Peter Padraic O'Sullivan (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} writerpo) wrote,@ 2008-08-27 19:16:00 |
|
Politics: The American Dream
The American Dream
I've spent most of this election cycle marveling at the prevailing narrative (and how I am both amazed and appalled at that election buzzword) of Obama as the arugula noshing, effete, intellectual elitist. In fact, I was very pleased at the effect of the Democratic Convention's first night and Michelle Obama's wonderful speech, which helped belie the conservative notion of the Obamas as others. From all that I've seen and heard, the Obamas are, in fact, the embodiment of the American Dream.
What is that dream?
The American dream is what we're told all through childhood. Work hard and you can achieve anything, including wealth, both monetary and familial. The Obamas have both in abundance. Barack Obama, raised by working grandparents and a single mother, went to good schools (on scholarship), worked hard, and went on to become the editor for the Harvard Law Review. The prevailing narrative focuses on his attending Harvard as proof of his elitism (never mind that "regular guy" George W. Bush also attended Harvard) and ignores how he got there. The narrative also ignores that Obama passed up opportunities to earn a six figure salary straight out of law school for a life of public service, first helping working families in Chicago, before moving on to State Senate, and then national. In the meantime he wrote a book and it did well. He earned money, married, bought a house, and made a family. He is worth several million dollars. Through hard work, he made the American Dream happen.
So what's the problem? Why is the Right able to spin him as the other when he epitomizes everything we all hope for?
John McCain is why. If Barack Obama represents the American Dream, then John McCain represents the American Fantasy.
Barack Obama worked hard and became rich. John McCain won the lottery.
We pay lip service to the idea of working to our riches, but when it comes right down to it, we would much rather have a sack of money fall into our laps. That sack, for McCain, was named Cindy. She landed in his lap, several times before he finally left his loyal, but scarred first wife, and offered him a life of luxury.
People can respect Obama for his hard work and earning his place in America, but they want to be McCain with so many houses he can't count them without taking off his shoes.
People can respect Obama, but they don't. Instead they want to believe the prevailing narrative because the reality shames them. It shames them because they haven't done the same. It also shames them because they know, in their heart of hearts that he has earned their respect, but their envy keeps them from giving it. The lie is poultice for a burning shame. They respect McCain because they cannot be envious of luck. Luck is ineffable. It is beyond their control.
We preach the American Dream, but when it comes right down to it, we admire the American Fantasy.
~Peter
I've spent most of this election cycle marveling at the prevailing narrative (and how I am both amazed and appalled at that election buzzword) of Obama as the arugula noshing, effete, intellectual elitist. In fact, I was very pleased at the effect of the Democratic Convention's first night and Michelle Obama's wonderful speech, which helped belie the conservative notion of the Obamas as others. From all that I've seen and heard, the Obamas are, in fact, the embodiment of the American Dream.
What is that dream?
The American dream is what we're told all through childhood. Work hard and you can achieve anything, including wealth, both monetary and familial. The Obamas have both in abundance. Barack Obama, raised by working grandparents and a single mother, went to good schools (on scholarship), worked hard, and went on to become the editor for the Harvard Law Review. The prevailing narrative focuses on his attending Harvard as proof of his elitism (never mind that "regular guy" George W. Bush also attended Harvard) and ignores how he got there. The narrative also ignores that Obama passed up opportunities to earn a six figure salary straight out of law school for a life of public service, first helping working families in Chicago, before moving on to State Senate, and then national. In the meantime he wrote a book and it did well. He earned money, married, bought a house, and made a family. He is worth several million dollars. Through hard work, he made the American Dream happen.
So what's the problem? Why is the Right able to spin him as the other when he epitomizes everything we all hope for?
John McCain is why. If Barack Obama represents the American Dream, then John McCain represents the American Fantasy.
Barack Obama worked hard and became rich. John McCain won the lottery.
We pay lip service to the idea of working to our riches, but when it comes right down to it, we would much rather have a sack of money fall into our laps. That sack, for McCain, was named Cindy. She landed in his lap, several times before he finally left his loyal, but scarred first wife, and offered him a life of luxury.
People can respect Obama for his hard work and earning his place in America, but they want to be McCain with so many houses he can't count them without taking off his shoes.
People can respect Obama, but they don't. Instead they want to believe the prevailing narrative because the reality shames them. It shames them because they haven't done the same. It also shames them because they know, in their heart of hearts that he has earned their respect, but their envy keeps them from giving it. The lie is poultice for a burning shame. They respect McCain because they cannot be envious of luck. Luck is ineffable. It is beyond their control.
We preach the American Dream, but when it comes right down to it, we admire the American Fantasy.
~Peter
