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Teens Drape Huge Hopes On Obama

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By TOM JACKSON

tjackson@tampatrib.com

Published: January 21, 2009

DADE CITY - Like the million or so on the National Mall and the tens of millions more riveted to television monitors across the country, the patriots of Pasco Middle School applauded and cheered the inauguration of Barack H. Obama on Tuesday.

Like much of the audience they helped swell, the adolescents under the watchful eye of Jim Lane, the principal with the senatorial bearing, were eager for change - whatever that means - and met it on the rise. After all, said eighth-grader Aaron Byrd, flush with hope at the inaugural's conclusion, "He's going to help people in need who no one else could."

Aaron was among about 150 students clumped in clusters around the school's auditorium for the historic swearing-in ceremony. At his elbow, classmate Dylan Olney extolled the dawning Obama administration as one that would "unite all the people ... get rid of racism ... and end hate."

So much for the new president's pre-inaugural attempts to tamp down expectations.

Fortunately, even as Americans inhale anticipation and exhale euphoria, skeptics rise to the unenvied task of doubt-casting. Among these skeptics, 13-year-old Christopher Sharrer is Exhibit A. Although a supporter of the whole concept of hopeandchange, young Chris imagines Obama has won the right to lead a population that has never been more "uptight, stuck-up and closed-minded."

Of course, it is the conceit and the prerogative of youth to imagine that theirs is the age most whipsawed by peril brought on by confused/dangerous thinking among their elders. That today's youngsters harbor such thoughts about baby boomers in charge is the ultimate in generational trickery. Who, us? Dude, we invented the word "uptight."

Awaiting Word From CNN
Mr. Sharrer is often the straw that stirs the drink in Jennifer O'Connor's honors language arts and social studies class, which doubled as an impromptu focus group in the 90 minutes after Obama took the oath and applied poetry to addressing the tasks ahead - one of which will be dispelling the notion that future American generations must "lower their sights."

Reassured, are you? "I'll be reassured," said Adrian Rayborn, "when it changes."

And we will know that change has happened? Surmised Quinn Beynart, "When CNN says so."

Tracking the election across 14 months and two school years, O'Connor, 34, explained, "We've become CNN junkies."

Look Out, Sky

Obama's summons to a rebirth of responsibility caught the students' ears, especially as it applied to his predecessor, George W. Bush. "In the past eight years," said Brenna Mistretta, "it seemed like the only reason we had a president was so we could blame somebody. We need to take responsibility for our actions."

Just so, because the ability to manage responsibility opens the door to opportunity, a concept so rich with possibilities, O'Connor's pupils are even now turning over in their brains. As Jaimee Scarborough understood when the remarkable image of America's first black president, heralding the "price and promise of liberty," formed the thought that became these generation-arching words of breathless wonder:

"What is next?"

What, indeed?

Tom Jackson can be reached at (813) 948-4219.

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