Observing the observers:
Nov. 5th, 2008 05:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sister_luckThe boyfriend woke up at 5.30 and put a video into the machine and taped CNN for me. I woke up a couple of minutes before 6 o'clock to the sounds of cheers shortly before Obama stepped onto the stage. I took the tape to school with me.
My first group on a Wednesday is my Year 13 English course. I was greeted by an overjoyed pupil who just couldn't contain his excitement that there was a new president in the United States. T's father is from Lebanon, his mother is German and he's spent his summer vacations both in Lebanon and the US where he has got family. Others weren't as enthusiastic - some clearly suffering from election fatigue, some already infected by cynicism. No, he told me, he wasn't a cynic, he was just being realistic. (I liked that answer.)
First we watched parts of a special election edition of Saturday Night Live that was broadcast last night on one of our digital comedy channels. They enjoyed that - especially Tom Brokaw debate and George W. Bush's public endorsement of John McCain. We also talked about the candidates of course, something we hadn't done for quite a while, because we already covered the United States last year.
One of the girls didn't know who Sarah Palin was - the others jumped on her and told her that she didn't believe in evolution and dinosaurs. It is clearly an alien idea for them - and of course, it makes them feel smug and superior that they're much cleverer. Another girl just couldn't stop going on about Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and her mother's opposition to sex education.
Then we got to Obama's speech. My students were impressed that I had brought it for them to see - this morning's speech? Really? How did you manage to do that? (Err, modern technology and a boyfriend who was up early.)
It was interesting to see how they became more and more attentive the longer it went on. The Oscar-like thanks? They weren't impressed except when he mentioned his family. When he talked about the puppy for his daughters, there was a collective awwwwww from most of them. They recognised and mentally ticked off all the big words and concepts they'd encountered last year: democracy, the founders, the place where all things are possible, the American Dream, the more perfect union, the shining beacon of freedom, liberty and hope and so on. They knew all that. The bell rang but only the cynic left. You should have heard him snort when Obama said he'd always be honest. The others stayed and the story (narrative trumps all) of Ann Nixon Cooper really got to them. It touched them. Suddenly all the concepts became personal.
Ten minutes later, on my way to the other building one of my former students came up to me and asked me if she could borrow the tape. She wanted to see that speech because her friend had told her about it. I told her not to worry because I'd already given the tape to her English teacher to watch it in the next lesson.
As to me?
Right now I'm siding with the cynical realist. The historical significance of the moment will probably remain largely symbolic. There won't be any radical change in policy. There is the chance of some international fence-mending. As to what it means for American society? That's difficult for me to comment on as an outsider and it's much too early to tell.
I know that the rhetoric works. I know that lots of people, including young Europeans, are filled with hope for a better future. Let's hope this feeling lasts. Let's hope there will be some results.
My first group on a Wednesday is my Year 13 English course. I was greeted by an overjoyed pupil who just couldn't contain his excitement that there was a new president in the United States. T's father is from Lebanon, his mother is German and he's spent his summer vacations both in Lebanon and the US where he has got family. Others weren't as enthusiastic - some clearly suffering from election fatigue, some already infected by cynicism. No, he told me, he wasn't a cynic, he was just being realistic. (I liked that answer.)
First we watched parts of a special election edition of Saturday Night Live that was broadcast last night on one of our digital comedy channels. They enjoyed that - especially Tom Brokaw debate and George W. Bush's public endorsement of John McCain. We also talked about the candidates of course, something we hadn't done for quite a while, because we already covered the United States last year.
One of the girls didn't know who Sarah Palin was - the others jumped on her and told her that she didn't believe in evolution and dinosaurs. It is clearly an alien idea for them - and of course, it makes them feel smug and superior that they're much cleverer. Another girl just couldn't stop going on about Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and her mother's opposition to sex education.
Then we got to Obama's speech. My students were impressed that I had brought it for them to see - this morning's speech? Really? How did you manage to do that? (Err, modern technology and a boyfriend who was up early.)
It was interesting to see how they became more and more attentive the longer it went on. The Oscar-like thanks? They weren't impressed except when he mentioned his family. When he talked about the puppy for his daughters, there was a collective awwwwww from most of them. They recognised and mentally ticked off all the big words and concepts they'd encountered last year: democracy, the founders, the place where all things are possible, the American Dream, the more perfect union, the shining beacon of freedom, liberty and hope and so on. They knew all that. The bell rang but only the cynic left. You should have heard him snort when Obama said he'd always be honest. The others stayed and the story (narrative trumps all) of Ann Nixon Cooper really got to them. It touched them. Suddenly all the concepts became personal.
Ten minutes later, on my way to the other building one of my former students came up to me and asked me if she could borrow the tape. She wanted to see that speech because her friend had told her about it. I told her not to worry because I'd already given the tape to her English teacher to watch it in the next lesson.
As to me?
Right now I'm siding with the cynical realist. The historical significance of the moment will probably remain largely symbolic. There won't be any radical change in policy. There is the chance of some international fence-mending. As to what it means for American society? That's difficult for me to comment on as an outsider and it's much too early to tell.
I know that the rhetoric works. I know that lots of people, including young Europeans, are filled with hope for a better future. Let's hope this feeling lasts. Let's hope there will be some results.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 06:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 06:38 pm (UTC)I knew you would.
;-)
There is always this tiny feeling of unease when I witness a speaker or even a musician successfully work a crowd. I don't feel uneasy about Obama or his politics - this election is a welcome and much-needed change - but whether I agree with a politician or not the power of a competent orator always reminds me of the potential of misuse.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 06:48 pm (UTC)http://frenchani.blogspot.com/2008/11/is-this-history-or-just-good-story.html
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 06:55 pm (UTC)Hihi, it's not so secret as you link to it on your livejournal - I stop by there occasionally.
I tried commenting there a couple of minutes ago, but I messed it up. I shall try again! (Or I might have commented twice... Do you have to approve the comments before making them public?)
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 07:02 pm (UTC)I don't know if I have to approve comments...never really looked that up :- (
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 07:14 pm (UTC)Oh, I've known about it for longer than that - in your journal sidebar there's a link to your Greatest Journal blog (haven't been there for ages) and there's also the link to your blogspot - which I followed quite some time ago and sometimes I wander over to see whether you've got a new post. I hadn't seen the photos before!
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 07:22 pm (UTC)Finally found out that I could post photos and thought it was prettier with pictures on it! ;- )
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 07:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 07:16 pm (UTC)Well, I tried open ID which should work with livejournal. I think the problem was somewhere at my end. But with blogspot it takes a while until the comments appear.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 07:24 pm (UTC)Did you get a message saying that your message had been sent?
Anyway I've got to return to Marking Hell.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 07:59 pm (UTC)It did work anonymously, but not with open ID. Don't know why - I shall investigate tomorrow. Now I'm off to the sofa - marking hell will come tomorrow....
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 08:08 pm (UTC)That said, I'm extremely relieved by this result. It should make the future just a little less scary.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-06 06:25 am (UTC)Yes, I was reminded of 1997, too. I was living in Warrington at that time and everyone was so energized. For a while, it made a huge difference in people's lives.