Hope?

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I have a confession to make: I'm guardedly optimistic about the prospects for the Obama presidency.

It's no secret that I've had issues with him in the past. But he's impressed me since his election.

He has a tight balancing act, trying to represent all Americans while not abandoning what appear to be his moderate liberal instincts. But at least he's trying, which is more than can be said for his predecessor.

Bush has been a disastrous president and in almost every stylistic manner, Obama is the polar opposite. I think this is why people are so hopeful. Many people are also excited about the prospect of an actual intellectual in the White House. What's important is not Obama's intelligence, although that helps, but his curiosity. There is an important symbolism that leader of the nation be open-minded, constantly seek to challenge himself. There's an important symbolism that the self-proclaimed leader of the free world be open to that world. And in a country that claims to be meritocratic, it's important to have a president that worked hard to achieve the position, a president that inspires voluntary respect rather than demanding personal loyalty. And in a country that so values innovation, it's important to have a president that seems welcomes new ideas. Let's hope that intellectualism, the pursuit of knowledge, replaces willful ignorance as the trait most valued in America.

The thing I've most feared is that the euphoria over Obama's election will neuter his supporters. If Obama is to truly represent the change he claims, then it requires everyone to hold his feet to the fire, especially the people who supported him. Will his swearing in be the beginning or the end?

I won't paper over the issues I've had with him. He's made militaristic noises toward Pakistan and Iran. It remains to be seen if that was just to appear tough to appease the corporate media or if he meant it. He's promised the same blind loyalty toward Israeli atrocities as the current administration. The bucketloads of corporate cash he's received is a serious potential impediment to the sort of change he's sold. This is where it's important that his supporters not be overjoyed into silence. Lack of accountability is what made the current presidency a nightmare and it could do the same to Obama's if the people let it.

The major differences between he and Bush are on style. But while substance is important, leadership style isn't irrelevant either. No president can anticipate in advance every issue he's going to face in his presidency. Bush was strongly against 'nation building' before he took office. That quickly went out the window after 9/11. Instead of the 'humble America' he promised, Bush gave us a humbled America.

The decision making process, the leadership style, of a president and administration determines how these unexpected crises are faced. And Obama's apparent style of openness and collaboration is more likely to result in success than Bush's style of secrecy and surrounding himself with yes men. It remains to be seen how he'll govern; we'll know more about him once he actually has to face challenges and do something that might be controversial. But I'm somewhat reassured by his apparent instincts.

He's been so oversold as the Messiah that there will be inevitable disappointments. Especially since the hope invested in him was as much about disgust with the current administration's sickening immorality as about Obama himself. His supporters have to come back to Earth. Still, I'm willing to give Obama a chance. Not a blank check, but a chance.

But after eight years of the Dark Ages, let's hope that Obama's inauguration begins America's Renaissance. With all the problems the country's facing, I'm hopeful that we finally have a president and an administration that might actually be up to the job. THAT would be change we can believe in.