Gerson on Obamamania

The Washington Post's Michael Gerson takes a look at Obamamania (or should we use the shorter, punchier, Obamania?) and likes...well, half of what he sees. The phenomenon has its good parts and its bad parts. First, the good:

The first kind of enthusiasm concerned Obama's racial background. It was reflected in the untethered joy of the Rev. Joseph Lowery's benediction -- the joy of victory against centuries of racism, violence, cruel humiliation and stolen labor.

Got to agree with Gerson there. While I don't think Obama should be commended just because he's black, I don't think there's anything wrong with celebrating the election of a black president.

Of course, I also agree with Gerson when he points out the nasty side of the Obamanon (that's a combination of "Obama" and "phenomenon," for those of you following at home):

Some wish to interpret the Obama victory as a big push in the culture war -- as an opportunity to attack their intellectual and cultural "inferiors." Most of us have witnessed this attitude, usually in college. The kids who employed contempt instead of argument, who shouted down speakers they didn't agree with, who thought anyone who contradicted them had a lower IQ, who talked of "reason" while exhibiting little of it.

As a college student myself, all I can say is: Amen, brother! The utter, seething contempt a lot of my classmates felt towards McCain, Bush, and (especially) Palin was almost frightening at times.

I recall an incident in one of my Poli Sci classes last semester. One student, who shall remain nameless because I don't know his name, was theorizing as to why Sarah Palin did poorly in her debate with Katie Couric.

Said this junior psychoanalyst, paraphrased: "It's not like she didn't know the answers...it was like she didn't understand the questions." Translation: Sarah Palin is totally retarded.

Will Obama's victory deflate some of this intellectual arrogance? God, I hope so. Otherwise, my last year at Carolina is going to be intolerable.