A Transformational Opportunity

A Transformational Opportunity

By Wayne Williams

November 5th, 2008

 
Obama Wins, People Rejoice, Now the hard work begins.

The opportunity for change begins with a shock to the system, which becomes reality only when a desire to change and a vision of the possibilities of change are activated by hard work. Focused action not only transforms the moment but also the person in action.

All transformations begin with a shock to the system.  Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, the Republicans and their massive failures were the shock. Progressive activists had the desire and the vision; they empowered Obama and his hard working volunteers, and now we have the opportunity for real change brought on by this national crisis. 

It is critical to realize that it was not Obama, the man but the people’s vision, guided by desire for a new beginning that has brought about this grand opportunity. Yet, transformations only hold when vigilance and commitment are maintained with respect and open-mindedness. Our task is to find a way to do just that.

For those on the left, who have kept the progressive ball rolling, often times with such overwhelming odds against us, it is now time to realize we did not do this on our own. It has taken many others with differing points of view to push this growing snowball up the hill to reach this point in time. We must be open and inclusive of all and share our experience and vision, not our righteousness or need to control others.

For those on the right, our nation is leaving behind much of the cultural fears and hatreds, greed and deceitfulness that have been the modus-operandi of a dominant patriarchal perspective, based on a religious dogma that has shown itself to be flawed at best, and no longer necessary for the advancement of mankind.

For those in the middle, thank you for the opportunity to take this giant step forward, especially those independents that chose the candidate with the wisdom not to attack his opponent but speak to the dreams we all have for our future.

For those new to the process that worked so hard for President Elect Obama, the real work now begins, do not disengage. This isn't over - it has just begun. It will require your continued participation if you wish to see your dreams become reality.

In 1960, JFK entered the White House to a transformed nation and the forces of greed and fear took our nation back to darker times with murder, war and hatred.

In 1980, the same happened to Carter, a good man, when he ran up against the same forces and was not able to survive because he did not build the kind of coalition necessary to effect significant change.

In 1992, we were all transfixed by a new tomorrow; only to sit back, thinking our job was done. And once again the forces of money, greed, fear and the hatred of our open-minded culture of freedom took the realized dream from us.

Finally, after the 2000 and 2004 elections were stolen from us, something changed in a most significant fashion. The Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party said to the relatively Conservative Party leadership, enough is enough!  The Caucus and its concerned and visionary members set out to transform the party from the inside with ideas, not driven by the force of the individual. We acted to demand the end of the Iraq war and forced the party to recognize the necessity of that action. We used the Internet to make renewed citizens action possible. We worked inside and outside the system and started pushing the need for progressive change.

Barack Obama understands the need for change, for as my good friend Richard Greene, host of CLOUT! on Air America Radio recently wrote about Obama: