A Caveat

I really feel that every morning, I'm waking up to a brand new world. And it excites me and makes me pensive and grateful. I have a caveat I want to address about all this.

While I absolutely feel it needs to be recognized how far we've come as a country, I also feel that eventually, race needs to become a non-factor. That is the ideal. But since we're not there yet, yes, the historic significance needs to be highlighted. And I believe this time of transition is the perfect time to discuss it. Hundreds of years from now, due to our nation's history, people will look back and say, "Barack Obama was the first black President elected in the United States."

But my hope is that as the transition occurs, race will become less of a topic of discussion. A woman who called into a local talk show on NPR this morning put it well. She made the analogy to Tiger Woods. She spoke of how when he came on the scene, "all everyone would say was black, black, black. But now, no one really says that and all we see is his awesomeness."

That is my hope for Obama. When he was campaigning and speaking, I saw an inspiring leader. When he got elected, I recognized the massive historical significance. Now, as he gets to work as our new leader, I hope that the issue of race will become a footnote . . . a very significant one, yes, but a footnote. Who he is shouldn't be overshadowed by talk of the color of his skin.

I don't think he's perfect. I don't entirely agree with him on all issues. But I do think he's a pretty amazing leader and I have nothing but admiration for how far he's come, what he's accomplished, and what he has yet to accomplish. I don't envy him the mess he's inheriting. He has a long road ahead of him, but I hope for good things. I do have hope. He has instilled that in me. And I already see change. And I think that's a very good thing.

I don't think he's all about being a Democrat or black or whatever other label we can come up with. He made that clear in his speech at the DNC as a young senator, his speech at the DNC when he accepted the nomination, his speech on race, and his stirring acceptance speech. The cadence and rhythm of his "Yes We Can" acceptance speech did not go unnoticed by this Humanities major--I loved it. I felt it. Yes we can.

Another caller called in and said, "Only in American can a black man be elected President!" Um, not really. Sadly, America is light years behind on that. And that's one of the great significances of this election--we're delayed in our enlightenment, but we're starting to join the rest of the world in the party. Racism and bigotry is, unfortunately, alive and well in our country. Even people supporting Barack Obama have said, "Oh yeah, I'm voting for that (n-word)." Despicable. The fact that even supporters have used that kind of language tells us we have a ways to go. I won't even go into what those who haven't supported him have called him.

But the fact that he's been elected tells us how far we've come. And it gives me great hope and faith in this generation of youth who came out in droves to vote and not only look past the color of his skin, but not even really notice a difference at all. So, yes, it IS significant. And it ought to be discussed and recognized. It ought to be celebrated. But eventually, it will become a non-factor, as it was for much of his campaign. And I'm excited for that.

As it used to be with Tiger Woods, right now there is a lot of talk about "black, black, black." But, as with Tiger Woods, I hope that soon all we'll see is his awesomeness. Congratulations, Mr. President. Welcome. To your destiny and ours, welcome.



" Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America.

There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America." --- Barack Obama