Some thoughts on… Glee

A US President in Cairo calling for partnership with the Muslim world – this could have been a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster movie a few years ago – a cotton candy vision of utopia. Yet, B. Hussein Obama (as Ann Coulter addresses him to emphasize the foreignness) provided a shaded perspective on a tenuous topic.

Salient points of the speech:
- The Presidency would fight negative stereotypes of Muslims everywhere, and the same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America.
- Violent extremism must be confronted – all faiths reject the killing of innocent men, women, and children
- An investment of $1.5 billion would be made per year in Afghanistan and Pakistan to build schools, hospital and other infrastructure
- All US troops are to be removed from Iraq by 2012
- The US endorses a two state system in Israel requiring halting of settlements in the occupied territories and renunciation of violence by Palestinians
- A request to stop nuclear weapon proliferation throughout the Middle East including for Israel
- Recognition that the US supports the spread of Democracy globally but would not impose that ideal
- A call to Western nations to stop disguising hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism
- The promotion of equal opportunities for education for women in Muslim countries
- Establishing a partnership in economic development for public health, business development and research

The speech gained widespread acclamation, and everyone has a part with which they disagree – a mark of great oratory. The two individuals who unequivocally denounced the address were Osama bin Laden and Rush Limbaugh who called the President’s visit an “apology tour”. What perfect bed-fellows politics makes.

Given the textured arguments of the speech, a common response has been “These are just words; they need to be backed up by actions.” Obama’s heart may be in the right place, but as they say in Batman Begins “It’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do that defines you.”

The second part of the sentiment is uncontestable – commitments made must be followed through.

As for the first part, there is some room for debate. Intention and words matter here, not only because the words are more articulate than any President, Democrat or Republican, in the past 40 years. But also the symbolism is undeniable – the most powerful Office in the world extending a welcome hand and acting as bridge between two worlds. As the fast-paced but ultimately fatigable movie Angels & Demons points out: symbols by themselves convey meaning even if they ultimately don’t lead to anything.

Similar to Nixon’s visit to China, President Obama is the only who could have carried off this remarkable event, because he is a symbol that can be trusted from both sides. The Western world believes in him by virtue of his position. The Islamic world may have skepticism but his Muslim father and upbringing, provide a believable alternative to the “axis of evil” perspectives of previous administrations.

In his own words: “All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort -- a sustained effort -- to find common ground,”

The relentless and satisfying production – Glee – is the most promising show of the Fall season. Premiering after American Idol two weeks ago, it was ostensibly a high school musical rip-off with competing cliques breaking into song. Instead the show delivers on the promise of its title – an unwavering assault on your senses until you are forced to smile. The series will continue in September, but the pilot is still available on the internet at the Fox website.

In the show, the quarterback finds that his passion for singing outweighs the taunts of his fellow players. Given his position he is the only one that can bring legitimacy to the outcasts who inhabit the glee club. Like Obama, the football jock inspires confidence from both sides of the fence – not necessarily making the two factions into friends, but engendering a belief that greater understanding is a possibility.

As the choral group from Glee sing - “Don’t Stop Believing”.

June 6, 2009