A Remarkable Day in US History

cnorman18 · Post by **cnorman18** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:40 pm

I remember saying, when I was a young man, that I thought the United States would have a black President one day, but that I doubted that I would live to see it.

I have, and. I am glad.

I wonder if we can avoid throwing party-line rocks at each other for a few minutes and just reflect on this remarkable day and what it means and could mean.

I, for one, am hopeful. President Obama says he wants to listen to all sides, be the President for all Americans, and lead an effort to begin working together as a nation again - and his actions so far seem to be bearing that out. It's a remarkable fact that, even before taking office, his approval numbers are notably high even among Republicans.

I don't know that the President's election really indicates a change in America as much as it makes a change that has been occurring over decades obvious. As an educated middle-aged Southern white man, I have been aware for many years that most whites, even in the South, abandoned racism at least a generation ago. It's amazing to me that Barack Obama's race was such a small factor in this election; I think it more probable that more people voted for him because of his race - which I do not think is a bad thing - than against. Those people I know who voted for John McCain did so for policy reasons and not because they were racists.

Am I saying that racism no longer exists? Certainly not. But it is dying, and today is evidence, to me, that it is closer to extinction and, surely, irrelevance than I ever dared hope when I was growing up.

I attended first through sixth grade in a segregated school system and lived in a town where every neighborhood but one was all-white, and that one was all black. It was called "Niggertown."

We have far to go still - but who can witness what occurred today and deny how far we have come?

I have identified myself politically as "Conservative (mostly)" for a long time. Even so, in my humble opinion:

Today was a good day in America, and in the world.

I hope and, yes, pray, that the future lives up to the historic promise of this day. I think it can. I think it will.

Goat · Post by **Goat** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:31 pm

I , for one, am glad to. I don't expect Obama to live up to his expectations. He, after all, is merely a man. What I have seen though is encouraging. I see someone who is more concerned about people. I see someone who is more concerned about finding people with ability than finding people who fit a specific theological and political ideology. I see someone who can actually read a resume, and might try to get people in appointments that actually know something about the job they are supposed to do, rather than appealing to corporate greed.

Will he pull off miracles. No. Will he the best to his ability, and try to bring in other people who will do the best to their ability, even if they disagree on things? I think so. I hope so.

As Suetonius quoted Caesar when he allegedly crossed the Rubicon "The die is cast"

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:35 pm

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus â€” and nonbelievers.

We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

He is a remarkably eloquent man. This was an amazing day.

msmcneal · Post by **msmcneal** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:04 am

I personally favored Obama during this election process. The fact that he won was nothing short of amazing. I never thought I'd see the day when a black man would be president of the US, and I'm still pretty young (29). But the fact that it did happen, it's historic and amazing. I just hope that Obama can live up to what we've come to expect of him. Granted, he has his work cut out for him, but I do think he's up to the task. One thing I noticed since he became the Democratic candidate, was that there was alot of Hollywood-style fanfare surrounding him, almost like he became a pop icon. Sure, he's quite handsome, and an excellent orator, and charismatic, but I was not happy about all the "cult of personality" style things surrounding him. However, I think it was due more to the fact that he is who he is, more than any conscious effort on his part to orchestrate such things. But, whatever the circumstances, this is a historic moment for us here in the US. Racism, while still existent, is dying, like cnorman said. Hopefully this is a blow to racism, not only in the US, but worldwide. Hopefully this is not only the change American so desperately needs, but will affect mentalities worldwide. For now, for the moment, we can put all differences aside, and just glory in the moment, that we have come so far.

Goat · Post by **Goat** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:59 am

msmcneal wrote: One thing I noticed since he became the Democratic candidate, was that there was alot of Hollywood-style fanfare surrounding him, almost like he became a pop icon. Sure, he's quite handsome, and an excellent orator, and charismatic, but I was not happy about all the "cult of personality" style things surrounding him.

Well, he done speak purty, that is fur sure.

What I like about his is that even though he is quite elequoent, he also seems honestly to care.

I remember during one of the floods, he stopped his campaign, and got down in the trenches to work, and didn't even try for a photo op. I compare that with Bush not even touching down at Katrina until a lot of bitterness arose, but only looking at it from 20,000 feet.

msmcneal · Post by **msmcneal** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:54 am

goat wrote:What I like about his is that even though he is quite elequoent, he also seems honestly to care.

I remember during one of the floods, he stopped his campaign, and got down in the trenches to work, and didn't even try for a photo op. I compare that with Bush not even touching down at Katrina until a lot of bitterness arose, but only looking at it from 20,000 feet

Yeah. He's already showed that he's going to be a much better president than Dubya ever was.

realthinker · Post by **realthinker** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:27 pm

msmcneal wrote:
goat wrote:What I like about his is that even though he is quite elequoent, he also seems honestly to care.

I remember during one of the floods, he stopped his campaign, and got down in the trenches to work, and didn't even try for a photo op. I compare that with Bush not even touching down at Katrina until a lot of bitterness arose, but only looking at it from 20,000 feet
Yeah. He's already showed that he's going to be a much better president than Dubya ever was.

As one of my friends put it, with the new president we have now reached the "end of an error".

I personally was encouraged by the acknowledgment of the international community and the need for the US to be a part of it in cooperation.

Regarding racism, I expect that there will be a backlash from the black community as some of the more juvenile aspects of the black community come to grips with the realization that to be acknowledged as equals means to behave as equals. Jackson, Sharpton, and others who have made their careers by taking advantage of the disadvantaged are being pushed to the shadows. Their time is done. Those who rallied around that sort are going to be left without an avenue to the mainstream. There may eventually be no notoriety for being one of the disadvantaged. Their enablers will be gone and they will be left as accountable for themselves. It may take a generation before the sting of that goes away.