If you know me or you’ve been reading this blog, you know I am a thorough fan of Obama. It sparked when I read his Audacity of Hope in the summer of 2007. And as I listened to his nuanced speeches and comments, understood his complicated view of the world and recognized his diplomatic and education based foreign policy, and realized this was a masterful dialectic thinker, I became an even greater fan and believed early on that this was both an excellent thinker and great leader.
However, I, like many other people, cringed at reading criticism of him for a long time. Honestly, so much of it is close-minded lacks a firm grasp about what Obama’s value is. Even if it was not chasing idiotic rumors of foreign birth and Arabic heritage, it often reduced him to his policy, which admittedly is not that different from Clinton’s. Furthermore, it confused character–moral and intellectual virtue–with personality worship, thinking that we are electing a celebrity, and it made me realize that most of his critics simply wouldn’t recognize a truly excellent man they were under his direct supervision.
However, that was campaign season. Now is time for the actual work. And as members of a democratic republic–who, despite the fundamentally ‘republic’ nature of our government, live in a place that must epitomize the spirit of democracy in our everyday lives– we need to be critical and sobering thinkers and participants.
Therefore, I encourage everyone to seek out intelligent criticism of Obama. Find those sources that understand and appreciate Obama’s strength, and read them. Every day. Recognize the faults, and be prepared to discuss them. Be prepared to be called an Obama-hater as you discuss these flaws with your Obama-loving friends.
I frankly love Obama. I had a sad dream that he and I were friends a few weeks ago. We were drinking some fine beer in a bar, shooting the shit, and he was talking to me about all the mounting emotions that he was going through as he was about to take on the most important position in the world–and yet, staying characterisically cool. He talked about the pride and the trepidation, and he enthusiastically shared his philosophy in assembling his cabinet team. It was sad because it seemed so completely natural and right, and yet, the man does not know, and never will know, that I exist.
I am an “Obama-phile,” without a doubt. But if we want to emulate him, then we need to emulate Socrates as well and embrace the gadfly. Do not let your communities become entranced by an idolized version of Obama. Keep it real, and seek out and read criticism.
Natural Causes 