Congratulations to Barack Hussein Obama, his wife and first lady, Michelle, his running mate, Joe Biden, wife Jill and all their families. You are MY truly and fairly elected leaders for the next four years. I wish you the wisdom to lead us wisely in a tough world and the sense to reach out and get help from the best minds this country has to offer, liberal or conservative.
"We're all drinking from the same water fountain now."
— Ex New York City Mayor and African American, David Dinkins
Obama's and my ideas about governance are polar opposites. However, I can savor the most important of this election's accomplishments from a different perspective; the symbolism of what this means to Black Americans. As much as I dislike the politics of race, I can't help but cheer the pride of what most Black Americans believe is a vindication of themselves in America as Americans.
If many Black Americans felt like outsiders all their lives because of this countries' use and abuse of their ancestors as slaves, and their subsequent struggle against discrimination, they now have an insider, a man of dark skin, an African father and white mother, in the White House.
Also, at a time when our country is at war with many people of Arabic names, to elect someone with a moniker like Barack Hussein Obama is amazing. Look at the similarities: Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Ladin, Barack Hussein Obama. I don't think Afghanistan or Iran will be electing anyone with the name Bush, Cheney, Clinton, McCain or Weinbaum any time soon, do you?
"A man can't ride you unless your back is bent." — Martin Luther King
Soon the symbolism will wear off. The graciousness of election night acceptance and concession speeches will fade. President Obama will be held to the results of his administration, as he executes his new job, the leader of the free world.
With that new found sense of pride, any black that didn't already believe it, can see that in the USA you can be anything you want if you're persistent, talented, and yes, lucky. With that understanding goes responsibility for ones' own efforts, unless a law is violated. Failure and success for blacks will be based on what the rest of America deals with in their lives from election day forward.
Having enemies is overrated
Take a moment, reach over your Democratic neighbor's fence, buy him a drink, get him his newspaper, and give him a high five and/or a hug…for one day. Let him know that our differences stop at one thing, the election of a new president, our renewal of the republic for which we stand.
Yes I know. It wasn't reciprocal when Bush was elected twice. We can go back to battle at the proper time and place. For now, let's set the bar high for our inevitable comeback.
This moment should be used to relish our country's democracy and the ability it's had to peacefully elect 221 years of governments without a revolution, except for the Civil War. That wars' purpose was to prevent the South from ripping itself apart from the Union in order to keep the right to possess other humans as property. One could say this election was the final chapter of the most costly war in American History. It was no accident that Obama referred to Republican Abraham Lincoln in his victory speech.
Never point a finger when you can lend a hand
Conservatives, first and foremost retract the claws from John McCain and Sarah Palin.
Next week, wipe off your tears, sit down with your contemporaries and analyze your performance. Be honest with yourselves.
Then vote your strategy amongst yourselves, get everybody on board, and EXECUTE YOUR PLAN.
After celebrating America's renewal today, I intend to return to analyzing what I think is in the best interest of our shared destinies as I welcome and respond to critical comments to the best of my abilities.
As Yakov Smirnoff declared, "WHAT A COUNTRY!"
