Divide & Conquer -- Unite & Prosper

If you are a progressive like myself you are elated at today's inauguration of Barack Obama. If you are a conservative, you have doubts. Obama won't be a perfect president and certainly doesn't have all the answers. I'd like to suggest we push ideology aside, even if just for today. There will be plenty of time for ideologues to banter.

Instead, I want to focus on process. What is the process by which our new leader will govern? Just as much as ideology informs government, so does the process (rules?) of engagement. I would argue that process has just as much to do with success as does having the 'right' answers and the 'correct' policies. This is important - but it is not everything.

What process will move us forward? Unlike Bush's method of divide and conquer, Obama's seems to be unite and prosper. Unlike the exclusiveness and rigidity of the last 8 years, we seem to entering an era of collaboration, inclusiveness (even of ideas different than our own), and dialogue. This process, marked by transparency and integrity, invites and welcomes, affirms, and gathers all around the national table of conversation. And while there will be disagreements and dissent, there will be a place for all.

Conservatives may have doubts, but they will be allowed at the national table, too. As a self-identified progressive, I wish the same would have been true of 'us' during Bush's presidency. The outrage we feel towards Bush isn't grounded in dissenting ideology (good people can disagree), it's in being pushed - and in many ways shoved - to the periphery, to the margins of public discourse, our ideas and person-hood violated, discredited, many times seemingly not even recognized. There is a more dignified way forward - a process which can hold agreement and tension, dissent and collaboration, conservatives and liberals. It is about building up, not tearing down.

My prayer for America is that Obama continues the spirit of this process. Over the last year Americans rejected a government of fear and unilateralism and embraced hope and possibility, full of big ideas and diverse populations coming together once again for the common good of all. This might be the process needed to solve problems and elevate our collective quality of life.