Thursday, November 06, 2008

An ObamaNation

Two days later, I still cannot adequately nor completely accurately express into words what the start of an "Obama-nation" means to me or to America. I have been thinking about what others are saying about his monumental and historical victory and decided to compile some of my thoughts:

1. Blacks all over the world should be proud of what Obama has accomplished.
Indeed they should be. We ALL should be proud of what WE have accomplished. Obama launched an awe inspiring campaign 21 months ago. But WE worked side by side, sending donations, volunteering to help, campaigning for him, telling our friends, registering people to vote, but most importantly, believing in a movement greater than ourselves. We must remember, AMERICA voted, not just Black people. It doesn't undermine the accomplishment nor its historical significance. It just to remind us to maintain and foster the unity we developed with each other over the course of this campaign.

2. We were afraid to take a chance, afraid to risk disappointment.
Whoo! That's powerful. I do think that so many of us were afraid to dream, afraid to take a chance, we were so afraid to hope that we have been since that fateful day in 1968 a rather silent people. For the most part, we had been conditioned into a state of complacency. A place where dreams were limited, goals short-term, and life surrounded by the walls of society's box. Yes, we've had the NAACP voicing concerns on the news, the LA riots of 1996, and we petitioned for Aminah Lewall. But, we have not sacrificed and fought for anything like we did this President. Failure would lead to disappointment, so we only attempted what we were sure would be possible. Obama attempted the impossible and succeeded! We are beginning to understand that dreams do come true. In essence, Barack Obama gave us the "Audacity to Hope." Amazing how Obama's book sums so eloquently this campaign.

3. This is important for the upcoming generations.
Actually, Obama's election is important to ALL generations. He inspires everyone, all nationalities, all socioeconomic statuses, all races, all professions. He inspires the old to dream one more time. He inspires the young to push to new heights. He inspires the nation to embrace its diversity and has proven that unity and diversity can coincide gracefully and powerfully. But, the greatest privilege he has given us is our new ability to encourage our children. We have expanded the horizons of their futures. Truly they can be whatever they want to be; we no longer have to shield them from the old perceived 'reality' that the 'world ain't ready for no Black...' We can do anything we put our hearts and minds to do.

4. Barack Obama is going to work primarily on behalf of other Black Americans
That's disappointing to hear. Seriously. Barack Obama won this election with a very sizeable margin. That means people of all colors joined him on his journey to the White House. Why would he just ignore such a massive group of people? Further, during the entire campaign, Obama has preached a message of unity and has demonstrated his desire to work for the country...not a group of people. He wants America to be free and open and truly live up to the Land of Opportunity. He's about creating jobs, repairing the economy, etc...not giving out 'hook ups' to other Black people. A claim like this just highlights the ignorance that still pervades this country.

5. Okay, so now that he's President (Elect), what happens next?
The journey just began. Getting to the White House was akin to finally getting into the car for a long road trip. There are still lots of ground to cover, especially in the next four years. WE must work together to support his initiatives, we must all do our part to help reduce our energy usage, keep our streets clean, take care of our children, support our educators, support our soldiers, etc. We keep working. Leadership requires followership. We are following his lead, learning valuable lessons. Already, during this campaign, we have had lessons on professionalism, the inevitability of hatership, resilience, perserverance, diplomacy, and honesty. In the next 4-8 years, I do believe that more of such lessons will be learned. Eventually, most in America will see the beauty of diversity.

The beautiful part of this election was not just that a Black man was elected President. But that this man has the ability to circumvent the negativity and replace it with new ideas. He educated us, he focused on us, and through his outstanding oratory abilities, he inspired us. He dared to dream, and his dream became a reality.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

On Patriotism....

Patriotism is defined as "devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty;" "love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it;" and "love of country; devotion to the welfare of one's country; the virtues and actions of a patriot; the passion which inspires one to serve one's country." Patriotism to me embodies an unconditional reciprocal relationship between one's country and one's spirit; a relationship in which both give for each other, each benefitting from the other; a relationship where the unique and diverse qualities and characteristic of both the individual and the nation are not only accepted but encouraged; a relationship in which the history of each one is an integral part to the history of the nation.
Both candidates for President of the United States have displayed unmistakable patriotism. Both have contributed significantly to the continued growth and development of our relatively young nation. Both have sacrificed many years, albeit through disparate journeys, for the causes of our country. Each have demanded and effected change within the systems, the hearts, the minds, and souls of America. And, for this, we should all be truly grateful.
John McCain served in the US military, fighting in one of the most gruesome wars in American history. He sacrificed much of his life to defend our nation, to save our soldiers, and to promote a positive change in our government. While some of his plans for America might have been contrary to my own personal beliefs, the immense effort and passion that he thrust behind them still managed to stir something within me. His story as a Prisoner of War (POW) is inspiring and serves as a great testament to John McCain's courage and selflessness. His service to the United States can never go unappreciated.
Barack Obama didn't follow the traditional military path. Instead, this great orator has appealed to the masses through their hearts. He has triggered a surge of deep patriotism that has not been felt to this extent in my lifetime.
Of course, after 9/11 everyone was temporarily patriotic. But, it was temporary. Most people resumed their lives, thinking about it as the media blasted it, but dismissing it during the commerical breaks. Some put up flags as a reminder of this country's greatness, some wore wrist bands, some wore lapel flag pins, some sent a donation to organizations that helped others. And, true indeed, some felt their lives changing as that second plane hit the World Trade Center towers. Some felt a sense of patriotism so strong that they left the security of their jobs to help restore America, some enlisted in the US Armed Forces, some took in displaced children. But still, the masses went profoundly unaffected. The effect of the blasts was superficial, shrouded in controversy, and filled with judgment of many: of our government, our President, our nation, and even our neighbors. In many situations, 9/11 caused such an intense fear, not patriotism, that the very diversity that makes this country great, was replaced with separatist hatred. Now, anyone resembling a Muslim, was a terrorist.
Now, Obama may never have served in the Armed Forces. But he has rolled up his sleeves to work in some of the most desperate neighborhoods in this country, making the point that wearing a uniform doesn't make you a patriot. It's not what you wear that defines you, it's who you are inside, as he explained when the media lambasted him for not wearing the 9/11 lapel pin. His patriotism is very deep and sincere and he won this election not just because he came up with an economic plan, but because he incited that patriotic spirit in the atoms of our nation. He reached out to the smallest part of our nation: each person. He, unlike anyone I've ever seen before, recognized the importance of each individual in the success of a nation. He recognized that WE must work to repair America, not just our elected officials. He started from the bottom and reached the "mountaintop" that Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about.
Yes, we made history. We will see the first African-American President ever in America. That is awesome. But more awesome than the color of his skin, was his ability to move people to action. More people registered to vote than in any previous election. People were moved to see past color lines, past party lines, and beyond those things that divide us. Instead his campaign focused on all that made us America, all that united us. That's patriotism. Working from the bottom, devoting time, energy, love, money, and sacrificing for the welfare of America, and inspiring others to do the same is patriotism. He made this fight one for America. WE campaigned, WE sacrificed, WE devoted time, WE believed in something greated than "me," WE believed in US!
Now, WE must continue to work, to strive for change, to work together, to endure together, to make sacrifices, and to lend ourselves for America. Obama is the elected leader, but as such we must do our part to help him to help us be the US we can be. YES WE CAN!