I wanted to make a commentary on the significance of this recent inauguration. We have entered into a new political era, a really positive time for people wanting progressive change. In my experience, people had been pretty demoralized during years of conservative dominance. The Obama inauguration in the Rathskeller was in stark contrast to this. Many people couldn't conceal their grins. I even found myself on the brink of tears when it hit me that today was that day I never thought I would see. We got our first Black president!
However, even though Obama has been elected with the use of radical rhetoric, Obama's cabinet choices suggest that his real plans are more like the neo-liberalism of Bill Clinton than the radical change he has campaigned around. Now is the time for the left to come together and figure out what we can do to make sure we see the real change people are hoping for and expecting.
The public forum I have been involved in organizing will be the perfect way for the left to come together and coalesce for this new time with Obama in the White House. We have a great lineup of speakers including: Jennifer Loewenstein, associate director of Middle East Studies here at UW-Madison, John Nichols of The Nation, Matt Rothschild of The Progressive Magazine, Lance Selfa who wrote Democrats: A Critical History"" and Will Williams of Veterans for Peace. It will be this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Orpheum Stage Door.
- Jessie Otradovec
Physics Student
UW-Madison
