The Revolution Has Been Televised

Barack Obama made history on November 4 by becoming the first Black man elected President of the United States. This moment was a lifetime in the making for those who lived through the civil rights movement ... and while his maternal grandmother didn't get to witness this special occasion -- she passed away on November 2 -- millions of voters did their part to create this extraordinary event.
Groups who were ignored or taken for granted in previous presidential races -- especially women and first-time voters -- found themselves being courted by Democrats, Republicans, and other political parties this time around. Obama's ability to mobilize support among grassroots organizations was instrumental in his victory over John McCain, along with his Internet savvy in soliciting donations. While Obama's ethnicity was cause for concern during the primary season (Is he "Black enough" or is he "too Black"?), it was his position on issues like the economy and the war in Iraq that made him a better candidate to lead the country for the next four (and possibly eight) years.
Participating in the political process took me less than five minutes, while others waited more than three hours to cast their ballots in this election. That's because turnout across the nation varied according to where one was registered to vote and when they visited their polling stations. (It didn't help that there isn't a uniform standard for voting, whether it's using touch-screen devices or mechanical-lever machines.) Carrying out my civic duty on Election Day filled me with a sense of pride I haven't felt since I graduated from college, and hearing newscasters call the race for Obama felt better than winning the lottery.
In some ways, I feel sorry for Obama because his legacy is going to be defined by his effectiveness in cleaning up President Bush's mess ... but I also feel he's best suited to take on this challenge. My role in Obama's rise to power may be small, but it's democracy at work.

After the Dance

Celebrities with varying degrees of fame have appeared on Dancing With the Stars through the years. Some of them see it as an opportunity to reach a new audience, while others use it as a vehicle to prolong their 15 minutes of fame. Whatever the case, the show is starting to lose its appeal with gimmicks like adding filler segments -- along with more contestants.
Change may be good, but bigger isn't always better. For every smart move, like having a junior dancers' competition on the results show, there are too many dumb ideas, like interviewing "experts" about motivation tactics. Another source of bafflement is the continued presence of Samantha Harris as co-host. She's probably a nice person, but she comes across as a piece of eye candy whose sole purpose is to take up space. This sentiment can also be applied to the executives' decision to expand the roster to 13 celebrities. (Jeffrey Ross is good for laughs, but not for dancing!)
Maurice Greene and Susan Lucci are pretenders to the ballroom throne. He's too inconsistent to advance to the finals, and she's stiffer than cardboard. It's ironic to see them possess such qualities, for one's a former Olympian and the other is legendary for her screen presence. But, if nothing else, they took the contest seriously -- which is more than I can say for Cloris Leachman. (She made history as the show's oldest contestant and entertained the audience with her bawdy sense of humor, but I wasn't sorry to see her exit the stage on October 28.)
Brooke Burke is the breakout star of this season, with the former model mastering routines like the quickstep and the samba. Her dancing talent can't be denied, and most television critics have already declared her this season's winner ... but I don't want a repeat of season six, when Kristi Yamaguchi won the mirror ball trophy in dominating fashion.
The remaining contestants are Lance Bass, Cody Linley, and Warren Sapp. Bass has injected a modern twist into classic dances like the tango, which hasn't always sat well with the judges. Speaking of the judges, they may be overlooking Linley because of his youth. But the biggest threat -- no pun intended -- in the game is Sapp, for he's turned in steady performances each week. (His take on the paso doble was amazing!) It's not farfetched to imagine any of these men competing in the finals ... but, with athletes winning it all for the past four seasons, I predict the retired NFL star will be hoisting the title on November 25.