A President Who Challenges Me

Posted by Seth Kramer on Wednesday, July 16th 2008 at 11:36am



I've beat on Bush pretty hard over the last 7.5 years, but I saw this quote from his press conference yesterday. Maybe it was the smart thing to say politically, maybe he didn't want to look like Jimmy Carter telling Americans to turn down the thermostat, etc, but it does disappoint me that our presidents have ceased to ask us for even a moment of discomfort.

John F. Kennedy famously said "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." That, for me, captures the essence of what it means to be an American. Our nation is, in the parlance of business, a joint venture not a sole proprietorship.

Our president and legislature set an vision for our nation and the judiciary makes sure that vision conforms with the existing ideals of our state. But none of this could happen without the consent of the governed, and the American people holding up their end of the bargain.

For too long we have come to expect much for very little. The "me" generation has convinced itself and successive generations that we can better ourselves through selfishness and the expectation that we are owed something because we just so damned special.

The above statement, and Bush's "go to the mall" remark after 9/11 represent missed opportunities to call the citizens to action at a time when they want to do anything they can to help, regardless of party affiliation or ideology.

The Republicans may want to put their fingers in their ears and say "la, la, la, la", but global warming is a very serious problem that, left unaddressed will reap grave consequences.

Likewise the Democrats may wish to sweep aside the issues with Social Security and Medicare, but they are in serious danger of exploding our deficit in the coming decades.

Every moment we fail to address these very real problems they become larger and more complex.

I will say that I am immensely pleased that both major party candidates recognize the value in again asking us to give of ourselves to remake our country. McCain talks about "devotion to a cause greater than self", and Obama says that he asks us "to believe not just in my ability to bring real change to Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours."

While I obviously have my own personal opinion in who would better move us beyond the petty behaviors of the "me" generation, I take comfort in the fact that they both understand our current situation. They recognize we are ready, willing, and able to inherit the good, bad, and ugly of our country, to serve her with honor whether in military service, community service, or putting ourselves to work as teachers, engineers, construction workers, or bus drivers each doing our small bit to meet the needs of our community, state, and nation.

It is a great shame Mr. Bush chose to squander his opportunity to do so.