Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.Saint Thomas Aquinas November 4, 2008, we a historical night not just for America but for the youth and people of color everywhere. This election wasn't just about getting the Bush administration out of office and it wasn't just about getting rid of old politics, but it was about recognizing a dream and that was established 45 years ago. A dream that many had almost forgotten, and a dream that some were to young to remember or just plain didn't understand.
Barack Obama wasn't just the President elected that day but the dream that many were told would never come true, and was never to be accomplished.Well, that night America proved we want change and the youth or America is ready to take there place and stand for something. My grandmother unfortunately passed away before Obama took office but for her generation and a those before her this was not only a fantasy, but not choice. I'm reminded of a quote I once heard “In all things that are purely social, we can be as separate as the fingers., yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.”(Booker T. Washington)And the American people proved that November 4Th, coming together and votingfor the change and future we want. The truth is for a lot of us this was the first time we received the chance to vote and be heard, with more than two million families being unemployed and having one of the biggest economic crisis in America today. We as American proved that enough is enough and we want change and deserve change. I was once taught “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.”(Susan L. Taylor)During this election there were tons of questions that were asked, and race was always a clear and hidden issue.
But for many of us the ability to look adversity in face and take challenges head on it was makes us great as people the ability to motivate ourselves when no one else will. "Both tear sand sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change."(Jesse Jackson, African-American civil rights activist)It took those things to give the audacity of hope, and the will to create change and motivate change. Not just in America but in the World we live in."Not everything that is faced can be changed until it is faced." (JamesBaldwin, African American author)Sen. Mccain gave a speech that night that and the people in the crowd from Arizona booed, It was hard to listen too because I'm from Arizona and I was proud to see the polls and see that Barack Obama had won we changed to way we voted that night. I have lied in Arizona my whole life and I can't say that I wanted Sen. Mccain president. I was relieved when he lost but at the same time it makes you think of why he lost, was it because of the race he ran. Picking a running mate he just met and didn't really know, or maybe because from the beginning he wasn't believable that he is and old school player and has old school tactics and we don't need and didn't need that anymore.
I was proud to see that America is changing and with it is the image of people of color for years we were looked at for our ability to play sports, sing, dance, "I can do something else besides stuff a ball through a hoop. My biggest resource is my mind." Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, African-Americana professional basketball player Roger Allen once said "Congress is continually appointing fact-finding committees,When what we really need are some fact-facing committees." Now that Obama is in office a lot of things are going to change and a lot of people are going to have to face the music they played and been playing. If President Bush followed these words maybe we wouldn't be in the hole were in today, and the future would be brighter for so many if we checked our sources and took accountability.Our future is bright because Our newly elected president is a man of integrity, courage, strength, intellect. John Adams was quoted for saying"Society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases." Our new leader is that moral compass and character this nation needs and has cried out for.So in closing I want us all to remember the words or Rev. Dr. Martin LutherKing, jr."The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."And remember that it's going to take sometime to undo and fix all the problems we have, but if we come together like we did on election day And support our newly elected President we will get there.
By : Geneva Relf
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