We Can Only Hope . . .
Jan162009
I know, I know. But doesn’t that make you feel good?
Jennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of twenty-one novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies. She lives on the Ohio River where she often stares at the ceiling and counts her blessings.
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53 Comments to 'We Can Only Hope . . .'
On January 16, 2009 at 2:43 am CrankyOtter said...
Yep!
On January 16, 2009 at 6:43 am Carla said...
I’m still wrapping my brain around the idea that Tuesday is the day we’ve been waiting for for the last eight years. All those “1.20.09″ t-shirts will take on new meaning!
Bring on the Change! (Oh wait, I shouldn’t say that out loud; I’m 42.)
On January 16, 2009 at 7:36 am stephanie said...
yep, very well done. we’ll be braving the crowds next week to be on The Mall – unless it’s below zero or there’s actually precipitation falling from the sky. it’s historic and even small kids should be there. heck, even big kids – like me – should be there;)
On January 16, 2009 at 9:18 am BeadBabe Cherry said...
Oh, yeah! Since the election, I’ve been addicted to West Wing reruns. How cool will it be to have actual intelligent speech once again in the West wing?
On January 16, 2009 at 9:58 am McB said...
It’s just nice to feel hopeful again, because hope is a much more useful tool than dispair and anger. Hope keeps you going even when things are ugly. The coming years are going to be hard. That’s okay, we can do hard. We’ve done it before and have come out on the other side even stronger.
And I’m encouraged by the number of people who are honestly skeptical but still saying “If he can get us out of this mess …”
On January 16, 2009 at 10:24 am hollygee said...
Too funny. And, please gods, dogs, goddesses, and universe, true.
On January 16, 2009 at 10:41 am robena grant said...
Love it!
On January 16, 2009 at 11:21 am Kim said...
This is great! I also now have to go back and rewatch my West Wing dvds.
On January 16, 2009 at 12:15 pm Eva Gale said...
Man, it’s not nice making a person cry like that without warning!!!!
On January 16, 2009 at 12:36 pm Bridget said...
This is wonderful. Although I’m not really expecting him to solve everything in 47 minutes. (Okay maybe for inaugauration it can be a two parter)
I will also (failing major precipitation) be standing out on the Mall on Tuesday. I can’t miss this.
But I wish I had more hope that these problems are fixable.
On January 16, 2009 at 1:08 pm Erin said...
Love it. I used to watch my West Wing DVDs and pretend that Martin Sheen was the President. Now I won’t have to.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/arts/television/30wing.html
I’m going to cry on Tuesday. So happy.
On January 16, 2009 at 1:21 pm Jenny said...
Thanks for that link, Erin. That was fun to read.
On January 16, 2009 at 4:44 pm Bethany said...
Even though the inauguration events forced my shelter to cancel a few events (the dog rv sucks at getting through crowds), I’m so thrilled for this weekend. I won’t be at the mall on Tuesday, but I’ll be there in the cold for the official welcome on Sunday. YAY for change! (also the possibility of a rescue dog in the White House)
On January 16, 2009 at 5:34 pm Susan Ricker said...
I think they even beat the men/women ratio (reality vs. television) – how often does that happen!
On January 16, 2009 at 5:35 pm Rakisha said...
Damn, I’m really crying. I’m so excited, so hopeful, so proud, so thrilled, so joyful….
On January 16, 2009 at 7:06 pm Kate said...
I can’t wait until Tuesday, when the lurking evil of the last eight years slides off our backs and slinks back to Texas, where it belongs…I’m proud to be an American again!
On January 16, 2009 at 7:44 pm Duncan said...
Well, no. Hope is all very well, I suppose, though it’s good to remember that it was the final evil to emerge from Pandora’s box.
Despair may not be a good thing — it’s only the flip side of hope — but I think anger is great. Anger makes people get off their butts and do things, instead of waiting for a milquetoast political hack to something vague and pretty for them. Anger produced feminism, the Civil Rights movement, the antiwar movements, the gay movement, a good many things I value. Hope says, “Don’t get so upset! Chill out! Just wait, and the Real People will fix things eventually — you can’t produce change overnight. And who are you, you nobody, to disagree with the qualified professionals who know how the real world works? Just have hope, let the professionals take charge, and someday, somewhere, somehow, things will get better.”
Also, bringing up feminism reminds me of a passage from Kate Millett’s Flying that I need to track down: one of Millett’s friends told her to get in touch with her anger. As I recall, depression (or a lot of depression) is ingrown, internalized anger, which is why women are so prone to it. Carolyn Heilbrun wrote a great essay on women’s anger too: she pointed out that the reason Virginia Woolf’s Three Guineas got so many bad reviews was that it was an angry book, and getting angry is unwomanly. May Sarton had to rewrite one of her journals, in which she’d thought she had expressed her anger, when readers told her how sweet and inspirational it was. (Here it is: the introduction to Heilbrun’s Writing a Woman’s Life.)
About Obama I’m not hopeful at all, because I’ve paid attention to what he’s said and done. I mean, Rahm Emanuel makes you feel hopeful? That scares me. Add to him Hillary Clinton, Larry Summers, Robert Gates, and the rest of the creeps Obama has brought on board, and I see no reason for hope. (Granted, there are a few good appointments — Hilda Solis looks good, but will she be allowed to do anything?) Add to that Obama’s most recent weasel-worded attack on Social Security, his lies about Iran and other countries he must deal with, and I see a lot more reason for anger than hope. But to each his or her own.
Kate, “the lurking evil” was not simply George Bush. It was also the Democrats who collaborated with him. Blaming all our problems on one man, no matter how degraded (and I agree that Bush is scum), is what the Right does. Those who want real change ought to know that even if Bush were taken by aliens to the Prison Planet tomorrow, it would make very little difference.
On January 16, 2009 at 9:53 pm Jenny said...
I still choose hope.
Hope can do anything. Cynicism just keeps itself safe from disappointment.
Needless to say, this is an argument that Bob and I have a lot.
Of course, I’ve had hope pay off a lot for me, more times than I’ve been disappointed, so I have evidence that it works. I remember the last time it paid off: Obama won. Go, hope, that’s what I say.
On January 16, 2009 at 11:02 pm DownUnderGal said...
There’s a prison planet??? Cool. I have a couple of Aussie pollies you could beam up with George. Little short guy, wears glasses, kicked Obama out of Blair House this week.
Sheesh!
On January 16, 2009 at 11:24 pm Cat2U said...
Hope is courageous. Hope gives us a glimpse of what is possible and tells us to dream big. America was built on the hopes and dreams of men looking for a better way of life. America came to be a symbol of hope. My great grandparents traveled an ocean in the bottom of ships clinging to that hope. They worked hard and raised their children using that hope as a guiding light.
On Nov 4th millions of hopeful Americans, many voting for the first time, cast their vote for the candidate they wanted to lead our great nation out of such dire times. If hoping is wrong, then I don’t want to be right!
And it isn’t just about hope but about a call to service. Obama has said several times that this isn’t about him but about us, as a nation. It’s not just his call to service but our call to service. He’s asking us to be participants in this great society. Government by the people for he people. As Americans we each have our own call to service.
The web address below is a video of Michelle Obama demonstrating just that.
http://usaservice.org/page/content/calltoservice/
On January 17, 2009 at 9:38 am McB said...
Duncan, I think it’s the reverse that’s true. To be angry with any situation is pointless, destructive emotion if it isn’t backed by the hope that maybe we can change things.
And I don’t blame one man. I blame his entire administration and all the people who didn’t learn anything from his first term in office.
On January 17, 2009 at 11:15 am stephanie said...
Bridget – i’ll be sure to wave while we’re down there:) we’ll be the ones trying to keep two small kids entertained with snacks while they whine back and forth ‘i’m cold’ and ‘where’s obama’.
And sure, i think there’s a place for anger. It can get people motivated and sometimes it can get people going for a while but it’s hard to sustain because it’s draining. Give us some hope for a while and let us re-energize then we’ll be ready to kick some more butt.
On January 17, 2009 at 11:22 am robena grant said...
Just his beautiful smile gives me hope.
Mr. Obama makes me want to do whatever tiny little bit I can to improve our situation. He really is a true leader. Just imagine if everyone in the country was psyched up to make one small change. It would be amazing. Also change for some reason doesn’t happen overnight, but in about six to nine months if we reflect on the last quarter of ’08 I’ll bet we’ll see improvement. And that’s where hope really comes in, be proactive, encourage those around you to do the same and hope. Hope+action for improvement=success.
On January 18, 2009 at 7:56 am mq, cb said...
Not to rain on your parade, but we all had hope in the UK when New Labour was elected in 1997. The day after the election, London was one big grin.
Trust me on this: it wears off.
On January 18, 2009 at 9:59 am McB said...
We know that there will be disappointments and the euphoria won’t last. Even so, the majority figure it can’t be worse than what we’ve had, even if he falls short of expectations. And expectations are so very high that SOME disillusionment is inevitable. But we need this moment; we are going to enjoy it while it lasts.
On January 18, 2009 at 11:05 am Melissa Blue said...
I think some people are missing the point. Since 1776 all the United States presidents have been caucasian. America doesn’t change very often. It has to be something huge and traumatic for this country to change. That didn’t happen. People went out to vote. People decided to make the change on their own. When was the last time that really happened in America? That’s the point. It really doesn’t matter whose in office, it’s the fact that American’s believe once again they can make a change to their government. Some of the best things have come about when that happened. The Constitution, Civil Rights, Feminism, The Repeal of Prohibition–’cause I couldn’t imagine life without wine. Again, that’s the point, Americans are going to make the change.
On January 18, 2009 at 11:57 am Jenny said...
The polls on this are pretty interesting. The vast majority of Americans think we’ll be better off under Obama, but they also think it will take a couple of years to get out of the recession and the wars. In other words, they’re very hopeful, but they’re fairly realistic.
I think a lot of this is because of what he’s already done. His cabinet is universally hailed as brilliant. He sits down with everybody, listens to everybody, his stimulus package is open to comment and change from everybody, and at the same time, he’s clearly making the decisions. I don’t like Rick Warren up there on Inauguration Day, but I’m impressed that Obama made that call and then calmly stuck to it. I’m impressed that he’s got a gay Episcopal bishop giving the invocation today (I think it’s today) because that would make Rick Warren’s followers as upset as Warren made the liberals at the same time driving home his point: A big tent is a big tent, period. He’s eseentially been president for a couple of weeks now, and even though I don’t agree with everything he’d done, so far, he’s getting it all right. Even the stuff I don’t agree with.
Let me repeat this: He does stuff I don’t agree with and then I have to admit he was right. The man is a genius. Because I’m ALWAYS right.
American deserves a party after eight years of hell. And then after the party, we can start cleaning up. Starting with prosecutions for war crimes and betraying the Constitution.
On January 18, 2009 at 12:45 pm AgTigress said...
I remember the euphoria after the 1997 election here in the UK only too well, and the increasing disappointment as we realised that most of our our hopes were not going to be fulfilled — but that is not to say that such disappointment is inevitable. Some things DO live up to expectations.
I think Americans are right to be really proud and excited by this historic change, and they should remember that there is also excitement and hope in many other countries. This is not a time for world-weary cynicism. It is a time for celebration.
On January 18, 2009 at 7:05 pm Kieran said...
Whoever says hope does nothing needs to try hoping. You can’t do anything great without hope.
Yes, anger accomplishes a lot. But it only gets you to a certain level.
True change for the better happens *only* if there is an element of hope in the pursuit.
I’m proud to be a hopeful person. I’m excited by the Inauguration. We’re having another cake! And I’m a Republican (with the coolest liberal 17-year-old son in the world). I want to hope along with him, and I will. Because hope DOES help change things. When everyone hopes, the world’s heart softens.
Look at Christmas Eve, after midnight Mass (hopefully, non-Christians can relate with their own special holy days)…Jesus was NOT born on December 25th! Who knows exactly when he was born? But…there’s a softening in the air that night– a peace–and you can feel it. And it’s because many people in the world at that moment are actively feeling hope.
That’s my two cents. And Jenny is very generous to allow it. :>)
On January 18, 2009 at 7:15 pm Barbara said...
We Washingtonians can get a bit blase about politicians and Inaugurations, but I have to say that this one has a different flavor. For some reason, this President-elect has captured the imagination of even those who are usually immune to political hype. If his call for shared sacrifice filters up as well as down, that will represent a meaningful change that will benefit everyone. And if Washington, D.C. gets representation in Congress, that really will be something!
If anyone is considering coming for the events, don’t let all the security and logistical hassles stop you, but dress warmly and wear sturdy boots–it will be a long, cold day that I predict you won’t forget.
On January 18, 2009 at 11:10 pm robena grant said...
Did anyone watch Dateline tonight? Man, I cried buckets. Can only imagine what a basket case I’m going to be on Tuesday.
On January 19, 2009 at 9:03 am McB said...
Mostly, it’s just been exciting watching people look beyond all the usual dividing lines. People who voted one way all their lives took a hard look at how things are and decided that maybe the person was more important than the party.
As Jenny said, we know we aren’t getting out of this mess overnight. We know it’s going to take a few years. Anything happening Right Now is not a permanent fix but a patch job. The restructuring that will be required is a long term project. And Obama has been very honest about that. He’s also a smart man who knows what he doesn’t know and listens to those who do. Can you ask for more than that from anyone?
If you are coming into town, plan to get there early. Lotta people, lotta security, and you will need to do some walking. A long, very cold day is predicted, but the sun should be out and we haven’t had any wind since the big freeze hit. You’ll be okay as long as you plan well. I’m not going to be there in person because I don’t handle those kind of crowds very well. But I’ve seen some of the preparations and I think those who accept what it will be like will do just fine.
On January 19, 2009 at 11:57 am Pam said...
Speaking of hope and Obama, read this: http://blog.chrismoore.com/index.php/archives/327
Wow. This is a print-out-and-keep post.
On January 19, 2009 at 12:10 pm Jenny said...
Great post, Pam, thank you for linking to it.
On January 19, 2009 at 1:47 pm Bridget said...
Okay, I was downtown yesterday for the concert and I’d like to say that was a very nice crowd.
Stephanie, I’ll wave to you tomorrow. Few pointers -Find a Jumbotron – even if you can sit closer to the Capitol make sure you’re in a good position to see the Jumbotron. (If you have real seats, then I’m just jealous) They have them set up from one end of the Mall to the other and the short among us are going to be very grateful. Read the security restrictions and the gates and times before you go. All the complaints I’m hearing are about people who got there later and got shut out.
The security guys were relaxed but thorough. All bags were opened; all electronic devices had to be on. But they were no better or worse than the security on New Year’s eve 2000.
If the site says you can take a blanket, take it. I doubt we’ll be able to spread out too much, but the ground is cold in case little people want to sit. (my section of the concert stayed on their feet but I saw other people sitting.)
Above all, come. This was a great crowd and the organizers moved the show along. No sitting around waiting for anyone, speeches were short and interesting. Music was great and Garth Brooks got the whole crowd moving to American Pie and Shout. Obama was wonderful – very relaxed and laid back. Y2K we sat around for 10 and 15 minutes between acts with nothing to do. No matter how nice the crowd January in DC is not the time to be sitting around outside.
HBO is supposed to be running it for free on HBO.com if you want to see it but they’ve got a wierd set up where they’re streaming the concert and you can’t start it from the beginning (at least I couldn’t – if anyone else can please explain.)
Duncan, anger burns down building, hope builds them up. I understand being angry about his picks, but I remember Clinton and Carter screwing up their first six months because all they brought was change. He probably will screw up but they will have more of the government staffed on Day 1 than any other administration, staffed by people who know how it used to be done, and can’t be conned by the “we’ve always done it this way” Bush has made a lot of changes too, at the subdirector level.
So yes, I have hope.
Bridget
On January 19, 2009 at 5:09 pm helen said...
I’m a Canadian, but this clip on YouTube brought tears to my eyes – one because of the content, and two because of how it makes me feel as though I’m right there in the middle of the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial. Happy Jan 20 all!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSf7_5YC2Go
On January 20, 2009 at 10:20 am Carol said...
Instead of prosecution, I think we need a Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the lines of South Africa’s. Prosecution will be so adversarial and divisive that we will be bogged down in it instead of the work of rebuilding and redirecting our country that we need to do. Thank you for letting me say so.
On January 20, 2009 at 11:51 am Barbara said...
I’m sitting here crying as I watch the inaugeration because I am feeling hope that we finally have someone in office who will change things.
Who would have ever thought that a teacher like me would be sitting here unemployed because state and county tax breaks endorsed by Republicans supposedly in support of schools instead cut school funding at the knees. People moved away because there were no jobs here and so enrollment dropped and teaching jobs were cut further.
If we don’t care about educating our children who are our hope, what future do we have as a nation?
So, welcome, President Obama!
On January 20, 2009 at 1:29 pm Kate said...
No the evil wasn’t all the former president, but he was in charge, so he had some power to change things, or make different decisions. I don’t completely blame him, just as I wouldn’t completely blame President Obama if things don’t change–it’s all of Washington and all the people we elect. But as figurehead, the former president was the easiest pinpoint. (And I’m not convinced that as a person he’s not evil).
So, all I have to say now is congrats, President Obama. Thank you for making us idealists feel like we can make change.
On January 20, 2009 at 1:37 pm Jenny said...
I sobbed all the way through the Inauguration, liveblogging with Lani who sobbed, too. It’s a wonderful day.
On January 20, 2009 at 3:07 pm Cathy said...
The Inauguration was awesome! What an inspiring, motivating speech! He makes me believe again that if we all pull together we can turn things around. What a wonderful, wonderful feeling.
On January 20, 2009 at 4:20 pm AgTigress said...
A very moving event. I was glued to the TV here in London this afternoon, as were many of us. The impact on other countries, and the press coverage, has been amazing: you should have heard some of the interviews with young, black Londoners…
Obama has tremendous charisma. He has truly daunting problems to face, but I think if he can’t tackle them, nobody can.
I am interested in the extent to which his Hawai’ian upbringing may have influenced his constructive and inclusive social attitudes – any thoughts on that?
On January 20, 2009 at 5:17 pm robena grant said...
Wow! What a day! Wouldn’t have missed this for anything. I’m so filled with pride. We’re finally getting it right. Every time I think about the Inaugration my eyes tear up. Geez. Thank goodness I left off the mascara this morning, ’cause when this evening’s news comes on I’ll be blubbering all over again.
On January 20, 2009 at 6:23 pm Melissa Blue said...
“We are the keepers of this legacy.”
‘Nuff said.
On January 20, 2009 at 7:04 pm Jill said...
This is going to be one of those red letter days. The kind that years from now and someone asks “Where were you during The Inauguration ?” you do not have to ask which Inauguration. I am envious of the 1 million + people in DC.
On January 20, 2009 at 9:29 pm Karla said...
God bless America – what a glorious day!
Here’s a link to a most adorable (four legged) Obama supporter:
http://www.thousandhound.com.au/dogaday/index.php/2009/01/olive-loves-obama/
Happy Inauguration day!
On January 21, 2009 at 12:31 pm Bridget said...
I didn’t cry. (I was too cold to cry) But a chill went through us. Even with all of the drawbacks, the cold, the wait, the huge sheer number of people – it was so worth it. My niece and I talked to people from every section of the country and we sang (they reran Sunday’s concert starting at 9am so we would have something to look at besides the security and lost kid procedures) Until the dispersal, it was very well run and then they were just a little overwhelmed by the sheer numbers (and trying to keep the swearing in audience from swamping the parade route where people were also waiting) But even then, grumbling but people were just nice to each other. Natives (not just me) stopped and helped the confused and gave them other routes. It was one of the best happiest things I have ever been too.
According to local news this morning, all those people on the Mall, on the parade route, at the parties, bars open until 4am – not one arrest yesterday. And I would like to thank the police and security who came from out of town, they were friendly and helpful and made the day much easier for everybody, especially our local cops who always do a good job on these mass events.
If you liked the little flags waving, thank the Boy Scouts who stood out in that cold from the very early morning and handed them out. And it was cold.
On January 21, 2009 at 12:33 pm Bridget said...
“with the grumbling and frustration,…”
Sorry, sometimes I think faster than I type.
On January 21, 2009 at 5:53 pm Erin said...
Did you see Michelle and Barack dance at the first ball? It was so beautiful. I cry every time I watch it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/20/the-obamas-first-inaugura_n_159522.html
On January 21, 2009 at 6:21 pm Deb said...
I admit to getting teary eyed with all of our newly elected Presidents taking the oath of office. I believe the Inauguration is always a day of hope. Our nation was founded on an idea which is demonstrated most fully with every Inauguration.
Although I am an Obama supporter, have been very highly critical of the last eight years, I feel Former President Bush is one of a very few who did everything he could to make this transition a smooth one. He deserves my respect for that and I am grateful. I wish him and his lovely wife Godspeed.
On January 21, 2009 at 6:58 pm Marta said...
What a tremendous day for our country. After Obama was sworn in, you could hear the rush of air as most of the world sighed in relief.
The inaugural address was great; far more pointedly direct than I expected. Still, when I heard this morning that the Chinese censored it, I was surprised. Most of what they cut was not about them. It was about us. I guess it’s a case of if the guilt fits . . .
I loved the benediction. Started crying again, of course.
Watched the People’s Ball long enough to see Michelle’s dress (pretty, but not exactly what I’d call slimming). I’m blaming crying again on Beyonce serenading the Obamas with one of my favorite songs. By the end, we were all crying.
Happy, happy day!
Now, well, we should prepare ourselves for the avalanche of bones that’ll come pouring out of various federal closets as the doors are opened for the first time in eight years. Some of the skeletons are heinous.
Most people know about Cheney’s ties to KRB, the Halliburton company doing most of the contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I don’t think many are prepared for how bad the situation is.
On January 22, 2009 at 9:13 am Kieran said...
I like Michelle because she walks like she’s not sure how to walk in high heels. I call it the “Julia Roberts” walk. She seems real and natural.
Marta, I also like that she didn’t wear a “slimming” gown. It looks like she wore what she thought was pretty, and that was that.
And I like that Barack is so obviously in love with her.
On January 22, 2009 at 11:35 am stephanie said...
Did you see us waving, Bridget? No? Well, there were a few people around. We got on The Mall just before 6am and found a spot near the JumboTron at Air & Space, created a pallet of blankets on the ground and our oldest curled up and went back to sleep. With the girls dressed in 4 layers on top and bottom [before coats and hats] they stayed pretty toasty warm, although tired and our youngest made sure that everyone around us knew it. Our youngest fell asleep before the Swearing In but our 3 year old was jumping up and down saying, “We did it! We did it!” and waving her flag.
And we met incredible, helpful people everywhere. On the Metro. Waiting all morning in the dark and the cold. Waiting, walking, standing in line to get back on the metro. Young. Old. White. African-American. It was an incredible experience. I know the girls don’t know the significance now and won’t remember but we have pictures and stories to tell them. And when they study it in school they’ll have something personal and special to share. For me, I was glad to be there. Frozen toes, and all!