Spring Break
Is Barack Obama the next big Cultural Moment
Ryan Nowell
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: Opinion
One did not have to stand in line long for the propaganda pamphlets to fill their pockets. In all fairness, if you're going to go anywhere to deep-throat the party line, it's a rally.
Nonetheless, the multitudes earnestly pimping executive interests in the form of stickers, signs, pins, posters and leaflets were quite the barrage.
Sooner or later, everyone was told to sign-up with "the clipboard people" if we wanted to get into the rally.
This meant filling out personal information, volunteering some time to the campaign, and getting a big X dashed across the back of your hand. Later, I learned that no one was checking for X's -- they just wanted your phone number.
Things got really exciting around the hour and a half mark, when a gaggle of conservative protestors showed up for some fruitful discussion by way of shouting match -- one dressed as a big orange chipmunk.
Another guy in line suggested this was a comment on the ACORN "scandal." I thought that was giving them too much credit. I think the elephant suit was already rented.
The main event rolled around and Obama gave a rousing speech, that way he does.
Sure, half of it was an attack ad and the other a plea for bipartisanship, but he was among good company when it came to slack-cutting.
The crowd went ballistic during the intro and outro, we all busily snapped pictures and hoisted children up to catch a glimpse at the presidential looking dot on the horizon.
Is this the Cultural Moment our generation has needed? Is this the campaign that will wrench this generation out of the psychic toilet it's been treading for years?
It's important to note that our rousing speech was really no different than his last. And that one no different from the one before it.
What vexes me is the crowd. I'm standing a million miles away from a man I can barely see give a speech I've already heard while everyone around me are describing this transcendental experience of becoming a part of some great, clamoring, momentous one.
And why are we all describing this uplifting hoo-rah sensation when nothing could be more impersonal? An ideological spasm?
If you were at the rally and you were roused to action, then I'm glad you have something to believe in. Me? This is change I can suspend my disbelief for.
Ryan Nowell is a senior English major. His column appears Wednesdays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
Nonetheless, the multitudes earnestly pimping executive interests in the form of stickers, signs, pins, posters and leaflets were quite the barrage.
Sooner or later, everyone was told to sign-up with "the clipboard people" if we wanted to get into the rally.
This meant filling out personal information, volunteering some time to the campaign, and getting a big X dashed across the back of your hand. Later, I learned that no one was checking for X's -- they just wanted your phone number.
Things got really exciting around the hour and a half mark, when a gaggle of conservative protestors showed up for some fruitful discussion by way of shouting match -- one dressed as a big orange chipmunk.
Another guy in line suggested this was a comment on the ACORN "scandal." I thought that was giving them too much credit. I think the elephant suit was already rented.
The main event rolled around and Obama gave a rousing speech, that way he does.
Sure, half of it was an attack ad and the other a plea for bipartisanship, but he was among good company when it came to slack-cutting.
The crowd went ballistic during the intro and outro, we all busily snapped pictures and hoisted children up to catch a glimpse at the presidential looking dot on the horizon.
Is this the Cultural Moment our generation has needed? Is this the campaign that will wrench this generation out of the psychic toilet it's been treading for years?
It's important to note that our rousing speech was really no different than his last. And that one no different from the one before it.
What vexes me is the crowd. I'm standing a million miles away from a man I can barely see give a speech I've already heard while everyone around me are describing this transcendental experience of becoming a part of some great, clamoring, momentous one.
And why are we all describing this uplifting hoo-rah sensation when nothing could be more impersonal? An ideological spasm?
If you were at the rally and you were roused to action, then I'm glad you have something to believe in. Me? This is change I can suspend my disbelief for.
Ryan Nowell is a senior English major. His column appears Wednesdays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
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