Posted By Matt Past Blogs at 12:57 AMThe 44th President was sworn in yesterday and Obama couched his speech in talk of collective responsibility for change in America. Here's an excerpt—
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
What do you want most changed? What are you going to do about it?
Currently, the issues of Immigration Reform and Homeland Security are hopelessly entangled in our political discourse. Obama might appoint a "team"-- headed by VP Biden-- to study (in quick order) and redirect the discourse...leading to a more hopeful set of legislative proposals-- on BOTH issues. I would nominate to be team members people such as Professor Ange-Marie Hancock, who has researched the insidious nature of some political discourses in this country. (See her book, "The Politics of Disgust", which details the construction of public identities like the "Welfare Queen" by the enemies of welfare.)
Only when we have examined these two issues adequately-- as well as how they are linked perniciously in present discourse-- will we be able to develop just immigration policies.
President Obama's father was an immigrant and he is the nephew of an illegal immigrant. He is only the fourth President to have a foreign parent (according to Library of Congress). Let's hope he addresses this issue quickly and comprehensively.