit I had little hope he would win. That was until the Iowa caucuses. Tomorrow, I will be watching his inauguration with that same sense of awe and admiration that I did back in 1961." –Dan Curd

“It’s been said the first responsibility of any American politician is to 'get right with Lincoln.' By his character, temperament and intellect, Barack Obama has done more to get right with Lincoln than any politician ever. His combination of emotional maturity, intellectual curiosity and political openness augers well for the republic.” –Stu Levitan

“I have never thought of Barak Obama as a man of color. For a lot of people that is the most significant change. That is true but is not what is most important or impressive to me. … My earliest awareness and impression of Barak Obama was of a very bright, very articulate person. The night he spoke at the Democratic Convention during the Clinton administration, I was blown away with his speaking ability. I believe he thinks about topics thoroughly, gathers advice from a variety of sources, and is able to reach decisions by weighting the information in a balanced manner. In addition, his ability to be articulate means he is able to communicate those decisions in a way that we (the public) can understand. For me, I don't care a bit about the color of his skin but about that attitude and ability.

“I am most excited about the comparisons Lincoln and FDR. This is a terrible time in our history, two wars, an economic crisis, and yet, I am full of hope, great hope. I think President Obama has to be honest with us, that it is not going to be easy to recover from these challenges and, at the same time, speak to the 'better angels' that Lincoln referred to and 'nothing to fear but fear itself' that FDR spoke of. He has to get all of us behind our ability to get through this difficult time and to move forward in positive ways. Make the America that we as Americans think we have, or thought we had, or think we messed up the promise of. This time is the closes to that promise in my adult life." –Nancy Lynch

"I am struck by this nation’s barbarities of her past and the brave hopes of her future. As a toddler, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Chicago, I watched the sunset in the west, the beauty of the orange and red hues, all colors playing in harmony. Then, forsaking the moon and the stars, riotous flames danced on the horizon as the city burned. In my life I have seen legalized segregation and the fact that, because of their skin, people could not vote. Now a black man is President. That transformation symbolizes hope for me." –Kent Palmer

“Hooray, we finally chose intelligence over ‘one of us’ and inspiration over lies. The challenge is great. Consumption as a percent of our GDP will drop. What will fill its place? We must envision a new business model for our economy, not just stimulus to get us back to the old economy. The former could usher in a wonderful future. The latter will be a disaster.” –Kay Plantes

It’s interesting that as I separate these thoughts by generation I notice how the lens starts to change. While baby boomers are hopeful and resolute, Gen X-ers are anxious, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

“I’d love to be eloquent, witty or even cheeky, but really I’m just a jumble of nerves, excitement, hope, relief and pride. I’m also a little nostalgic. I lived in D.C. when Clinton was inaugurated (the second time), and I’d love to be back in my apartment on Connecticut Avenue this week, bars on the windows and hold-ups in my basement and all. And I lived in a good neighborhood!" –Jennifer Garrett

"For me, the idea of Obama transcends policy and procedure. Does that make me a dreamer? Probably, but I’m not apologizing for it. We can argue politics and practice until we’re blue in our faces, but that’s the thing—Obama makes me want to. I haven’t felt that way in my entire adult life. This is a first." –Maggie Ginsberg-Schutz

"I hope he doesn’t get shot. What I mean is, I love this guy and I am worried that we are not post-racial in this country." –Robert Gutsche, Jr.

"Obama has (wisely) not been shy about stating the challenges we face. But for Inauguration Day, I am going to try to push those worries somewhere toward the back of my head, so I can appreciate and marvel at everything this historic event means to our country and to the rest of the world. After a couple months of nothing but bad news, I am more than ready to revel in a little hope." –Jenny Price

“When I saw the crowds at the McCain rallies, I thought of America as she used to be.
When I saw the crowds at the Obama rallies, I recognized the America that is.
For anyone who still thinks diversity is a trend, the train has left the station. We’ve leapfrogged our prior consciousness of what we are as a country.
Buckle up." –Rebecca Ryan

"As our new president takes to the stage, we have finally reached a long overdue milestone that, despite the challenges ahead, has helped renew the spirit of a nation. Partisan politics and pundits aside, I hope we all can continue to ride this wave of inspiration and meet community, nationwide and global challenges head on." –Laura Salinger

Contributing writer Mary Erpenbach just called me to say she was sorry she didn't send anything. She's headed to watch the festivities with her son, Ted. We talked about her granddaughter Lucia, who's just over a year old, and about what a difference this all makes to the next generation. And the best part? They'll never think twice about it.

And this just in—fashionably late—from Mad Mag's back-page columnist and boomer:

"After so many years, it feels good to know that the Declaration of Independence, and our Constitution, are now true.: –John Roach