Posted by
Zentrist on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 9:52:41 PM
The symbolism here is irresistible. By "chance," President Obama landed about a week ago in Newton, a great town I'm sure but an even greater symbol--of the Age of Obama--for this new age is about progress or change, innovation and "making things," science and technology. What better symbol for each of these ideas than Isaac Newton, the inventor (along with others) of "classical" physics? In this sense, the Obama Team knew what it was doing right down to the little detail of the name of the town to visit.
Newton, ironicallly a very Godly and religious man, stands for Modernity and Enlightenment. His "modern ideas" have unfolded before our historical eyes in the pages of a history of "growth" and "progress" culminating in the disaster of World War I. At which point, survivors began to question the value of such a "march" of "history" and "progress." Indeed as a scientific civilization we've continued to perform deeds of technological innovation, for example, "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." This idea of progress and innovation will not go away. Truth be told, I'm personally grateful to Newton and Company for modern, pain-free medicine and dentistry. The impact that "Newton's Ideas" have had on our President is obvious. Obama has referred to the "nation that put a man on the moon," its potential for even greater achievement. Indeed. No Descartes (calculus), no Leibniz (math of oval orbits), no Newton (mathematical physics)--NO MOON MISSION. Now, to jump ahead some twenty years from now, we hope with Obama that we can look back and say of our time, "That was when we began to get serious about education, energy and health care." Again, I'm with the President, but I'm worried about the "FOX" part of the equation. Why did Obama et. al. choose a school whose name is "Fox"? I'm not being cute here. I think even the names of places chosen to visit are chosen with care. These names are great material, at any rate, for writers--or should I say fools?--like me.
Very briefly: To me, Fox High School clearly points up at least the unconscious way in which (FOX) people like Sean Hannity and Charles Krauthammer and Bill O'Reilly are being "dialogued" with. There is this dialogue going on between Obama, who takes it all in, and his more visible adversaries. And the President has been and continues to be proactive about it. He will "speak to" the issues--whatever they might happen to be. In fact, so determined is this POTUS not to sweep anything under the rug--he will even "as it turns out" visit a public high school called Fox High School. I don't think Obama is trying to be cute. I think he is planting seeds, so to speak. When you recognize someone, acknowledge their existence, even shake their hands--you honor him or her. To look at people that way is to look out for them, to be concerned about their authentic well being.
President Obama is a great coach. I happened to see recently Charlie Rose's interview with "Coach K" of Duke. Coach K teaches his players, his staff, his family and anyone listening. He sees the potential, the "gold standard" inside. He has a knack for e-ducating, for "drawing out" that incredible potential.
It occurs to me that Obama is also good at educating people. I compliment him; as an educator I compliment President Obama for the nice compliment he gave to the sharp fourth-grader who turned up somehow at Fox High School. He complimented her for the "poise" with which she "articulated" an "excellent" question.
Finally, about that FOX symbol. After World War I, conservatives and liberals alike began to wonder: We've made so much Progress in technology...what with the sophisticated weapons and even "flying machines." Our thinkers have begun to imagine a new kind of politics, one based on this amazing scientific model. But now this technology married to our "morals" has exploded in our face.
So much for History married to Technology. So much for the "enlightenment." Millions and millions dead and mutilated.
The challenge that Fox News and its more or less disenchanted philosophy, its "conservativism," bring to Obama, is: How can we prevent yet another historical catastrophe?