Obama's victory last night has shifted realities, realities that I have to consider for the book. I've edited the prologue and should finish editing chapter one today, but as I go forward I will have to consider how to adapt to last night's events.
Do I forge ahead because, in general, people associate Washington politicians as being out of touch, above it all and out for themselves no matter what year it is? This approach, in light of recent events, I reckon would only go to show that I am the one out of touch.
Do I eliminate the element of national politics altogether because Obama is the opposite of the characters I have and because he represents a new paradigm? That would be naive, especially since he hasn't even taken office yet. That being said, I could eliminate the national perspective and simply make it a more local story. This is a viable option, but it is not a cure-all as it presents its own problems/questions.
The 2008 U.S. presidential campaign was historic for specific reasons. And while still freshly minted, the mere mention of the 2008 campaign will evoke specific memories for people. I now fear that setting the story in that year during that campaign without those players or players like them would jeopardize a certain credibility.
Now that I think about the totality of the book and how much the presidential candidates make up, I realize that when the story comes to its climax, they are on the sidelines. It is the local officials that are more front and center. So here's what I'll do: I'll keep the presidential candidates a part of the story, but I'll keep them on the sidelines. This is do-able and realistic. Cool.
That's what I like about this blog. Not only does it force me to keep making progress, but it allows me to think things through outloud, if you will, while also taking in feedback from friends and others.
Good. And now back to editing!
Showing posts with label 2008 election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008 election. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Hypocrites, the whole lot
The first comment I note in the margins of chapter two is to allude to the presidential election more. The book takes place over 90 days from August to early November in a presidential election year. Over the course of the book the story of our two unwanted do-gooders rises up from local to national news with all manner of pundits and politicians putting in their two cents.
Comedically, it's easy to point to politicians and to portray them as hypocrites on any number of issues as the winds of public sentiment shift or new information becomes available. More often than not I have defended politicians' waffling. Why? Because I've managed political campaigns, worked on others and volunteered on many more and have seen how a new piece of information or a new proposal can change an elected official's mind. Does this make this individual a hypocrite? Perhaps, but I'd rather be called a hypocrite and have made an informed decision than stuck with my first opinion despite the availability of additional information.
That being said, the joke here will not only be on our politicians, but most likely the media as well. Have we learned from the wildly inaccurate exit polls of 2000? Nope. Have we learned to avoid sensationalizing bits of stories that may mislead readers rather than performing the due diligence to provide all perspectives and check all facts? Not likely - that doesn't sell newspapers or appeal to advertisers.
At the end of the day, though, the reluctance for Americans to accept help runs deeper than a few defiant politicians or sensationalistic journalists: It runs counter to our country's story; that in light of prosecution, we left one country to find freedom elsewhere; that in light of opportunity in one place, we left to find opportunity elsewhere. When we find that freedom and opportunity are not available in a land that has become synonymous for such things, we question the raison d'etre of this country and by extension, our lives as citizens of this country. As one can imagine, this is not a question any of us would find easy to face or concede to. Addressed seriously this borders on cold, misunderstood French Existentialism; addressed comically and, well, we'll hopefully have more than just the pot calling the kettle black.
Comedically, it's easy to point to politicians and to portray them as hypocrites on any number of issues as the winds of public sentiment shift or new information becomes available. More often than not I have defended politicians' waffling. Why? Because I've managed political campaigns, worked on others and volunteered on many more and have seen how a new piece of information or a new proposal can change an elected official's mind. Does this make this individual a hypocrite? Perhaps, but I'd rather be called a hypocrite and have made an informed decision than stuck with my first opinion despite the availability of additional information.
That being said, the joke here will not only be on our politicians, but most likely the media as well. Have we learned from the wildly inaccurate exit polls of 2000? Nope. Have we learned to avoid sensationalizing bits of stories that may mislead readers rather than performing the due diligence to provide all perspectives and check all facts? Not likely - that doesn't sell newspapers or appeal to advertisers.
At the end of the day, though, the reluctance for Americans to accept help runs deeper than a few defiant politicians or sensationalistic journalists: It runs counter to our country's story; that in light of prosecution, we left one country to find freedom elsewhere; that in light of opportunity in one place, we left to find opportunity elsewhere. When we find that freedom and opportunity are not available in a land that has become synonymous for such things, we question the raison d'etre of this country and by extension, our lives as citizens of this country. As one can imagine, this is not a question any of us would find easy to face or concede to. Addressed seriously this borders on cold, misunderstood French Existentialism; addressed comically and, well, we'll hopefully have more than just the pot calling the kettle black.
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