I appreciate everyone’s comments. I think it’s important to understand that we have different opinions and perspectives.
The purpose of this blog – Speak Freely – is to allow for free discussion. This means that you are given opportunities to express yourselves. In this way, we are experiencing the First Amendment as the founders intended, even if the method in which we express ourselves was unimaginable to them.
In this spirit, I appreciate Grant Martin’s comments to my most recent blog entry, “A transformational moment.” In that entry, I tried to make the case that the presidential election serves as a transformational and transcending moment in United States history. I tried to separate politics from the historic nature of the election.
Perhaps I did not succeed with Grant, and maybe with others in class. And that’s OK. Grant’s dissention is important because it tells me that he is comfortable enough to express his disagreement.
Notice that we have done this in a civil way. Though we may disagree, though we may not see eye to eye, we are all better for these different expressions and perspectives.
Grant ends his comment this way: “Professor Martinez, I could have really done without this blog!” I presume he means my blog entry and not the entire blog. If so, my best response is, “Grant, I’m glad you wrote your comment because my blog is better for it.”
Thank you, everyone, for your interest and participation.
8 comments:
Just wanted to say that I agree partly with Grant. I hope people voted for a particular candidate because they truly felt they were the better candidate. However, I do not agree that Obama's win "has no bearing on how this country will get turned around." The election of our first minority to the presidency has already had an effect on this country, especially with young children who are minorities. Growing up, I was told that I could be anything I wanted, even President. But when a young Hispanic boy takes a look at Presidents past, it is hard to believe, especially when not one of the presidents in the past 200 years of this country has my skin tone. Minorities have long had certain doors closed to them in this country. Let us not forget it hasn't been that long since the last schools were segregated. People speak of racism and prejudice in this country as if it were just a footnote in the history of our country and that its effects no longer linger in this society. As much as I would like to believe that, that is simply not the case. However, things have changed a great deal and the election of Barack Obama is proof of that.
I liken it to the space program. Some people ask what we achieved by going to the moon. Some say nothing. I say it inspired and that was its greatest legacy. It showed this country that we can dream something bigger than ourselves and make it a reality. That, in this country, anything is possible to anyone. Perhaps this will be Obama's legacy as well.
I was allowed to vote in the 2004 presidential election, but I didn't. I did not want to vote when I had no idea what was going on. So why did I decide to vote in this election? Let's face it, this election was EXCITING. People may not want race to have anything to do with it BUT it does. Correct, we should not have voted for either candidate for the color of his skin but I do not believe for one second that subconsciously the underlying issue of race did not resonate within each person when they voted. Whether it be for or against Obama that was still an issue. For me, coming from a predominantly republican family, voting for Barack Obama was something a little out of the ordinary. I am very proud of who our president is. People can not in one breath talk about our country making history and then in the other breath talk about how race should not be an issue. I think one of the biggest problems with racism is that we try to act like it doesn't exist. If people would just confront it and treat it for what it is then I believe our country will see some "Change".
Hmmm...he's entitled to his opinion. Professor Martinez your blog was very powerful and I completely agree with what you had to say. I am african american and I voted for Obama, but I voted for him beecause I thought he was the best candidate not because he is half black, but at the same time it makes me extremely proud to see someone who is african american to hold such a high office. He's entitled to his opinion, and the point about people talking about race, the main point I made about race is that it's sad to see how this country has a long way to go when it comes to racism, because not everyone who didn't vote for Obama isn't racist that isn't at all what I'm trying to say, but there are a lot of people who are pissed about Obama being in office because of his race. And that whole comment about how people just assume that all white people are republican or whatever is dumb because any educated person would know that this isn't true. I don't know, like I said he's entitled to his opinion but whatever.
--Shammara Polk (9:30)
Guys I must say i still feel the way i do, but definitely think the way i went about it was wrong. Let this be a testament to you guys to not drink and blog at the same time. The two dont really mix! I would love to believe that this country is beyond the whole race thing but the past few days have showed us otherwise. Me and Professor Martinez had a lengthy discussion about this today, and I could definitely see some of his viewpoints. I grew up in Houston and served in the Navy so the whole race thing really wasnt that big of deal to me. But recently after the results came in, we hear about A&M and their egg throwing deal at Obama's posters. We hear about the nooses found in trees on the Baylor Campuses and we hear of that radio station making comments on when the first assassination attempt will be made on Obama. To me thats just fucking retarded. I would like to think that this country is far beyond being shocked that we have elected a black president, and that the more important issue at hand is turning this country back to greatness but maybe its a bit premature. We still have to deal with some idiots. I consider myself a liberal republican and nothing will change my outlook on that, but I just hope that Obama can help bring this country back on the right track. So apologies to Prof. Martinez for saying his blog sucked. It didnt suck. He felt strongly about the uniqueness of this election voiced it. I guess i am happy in a way this guy was elected, to at least show the world in some aspects we have come a long way from the 1860's. I just hope he does his job and turns things around.
My parents are Conservative Republicans. Not only that, but old-fashioned, southern and can be quite stubborn. My father, however much he would not own to it, can make very crude comments, and my mother is 100% convinced Obama is a socialist. While I understand where her ideas originate, I do not agree with her. I certainly do not agree with my father's attitude about the whole election either.
It's also pretty much impossible for me to have a calm, educated conversation with them about politics; despite the fact we are adults and everyday I am surrounded by politics, heated discussions and educated individuals.
I voted for Obama because I believe he would make for a better president. I didn't completely agree with either party, but I made my decision and I stand by it.
So for the simple fact of just being able to voice my opinion, and not be talked down to, I appreciate this outlet.
While alcohol played a part in Grant's comments, it doesn't in mine.
I might be eating a great big crow dinner in 4 years but I still stand fast in my belief that Obama won't turn this country around like he is promising. I myself voted for McCain though I think he would have been better served without Sarah Palin as his running mate. I feel that Obama will not be able to scare the living daylights out of those countries that possess nuclear weapons. I feel that America just went from the big protective brother to the kid who receives a Swirly every day in 3rd period because he won't give up his lunch money. For me, the whole issue boiled down to what can you do as far as foreign relations are concerned and how do we make this world better. I feel Obama will bend to the demands of these other nations and I think it will come back to bite us in the ass. Bush 41 went after Saddam Hussein back in Desert Storm and then pulled out. Clinton went the economic route and the only action the U.S. was involved in was Kosovo and that wasn't much of a conflict and really didn't push the foreign relations part of his presidency. Then Dubya comes in and not even 8 months into his presidency, our nation was attacked by terrorists. We all put on our Red, White, and Blue after losing over 3200 Americans in that attack. So he does the one thing Clinton didn't pursue, he went on the offensive and in the end, he's been tossed in the Shake-N-Bake and his timer is about to buzz on January 20th. Maybe he forgot the economy but that's what happens when your nation's defense comes first even 7 years later. Now, our economy sucks except I'm loving the lower gas prices. Our economy was strong but then all of a sudden it wasn't. I look directly at one thing...A democrat controlled House. And now all of Congress and the White House is Democrat controlled. To be honest, that scares the crap out of me. So Mr. Obama you can tell me you are gonna fix the economy all you want but you are going to cut jobs in the military which leads to my foreign relations fears. I don't believe our nation is headed for a change, I believe we might be headed for a decline...
I will be the first to admit that I didn't know who I was going to vote for until a few days before I voted early. My question is, how did we get here? I essentially had to vote for a person that had the least issues with me. I mean, I know plently of people who have more years in their life than McCain, more experience than Obama, less "bubble" than Palin, and more presence than Biden. But overall, I placed my vote and the nation spoke and I choose to be optimistic and supportive of the outcome. My hopes are that the 100%of young people (as Hannah stated earlier a statistic - 66% for Obama) voted because they have done their part in researching and thoroughly, thinking through the affects each administration would have had on our lives as a whole in the future. So many students voted for Obabma just because of [insert ridiculous qualification based on looks here] or for McCain because [insert MILF statement here] . I hate the stereotypes that emerged over the recent months and I am hoping that people put a good amount of effort into their decisions instead of voting with the popular statement of the day.
I know I sound like I'm going back to the stoneage here, but I think there should be a short test administered in order to receieve your registration card- not something that would deter voters but something that would prevent our nation's most unintelligent/lazy from effecting how the rest of the nation is run. Something simple and short that we can use to ensure that the people voting know at least a smidge about politics.
I can just hear Grant blow up this blog from that statement (haha!) but this is my opinion and I'm stickin' to it!
Kim Keoghan (9:30)
Just want to say that I enjoyed reading "A Transformational Moment." No one can deny the historical significance that this election has had. Either way it went down, it would have been transformational. Had McCain & Palin won, McCain would have been the oldest president in our nation's history; Palin would have been the first female VP. And of course, Barack-O is our nation's first African-American presidential-elect. Those facts really show how far our nation has come.
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