Someone I am excited and proud to call my friend

So, this is not by me.  This is by my dear friend Najla who I went through (perhaps am still going through) the PhD process with.  You need to read this, you need to share it ...

Wearing the Hijab

... and the next President of the United States is ...

I am excited, I mean REALLY EXCITED, about President-Elect Obama.  I have been waiting for an actually eloquent, intelligent, and real president for a long time.  I would argue that, even in Clinton's second term, we lost that.  I have many hopes, I have concerns.  We all should.  What we should not do is think that he is going to solve all of our liberal-leaning woes.  He won't - he can't.  Here's why.

If you listened to both he and McCain's speeches Tuesday night (and you really should.  Heck, if THAT McCain had shown up during the campaign, I may have voted a different direction), they both have this underlying narrative, this permeating argument, of unification.  This country is broken, cracked, shattered.  The overt challenges of two wars, the economy, the disdain for present-day politics in the US - all of these simply signify the underlying systemic failures that are occurring all of the time.  Watch the news, read the paper, open your eyes and look around the community that is yours.  Rather than people excited about their futures, they are frightened by their next 24 hours.  Obama cannot change that.  You can - We can.  I think he said it best when he pointed out that this will not be easy.  There is work to do.  All of us have to roll up our sleeves and do the work.

So, what kind of work is that?  Not bitching about it, that is for sure.  It is time to ask for a little less and do a little more.  Whatever work you are doing, whether it is in your job or in your community, make it count.  When I teach my students, I always ask them to consider the following - What's in it for me? (The WIIFM?)  What does this theory tell me about the world?  What does this argument strategy help me achieve in the end?  Now it is time to update that precept - What's in it for Us?  What does the work I choose to do accomplish for the greater good?  How does this act serve something more than me?  I will be the first to say that the individual needs to be happy with her or himself before they can serve the greater good (you cannot build something with a tool that does not work right!).  Once you have reached that, through working out or meditating or finding the right job or what have you, what is the next step?  THAT is what is important.  And THAT is the question I pose to you now.

Be well, have fun.  Live the moment and Enjoy life!  But remember to work towards the greater good. There is work to be done - are you ready?

Nosdrovie!  Adam.