CrossRoads Blog

By Kimberly

Today is a day that I am not only proud to be an American but am also proud of Americans. I am not proud that we elected a black man but am proud that we elected the right person for the job and that skin color did not get in the way of it. As I watched groups of Americans cheer and cry as Obama won I knew that although I am understanding of some of those tears coming from fellow Americans of African descent I could never really understand exactly how they felt. Decades of prejudices had marred so many people’s past and to finally see a victory of a man who has dealt with those same prejudices but overcame them all from a black Americans perspective must have been amazing. From the view of a white woman I was so proud of fellow white Americans who have finally backed up what they have claimed to believe for so long. That a man should be judged by what he does and not the color of their skin.

It made me teary to know that for all Americans justice was ours last night and that we are beginning to live the dreams of the late great Martin Luther King Jr. who said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

King’s entire speech is worth a reread on this day. As you read I hope it brings to you not only a reminder of some of Americas ugly past but I hope it inspires you by the knowledge that we have overcome so many of our errors and that together all of us with all of our many backgrounds and descents can and will come together as one single group, Americans.

See here: KING’S DREAM

Last Night Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech for the Democratic nominee for President. As Kimberly and I watched it seemed with every passing moment a sense of history was being made. I mean, of course this was a historical night, but it felt ‘Historical’, even perhaps ‘Generation Defining’. Needless to say it was at a minimum a very inspiring and captivating 45 minutes of ‘Hope in Words and Emotion’.

I am now old enough to have seen a lot politicians talk-the-talk only to never walk-the-walk. They give us that glimmer of hope that this time it just isn’t bullshit rhetoric but true sincerity – yet we always end up with more of the same. But today, at least for this moment in time it feels right. So I will again drink (okay maybe ‘sip’ for now) the kool-aid of hope for change here. This man feels like he really could elevate the pride in our country, our trust that government can be for all Americans (and not for 3% of them), and most importantly he will make the decisions that drive us toward a world where I will worry far less for my Grandchildren.

I guess history will tell whether last night was the beginning of something special for our world….but at least right now, we have the hope.