Our Historic Struggle to Change...

Here it is....2 months or so from the election that could very well change the face of America forever...either direction it goes. On one side...you have a man who served this country in uniform for 22 years and has since served in our Government to try and make some changes in America for better or worse. You have a man that does...no matter your personal feelings or ideology, loves this country and cares for it. On the other hand...you have a man who has grown up in the heart of this country, from the ground floor up. He dealt with the harsh realities of racial divides and racial inequalities as he pushed his way through school and has become a great success at the hands of those who supported him and his own hard work. In this fashion, he has served his country in the example he has led. Like the other...he too loves his country. So which way do we go? So many things to consider...but consider this.

There is a historical piece to all of this we all are aware of with Sen. Obama becoming the first African American to become President of the United States of America. Some like to label it the first African American President, however that would only speak to a smaller group of Americans. Sen. Obama is facing history and he knows it, we all know it, but because the stakes are high, we have not forced it on the rest of America and this is good. Here is the undiscovered piece to this situation. We, as Americans face a pivotal time in our Nations history. Regardless of your party lines...Republican or Democrat, the truth is the last 8 years under President Bush has not, in any area, gone good. We have suffered great loss across the board. Economic downfalls to deaths from a war that is questionable to say the least. We have come to a point now, with this election, where we are faced with an extremely difficult task. Vote McCain, who is not a BAD guy and risk 4 more years of loss since he may follow Bush tactics, though he may want to make changes. Vote McCain because he has a bit more experience in the areas of concern and knows the Government. OR...Vote Obama because he too, knows the issues first hand and the items he has addressed to correct some issues have gone well. Vote Obama, though not as experienced, has shown tremendous success right away and is an extremely great leader and knows how to appoint people in the right places to take care of the needs he has addressed. Voting Obama also means obvious change from the last 8 years....but there is something else. (yes...I will explain!!)

Should you vote for Obama because he is Black? Vote for him because of the historical piece to this whole election? To be a part of history. Your first answer would probably be "no". That you would not vote for him or are not voting for him based on his color or the history it will make. You are probably voting for him because of his policies and methods to accomplish those changes he speaks about. Whatever the reason is, it is a reason to vote...either way. Here is the bigger picture I see. Voting for Barack Obama and putting him in the White House would not only be a significant moment in history and a great accomplishment for him and the progress of African Americans and Americans alike, it is also the beginning of a new day for our country.

Our country right now, is in a critical stage and has suffered for so many years in so many areas. From Economic downfalls, unemployment rate, our debt, homeless, education, health care, and going even further back...racism, hate, killings, rape, teenage pregnancy, underage drinking and deaths, drugs, and drug dealings. There are many more things America has had to endure for decades, going back to the beginning of this Country. These problems have never gone away and Americans have reached a point of complete frustration because of the dependency we have on the rest of the world yet consider our self a World Leader. We have truly fallen to a place where the rest of the world, for the first time in our Nations history, does not respect us the way they used to. We have lost our Leadership and respect from the majority of the World in a great way. Look at our statistics...Education, we are ranked around 40th in the world. Economic....25th, Health Care, and many other areas we are far below #1. We used to be, and should be #1 in all areas based on our abilities but so many other things take over. Our Country is in need, and she has been for a long time and we have suffered enough. The reality is we need a change and we need it now.

How does this election change that? Unfortunately it is not a simple solution and no, voting for Obama does not erase all these issues and turn it all around, however, there is a start we need to make and if Sen. Barack Obama becomes our President...if Americans feel that the old way and traditions have not done the job and are tired of going back and forth, if Americans realize that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is signs of craziness, and if Americans are ready to really..REALLY, start to right the wrongs of the ship we call America and make changes to secure a better future, then he is the obvious pick. If Americans elect Obama to be President, he will, yes, become the first African American to be President of the United States and this will begin the healing process of our Country that dates back to the beginning. We can begin to heal, showing that we have, for the most part, moved beyond racial lines and are more concerned about our collective futures and the collective future of our children and our country than our own selfish agenda. Americans standing together to make a change and not except old ways and broken promises is the strongest way we can begin to change the face of our country. The World is full of trouble and we can help however if we don't take care of home first....the World will. We have too much here in our own Country to deal with, too much pain to overcome....to much loss to gain back....to much suffering to make better. If we continue down the same path...the same result. Is Obama the best answer...only God knows, but what he IS, is a choice that shows we are ready to move on and up. He is the metaphoric rock that can shatter the glass window of our hard past and limited future. He is not the answer to all....he is the answer to the history of separation that has existed in this country for far too long. He is the answer to the question we have all asked, regardless of race, are we getting better as a people. He is the answer to Martin Luther King's dream of letting Freedom Ring in our choices and our paths we choose. Judging by the content of character...not skin. Our country is in need for a change. I have shared in conversation with many about the community to which I lived and reach out to. As we look at the complaints of injustice and un equal opportunities which are a real thing, we look to give, give, give, in to the community and hope it will help. My issue with that is this....if we don't change the mindset of the community, the community will never change. If you give a poor person $10,000 dollars today...it will be gone by tomorrow and he will be back on the street because he doesn't know what to do with the money or where to go to make it work for him. Change the mindset of the community....the community will change. Our community is America right now and the mindset has yet to change. Voting for someone who brings history to the election will show our mindset has changed....the community of America will surely follow.