Circling Back Around . . . to Hope

 Sometimes being a little behind the times brings a helpful perspective.

The inside flap of my copy of The Audacity of Hope states this about its author: "Barack Obama is the junior U.S. senator from Illinois . . ." Published in 2006, this book served as Obama's political manifesto, the document that launched him into the graces of the Democratic literati and therefore into the White House. In hindsight, of course, it is easy to see with 20/20 vision the roots of Obama's work as president--the promises and designs that got him elected and the decisions that caused such disagreement with the Republicans during his two terms.

But the book provides so much more than a political platform. With witty and revealing personal narrative, Obama connects both the universal and unique aspects of human experience with a calling to public political service. With honesty and wisdom he reveals both why the work of politics is so hard and why it is necessary for the thriving of a nation.

I appreciate especially Obama's penchant for a diachronic approach: He delves into specific political issues that face us in the present and digs back in time to assess the historical roots of those issues. The Audacity of Hope clarifies the author's position on a host of issues facing the United States (in 2006, but also strangely still today), but also gives readers a series of instructive history lessons about the sources of those issues and the disagreements that plagued them from the beginning. We remember, with Obama's encouragement, that the United States has always been a place of public disagreement and political tension.

Though unabashedly Democratic in terms of its political leanings, the book does not condemn the opponents of the Democratic party. Obama, in the lines and between the lines, makes it clear that he respects the positions his opponents may take, even when he disagrees with them. Audacity thus serves as both a textbook on political theory and an example of civility in political discourse. I found myself thinking as I read it that it would serve well as a textbook for high school U.S. government courses.

I consider it providential that Audacity came into my hands as a gift just at this moment, as the 45th president disappears from a term wracked by extremes, incivility, and bitterness and the 46th president (as if simply stepping from vice-presidency to presidency) attempts to lead the country with calm, civility, and a gentleness that some have bewailed as boring. No doubt Democrats and Republicans will continue to disagree on--well, perhaps most things. One's foundational assumptions about the role of government, politicians, and individuals force mutually exclusive choices that only seem to be weakened by compromise. Therefore strength as commonly conceived will continue to breed staunch and intransigent opposition in America's political bodies.

But maybe, just maybe, when we can be clear-eyed and articulate about the experiences and reasons why we hold our assumptions and come to our present conclusions, then we can actively seek to work with our colleagues from across every aisle in order to develop a more perfect union. This possibility--that underneath our most foundational assumptions about politics lie even more basic assumptions about goodness and love--might be what resonated most in me as I read Obama's book. That in spite of disagreement we might still be able to uphold the good together I will continue to be audacious enough to hope.

~ emrys