JayarJackson

Tuesday night was a historic night in America and around the globe.  After Barack Obama convincingly won the right to be called the 44th President of the United States, supporters here in America and around the world celebrated the actual opportunity for a new direction.  It’s obvious that the actions and policies of the U.S. affect the rest of the world, and the past several years of leadership have badly damaged people here and abroad. 

As John McCain graciously gave his concession speech to his supporters in Arizona, their disappointment was very apparent.  Now that their hopes for a President McCain are not going to become a reality, what’s next for these Americans that had their emotions and minds set on it?  Will we continue to have division and hate drawn down the lines of Republican and Democrat?  Are all those campaign slogans of “Country First” and “Change We Can Believe In” going to simply be thrown away with lawn signs donning their favorite candidate?  I definitely hope not. 

The rest of the world is celebrating because we as Americans have exhibited what we always speak of that makes our country so great.  We elected a man named Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan man and American White woman that spent a few of his years growing up in Indonesia.  We got past the insinuations that he was a terrorist, a socialist, a Marxist, a baby killer, racist, weak, elitist, too inexperienced, too Black, too White, too liberal, too conservative and voted him into office. 

The last few years of mistrust, selfishness, torture, misguided policies, and knee-jerk reactions to a devastating tragedy took away that dream of our streets being paved with gold.  We went from the country that declared anyone had the opportunity to make it if they only tried to the isolated country that is the “chosen one” and if you weren’t privileged enough, too bad.  The divisions on beliefs and policies set the stage for many to feel it’s more important to label themselves as a Democrat or Republican than an American. 

Barack Obama has declared his determination to include all Americans in his decisions for the country.  Our historic selection is now an opportunity to collectively make something out of it.  We as a country are in charge of what happens to our future now that we have a new chance.  Ironically, it’s like our slogan for individuals; that they can do anything as long as they’re diligent, work hard, and believe in themselves.

The only reason we won’t be able to fight back and solve our financial problems, end misguided policies overseas that only deteriorate our country, and create a healthier and safer country is if we don’t believe in ourselves and give this guy a chance.  Sure, get your tears out, punch a couple of walls, scream out your frustrations.  But once Obama is sworn into office, let’s rally behind him as Americans, not Republican Americans, Democratic Americans, Black, White, Brown, Yellow, or Red Americans.  The only way to bring the country down is for us to continue to destroy it from within with division and immediate opposition based on political Party lines.  We’re better than that, so let’s continue to show the world that we are. 

--JJJ

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