Observations On November 4th
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:08 am
I don’t agree with his politics, I fear the new direction he may take the Country more than I abhor what the Bush Administration has done, but I rejoice in his example that America is still a country where just about anything is possible. Mr. Obama’s rise in America is a mandate, a mandate for those of us who truly believe that hard work, education, grit, and all else that goes with success are things to be admired. Let’s hope the reality of his policies reflect those ideals much more than his campaign rhetoric.
I am sitting in a restaurant at the moment and the employees are arriving at work laughing, cheering out loud, and shouting, “I’m so happy. and “yes we did. Mr. Obama certainly sparked a flame of hope in many people. I am not certain what they expect to happen, but perhaps it is nothing more than seeing very different faces in the White House, and that’s ok too.
I truly believe that a left turn for America will have grave and long-term negative consequences, but I also believe that his presidency can serve as a model for millions of Americans who may have lost faith not only in our political system, but in the promise of America. It is very clear that after November 4th, the status of America in the world rose just a bit and rightly so.
Let’s hope that the immigrants from around the world understand a little more that merely living in America is not being an American and that a common American culture built on a thriving democracy that can function in all directions and under any measure of distress is what is most important. Let us hope all Americans are prepared to be Americans first and that cultures left behind remain so. E pluribus Unum is much more than a slogan on coins. Look to countries around the world that are torn by strife and you will invariably find factions, cultures, tribes, ethnic groups, and religions that strive to maintain their singular identity within a country, it simply cannot be done, even in America.
Some Democrats in Congress will shout “mandate and of course there is no mandate, some 49% of American voters did not vote for Mr. Obama, that’s a lot of people who did not agree with his politics, but in the end that all matters little as well because in America the next election generally takes care of those who misinterpret the true feelings of the American people.
Finally, looking at the faces of people in Grant Park, Chicago last night during Mr. Obama’s speech, seeing people crying at his words and his success, people like Oprah Winfred and Jesse Jackson along with a myriad of average people, I think I may just understand how important this victory of an African American was to them and even a little bit of why that is so.
I wish he were a conservative or at least middle of the road politician, and I still don’t want my taxes to go up, but hey, you can’t have everything.
I am sitting in a restaurant at the moment and the employees are arriving at work laughing, cheering out loud, and shouting, “I’m so happy. and “yes we did. Mr. Obama certainly sparked a flame of hope in many people. I am not certain what they expect to happen, but perhaps it is nothing more than seeing very different faces in the White House, and that’s ok too.
I truly believe that a left turn for America will have grave and long-term negative consequences, but I also believe that his presidency can serve as a model for millions of Americans who may have lost faith not only in our political system, but in the promise of America. It is very clear that after November 4th, the status of America in the world rose just a bit and rightly so.
Let’s hope that the immigrants from around the world understand a little more that merely living in America is not being an American and that a common American culture built on a thriving democracy that can function in all directions and under any measure of distress is what is most important. Let us hope all Americans are prepared to be Americans first and that cultures left behind remain so. E pluribus Unum is much more than a slogan on coins. Look to countries around the world that are torn by strife and you will invariably find factions, cultures, tribes, ethnic groups, and religions that strive to maintain their singular identity within a country, it simply cannot be done, even in America.
Some Democrats in Congress will shout “mandate and of course there is no mandate, some 49% of American voters did not vote for Mr. Obama, that’s a lot of people who did not agree with his politics, but in the end that all matters little as well because in America the next election generally takes care of those who misinterpret the true feelings of the American people.
Finally, looking at the faces of people in Grant Park, Chicago last night during Mr. Obama’s speech, seeing people crying at his words and his success, people like Oprah Winfred and Jesse Jackson along with a myriad of average people, I think I may just understand how important this victory of an African American was to them and even a little bit of why that is so.
I wish he were a conservative or at least middle of the road politician, and I still don’t want my taxes to go up, but hey, you can’t have everything.
