"This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.
It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other."
I let this simmer for a week in its rosy and patriotic goodness. Now, I want to know what this sacrifice means for me and everyone else living in this country. Can't I argue that things are bad enough as is? As a journalism major, my job market absolutely sucks and is probably never going to get better. My mom has been teaching in D.C. and Maryland schools for over 20 years. You know what the deal is with her profession. My dad worked for 40 years, retired, and now has to pull teeth to stay on top of his pensions... Now I don't expect Obama to play God when he's in the White House, therefore I don't expect government to fix every problem out there, but anytime a presidential candidate tells me to "put away the video games," "turn off the television," and "read to my kids," I think he's fair game to criticize on anything.
As college students, we pay through the nose for tuition and other expenses, and nationally, tuition rates increased by over 6% between 2007 and 2008. This may be heresy to say here, but GMU President Alan Merten has been vocal in his support for tuition increases here, which hover between 8 and 10 percent a year. There's all this, and then we work, leaving us striving for money (much of which we blow on taxes), and devoid of time. What can we sacrifice?
My answer is time. We can find the time to volunteer for good causes, go to a help the homeless walk-a-thon, organize a neighborhood cleanup once in awhile. We can certainly do that. I'm not a cold, heartless devil. Sacrificing is a good thing.
Then why does Obama's request seem so hypocritical to me?
- Because after the government put together an $85 billion bailout package for AIG, executives from that company went on a week-long $440,000 vacation.
- Because in September, the three major automakers received a $25 billion government subsidy to stay alive, and now they want $50 billion more.
- Because on March 21, 2007, Boston Globe columnist Derrick Jackson wrote: "It is a classic sign of the times that The
Washington Post tells us how many of our 23,400 wounded troops recuperate at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with cockroaches at their feet as Americans plunk down $2.5 billion for office pools for college basketball's March Madness." - Because the city of Washington can afford a $650 million baseball stadium and still has one of the worst public school systems in the country.
Do you need an incentive to begin sacrificing more? How skeptical or optimistic are you about the idea of sacrifice, and what concerns you about it? Does the idea of sacrifice go beyond the relatively small amount one person can do?
Give me some examples of sacrifices you can make.
And lastly, to everyone, nice job on all the great blog posts throughout the semester!
4 comments:
Rashad,
Your blog is extremely thought provoking and the examples you presented are powerful. It definitely got me thinking about what my part in government is and what I can do to help. First, I would like to say that I completely agree with you about volunteering time. Americans are in a position where we like our comfort and when it comes to spending money, we rather spend it on ourselves than other things. So, if we are so stingy with our money, lets do something that is cost efficient while helping out our fellow Americans.
However, this is easier said than done. I can't count the number of times that others and even myself, have plopped down on the couch, exhausted not wanting to move an inch. The feeling stays with us until the end of the week and then it's time for the weekend and the freedom to do what we want without any constraints. So why would I, or anyone else want to volunteer my free time? The answer is simple. Just take a Saturday or Sunday every now and then and do something to help. It is much easier to do things in increments then to wait until we feel as if a big burden is crashing down on us and then become overwhelmed by the sheer size of the task.
Another point I would like to comment on is my belief that we as citizens are expected to sacrifice more than anyone else. This is something that I simply do not agree with. I think that the big businesses of America have gotten away with too much recently and instead of being penalized they are receiving bailout after bailout. It is simply unfair. While GM is getting millions of dollars, all I got was a check for $600 and then I was expected to turn around and spend it to stimulate the economy. I sincerely believe that the government is throwing money at the issue instead of solving it. If we want to get to the root of the problem, the government needs to take a magnifying glass to this companies and see where things went wrong first and then provide some help if necessary. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world and I really do think that if things keep going the way it is, we will owe every country in the world money and will no longer be able to support ourselves.
I think President-Elect Barack Obama's speech covered many good points - particularly the one you mention about victory and change.I agree with you and Rachael that it is harder for us, as more common citizens, to sacrifice when the big businesses are squandering the government help they have received. I feel that they should set an example so that others will feel more of an incentive in sacrificing as well.
I am not sure what things I can do that will be helpful, but I agree that volunteering is a good idea. I find volunteering hard too, what with work and school on the side, but as the president-elect talked about in his speech, we have to help each other.
I think being aware of politics and current affairs more, and making an effort to learn about them from credible sources, is also a good idea.
All good points.
My understanding of Obama's message for sacrifice is not so that we pick up the phone and donate money to our favorite charity nor go to our local schools or church and help to distribute fliers of some kind but to get our buts off the lazy chair and do something for our own benefit.
Such as working hard and wise enough to not get our homes foreclosed. That is what created the current problem,after all. When individual starts to fail, country follows.
I believe by improving our own standards, we will improve the country's. Every dollar we earn or spend is the dollar earned to the country and vice-versa.
This is capitalism ladies and gents, the country that rewards executives and business owners punishes the general public.
First of all: President Merten has actually admitted to wanting a tuition increase to be inflicted on us? I'm heartbroken. One theme with which I completely agree in your blog post is the role of colleges in perpetuating student hardship. Thanks so much to the universities who clamor for money, even in the midst of a budget crisis, to construct buildings that I will probably never use and raise my tuition to offset the costs. Thanks so much to the universities who demand money for sports events so that they can enhance their prestige.
You are absolutely right, Rashad: How can we, without considerable effort, feel inspired to sacrifice our time and money when the real people in power-- universities and executives-- abuse their power and skew the priorities of this country?
And I would like to follow your example by congratulating everyone on their interesting blog posts this semester!
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