I’m overwhelmed by the significance of the outcome of the 2008 U.S. Presidential election.
I voted for Obama, and despite the fact that he seemed to be a serious contender from the beginning of his campaign, I was never very confident that he would actually gather the highest number of electoral votes. Further, the choice of Obama wasn’t the only amazing thing about this year’s election. Until July, Hilary Rodham Clinton was Obama’s rival as nominee for the Democratic presidential candidate, and another woman, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin was selected by the Republican Party to become its Vice Presidential candidate. All of these choices—Obama, Clinton, Palin—would have been considered revolutionary not so long ago and unthinkable when I was a young man in the 1960s.
I’m proud to be alive to witness these astounding developments: they indicate a major change in racial attitudes among the U.S. electorate.
I’m not so naive, however, as to think that the entire voting-age U.S. population is now committed to diversity: I think, instead, that a significant majority has simply shown that it favors (demands?) change. In addition, I find it interesting—and also disturbing—that much is being said about Obama’s African-American heritage. To many Americans, the key descriptor here is African—which has for generations been at odds with the U.S. stereotype that “true Americans” are individuals with pallid complexions and a predominantly Western European family background. In actuality, African-Americans whose family backgrounds extend back to the days of slavery are largely biracial or multiracial; many, like Obama, even have an equal or nearly equal mix of “black” and “white.”
I could continue with related thoughts, but it seems to me that it’s too early to say anything further just now. It’s enough, I think, to reiterate that I’m proud to be alive during this astounding presidential election; I sincerely hope that it hasn’t been just an isolated incident but, rather, the beginning of a whole new era.
Indeed my Friend. History has been made and we have been able to witness it!
I am glad Obama was able to gather more votes – not only because it means a new Time for the USA, it also means new hope for the World. And I really hope the change starts soon. We need it!
By: Cristina Costa on November 9, 2008
at 10:41 am
Olá, my friend.
My apologies for such a late response to your comment. I read what you wrote shortly after you posted it, but I’ve been covered up with this and that and always kept saying “I’ll get back to Cristina after I finish _____ ,” which is very poor blogging practice indeed!
I had an interesting conversation about a week ago about Obama’s election with one of my relatives. My relative—a politically conservative traditionalist and a staunch Republican—was shocked at the outcome of the election and asked if I thought the results demonstrated an erosion of American values. I surprised my relative by saying “No” and then went on to say that I thought the American people were simply sending an unmistakable message that it was time for a change—primarily a move away from the U.S.’s current international military involvement and its out-of-control program of deficit spending.
Yes, Obama’s election definitely begins a totally new time in the U.S. and it also offers new hope not only to the U.S. but also to the world. I’m not naïve enough, however, to believe that everything will change overnight or that Obama’s goals and principles will not be modified as he begins his term—since if Obama is to govern well and wisely and with the greater good of all in mind, he will have to make adjustments in moving from ideas and campaign promises to “governing in the real world.”
As a former teacher once told me, “Life is a series of compromises to less than satisfactory conditions.”
By the way, you mind also find this interesting.
By: dennisinphoenix on November 30, 2008
at 4:25 am
For the relative who asked: I think the outcome of this election shows a strengthening of American values–the values of equality, diversity, respect for all, open-mindedness…I could go on but you know what I mean.
By: Nina Liakos on December 7, 2008
at 8:00 pm
Hi, my friend.
Yes, I know what you mean, and I also think that the outcome of the election demonstrates a strengthening of the values of equality, diversity, respect for all, open-mindedness, and more, but I still continue to think that Obama’s election demonstrates, at a more fundamental level, a widespread desire for change. The fact that the American people accepted Obama as the agent of change is very heartening, however.
The impact of the election in Arizona has had some unexpected results. It was no surprise that Senior Arizona Senator John McCain won all 10 of the state’s electoral votes, but it was a surprise that Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was nominated by Obama as his director of Homeland Security—and has accepted (see this recent news article from Tucson).
I look forward to what will happen after Obama’s inauguration.
By: dennisinphoenix on December 11, 2008
at 6:48 am