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| From a poet to a prophet to a pragmatist |
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No! Barack Obama is not a messiah. He only offered a vision to a people that had been yearning for one; he offered hope to a lost tribe. Accused of sanctimonious speechifying when he first threw his hat in for the most prestigious job in the world, Barack Obama used a “defining moment” to transform himself from a poet, into a prophet and finally into a pragmatist. Moving from a poetic gesticulator to a prophet requires a supreme command of a language.
Barack Obama receives an “A” as he moved the hearts of the masses through melodramatic genius, Black preaching and oratorical skills. He brought to a conscious level many broken promises and a broken contract between the United States of America and its government with another promise to cure the pain. His voice resembled the tradition of southern preachers who ignite the latent passion that moves people into imagining a more humane society. He deserves an “A+” for transforming his vision from a mishmash of sloganeering into a collage of artistic beauty.
His eloquence and charisma can be compared to Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have Dream,” speech. Obama addressed “232 years of promise, leaning towards jeopardy” because of a faltering moral commitment and a trickle down economy that often freezes as it flows down. Obama left people speechless, wiping away tears of sadness at the despicable conditions they live in; followed by more tears of happiness about transforming mere existence into an abundance of plenty.
As I observed the masses of people crowding into Invesco Field on the night of the DNC, it reminded me of one of my peregrinaciones to México City during La Virgen de Guadalupe’s birthday. During those pilgrimages, I observed cultural rites in action as poor, disheveled people, wearing guaraches, pantalones rompidos, camisas blancas y panuelos rojos wrapped around their necks ambled to La Basilica. People with trembling hands holding onto canes hobbled along dusty barren mountain roads; others with broken down carriages with destitute children lying motionless struggled to the church. Gente, wandering out of mountain paths on broken down bicycles appeared, and still others from colonias made the pilgrimage to pay homage to La Virgencita; someone who lives in a spiritual realm, imbedded in non materialism. It was about holding onto faith.
On Thursday night, Razas crawled out of the inner-city barrios. Citizens of all colors came to hear the message. Many are lost in desperation as for-sale signs are pounded into brittle ground where green grass has yellowed during hot summers. Citizens traveled from suburbs venturing out of their comfort zones becoming increasingly more uncomfortable as they rode fancy bicycles into a West Denver barrio. Middle class Americans suffering from the penury of the times came to listen, wondering what ray of hope could be offered to heal pangs of bereavement as lives are dwindling away; to uplift the economy, discuss the recession.
Paupers from barrios on the brink of disaster were glued to their television sets. Although, the event happened in their hood, many were denied entrance. It is not an unusual occurrence. Their entrepreneurial spirits came to life as they sold food and beverages to the masses of the people that had trekked down to be a part of history.
Obama’s words became powerful weapons. He challenged youth to move from lethargy to action, elderly from complacency to activism, transcendentalists into materialists, and Republicans into disavowers of their own party. His words spoke to the diverse religious sectors. His credo transformed dreams of nonbelievers into believers.
He was cognizant that words without deeds do nothing to transform material society. He was acutely aware he needed to move the citizenry from psychological depravation and emotional turmoil into a place of hope. His message was for all to hear.
What message? The richest country in the world should not have beggars on its streets. There shouldn’t be children on welfare, doing without the basics. Hard working Americans should have jobs to fulfill their life’s dreams. Obama proposes to change the tax structure where the rich become richer and poor become poorer. There is no doubt that he will have his hands full, as capitalists and rich tycoons use their power to move people from a ray of hope created by Obama’s speech into a deeper dependency on the whims of the free market.
As I walked through the neighborhood adjacent to the stadium I saw people outside, joyful noise could be heard; music was playing; there was hope in the air. A reinvigoration of faith in América had been restored.
But for Obama, his journey has just begun.
Dr. Ramón Del Castillo is an Independent Journalist.
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