‘You say you want a revolution ...’

“Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive,” wrote Wordsworth of the French Revolution. “But to be young was very heaven!”

Tuesday night, for many, was bliss. Throngs of Obama supporters, drunk with triumph and exultation, flooded not just the vast fields of Chicago’s Grant Park, but the streets and courtyards of universities nationwide as well.

I cannot believe this surprised so many. After all, they said all along this was our election. They said it was our voice that would finally count. And some even suggested that it was our generation upon whom a great portion of the consequences – good or bad – would fall. 

They were, and perhaps will be, right. In record droves, young voters scorned the apathy of generations past and finally shared in the jubilation of a common achievement. Having jarred government from its complacent inertia, they now revel in the power of a movement, and delight in revolution. The irresistible determination of young visionaries and zealous campaigners grew and grew and grew. Its momentum propelled them onward, and hurdling onward, gained momentum anew.

This momentum conquered prejudice and defeated despair. It mobilized hope and subverted the dreary status quo. It has reinvigorated a people and generated a new confidence in the American Dream.

Yet this momentum has produced more. In fact, it elected a president, and indirectly, an administration. It selected new representatives and new senators. It also happened to produce legislative and executive bodies both controlled by Democrats, something that has not occurred since 1995.

For detached spectators, this is yet another example of the cyclical to-and-fro of politics. For cautious optimists, there are reasons to be wary, even concerned. For conservatives, “nightmare” might be the appropriate word. 

But whether one anticipates the next four years with trepidation or eagerness is not the issue. Both candidates campaigned on claims of creating change and agreed that a perpetuation of current policies could prove disastrous. And yet a drastic, haphazard turn toward the opposite political spectrum is not the solution.

There are no quick fixes, and rash innovation does not translate into worthwhile reform. The complexity of our challenges and the rancor which has divided our nation call for patient, moderate leadership.   

Now more than ever, youth voters should step forth to monitor and scrutinize the actions of an emboldened Congress. Democrats’ control of Congress and the White House diminishes the likelihood of conflict and competition between the two bodies, a necessary constraint upon the federal government. 

Only a week after the election, however, the colorful propaganda that once adorned IU’s limestone facades now lies torn, tattered, strewn about – vestiges of the excitement, buildup and climax of a historic campaign. The carnival has left town. 

Campaigns, like carnivals, are glamorous, extravagant and fun. But they aren’t quite as important as what comes next; legislation is heavy, complex and boring.  
The work has only begun, and our response could deliver a meaningful verdict on our influence this election:

Will we go out with a bang, or slowly with a whimper?