David Simon is not a man who often expresses optimism, joy, or any feeling we’d generally associate with the sunnier side of the emotional spectrum. So it’s within that context that I say his response to Barack Obama’s reelection, which I only discovered today, may be the most buoyant thing I’ve ever seen him put his name to:
This election marks a moment in which the racial and social hierarchy of America is upended forever. No longer will it mean more politically to be a white male than to be anything else. Evolve, or don’t. Swallow your resentments, or don’t. But the votes are going to be counted, more of them with each election. Arizona will soon be in play. And in a few cycles, even Texas. And those wishing to hold national office in these United States will find it increasingly useless to argue for normal, to attempt to play one minority against each other, to turn pluralities against the feared “other” of gays, or blacks, or immigrants, or, incredibly in this election cycle, our very wives and lovers and daughters, fellow citizens who demand to control their own bodies.
Regardless of what happens with his second term, Barack Obama’s great victory has already been won: We are all the other now, in some sense. Special interests? That term has no more meaning in the New America. We are all — all of us, every last American, even the whitest of white guys — special interests. And now, normal isn’t white or straight or Christian. There is no normal. That word, too, means less with every moment. And those who continue to argue for such retrograde notions as a political reality will become less germane and more ridiculous with every passing year.
It’s profoundly weird to find myself in basic agreement with David Simon albeit with slightly less optimism. The end of normal, indeed.
I didn’t realize that the re-election of Barack Obama brought about the end of human nature.Report
Kolohe,
Way to miss the point. Try reading what he said and then think about it and then come up with a better post. “Have a take and try not to suck”.Report
Really? Jim Fishin Rome? That’s your response?
Well, thanks for proving *my* point, at least.Report
Nope you still missed it. Additionally, if your trying to pass off my critique of your comment as proof of your point ie something about the end of human nature in regard to Mr. Simon’s analasis of the election…well then you just swung and missed again. Its 0-2 and your best bet is to put one into right field or left field. Sure, its no homerun but at least you’ll get on base and that sure beats striking out.Report
You’re unrepentant jackassedry with nary a peep from anyone else is why I’m forgoing Kain’s pledge drive, so you have your victory, sir.Report
JB, stop being a jerk.
K, give E.D. all your monies.Report
I ONLY THOUGHT IT I DIDN’T DO ANYTHINGReport
Peep.Report
Never did I resort to jackassedry and nor did DavidSimon ever declare anything close to the end of “human nature” in his blog. He was speaking to the current trend in electoral behavior of voters in the United States. ..well you figure it out.Report
I wish it were so. But it’s not.
Yeah, we got a black man in the White House. Good for us. Too bad about the 800 thousand black men in prison. Tell them about how “the racial and social hierarchy of America is upended forever.” I wish it were so, but the reelection of Barack Obama is not the end of racism (or any other prejudice), any more than his initial election was.Report