A Post Election Perspective

It's been a long time since I have written anything. I apologize for being so absent. The truth is that I switched jobs and my family relocated. In all of that I had to drop off for a while and then, quite honestly, I enjoyed it to be a "normal" person again.

On to the point of this rant...

It was an amazing feat that I managed to get through this entire election cycle without comment. That stemmed in part from being “normal” again. It was also in part because while I knew I preferred Obama, I’ve always admired McCain. So as you read on, please try to ignore partisan politics, economic policies, the war in Iraq, etc because that is not what this is about.

Michelle Obama was scrutinized during the campaign for a comment she made about being proud of America for the first time. When the election results were final, I felt something amazing. Not because I drank the Obama kool-aid at all. But because the American people did it, we elected a minority to run our country. We have crossed a huge barrier in our development and I am truly proud of my US brethren for doing this. In short, months after the comment was made, I completely understood what she meant.

I explained to my kids what it meant that someone with beautiful dark sin like theirs was elected for the first time. I explained that this should show them that they can accomplish anything they want. As parents of minorities, we should all understand the significance of this because IMHO it is huge. Yes, it WILL take a constitutional amendment for them to become president, but we’ve got time and I see it could be in reach.

While all we in the ethnic majority like to believe racism is essential defunct, it still rears its ugly head often. It comes in many forms – intentional, accidental and subconscious. This will not change or disappear just because we’ll have a president Obama. For anyone who doesn't believe this, click here for today's proof. But Obama will serve as a symbol to all in different ways that MLK’s dream is coming closer. As the parent of minority children I feel a great joy and pride in this hurdle being cleared.

So matter what your political beliefs and whether or not you’ll agree with Obama’s policies, you can still take pride in what has happened. A majority of voters looked beyond race in a time of great national turmoil and showed that they can follow a vision that challenges many of paradigm of our culture. I think the results showed the people didn’t vote for him despite being a minority. They didn’t vote for him because he was a minority. They looked beyond it because at a minimum, they felt him the lesser of two evils.

Yes, I’m proud of America right now. I’ve always been proud of what America is based on and the fundamental principles of the world’s oldest operating constitution. But now I’m proud of an action taken by our people that shows the true spirit of the Constitution still lives.

God Bless America.