Today is MLK day. What does that mean? Well the banks are closed, no mail, the stock market is closed (which could be a good thing for your portfolio), and you can’t go to the DMV today. Tomorrow Barack H. Obama will be inaugurated President of The United States of America, The first black President of the United States.
Yesterday there was a HUGE party in Washington D.C. celebrating the inauguration. Personally I believe this is a good thing. We should ALWAYS celebrate the peaceful transition of government. I don’t believe that as Americans we realize how rare and what a blessing this really is. You may disagree with the choice the country made, but celebrate that we were able to make that choice.
With the hundreds of thousands of people in attendance the press had a field day interviewing attendees. There seemed to be a common theme to the comments made specifically, “Isn’t it great that we elected a Black President.” My response, no…no it’s not.
Before you start thinking that it’s time I shave my head or pull out my hood from under my bed, keep in mind that I served my LDS mission in Haiti, a country that is 99.8% Black. Also I sincerely believe that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would stand by me on this. As evidence of this let me refer to a couple of lines from Dr. King’s famous, “I have a Dream” speech.
“I have a dream that my four 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.”
Agree with him, or disagree with him Barack Obama has worked hard to get where he’s at now. I can’t imagine an undertaking much more difficult than running for office. Everything about you, your family, your friends, even things you wrote in Kindergarten are held under close scrutiny. These things are analyzed, theorized, and speculated about. That says nothing to the work that he’s put in before he ever ran for office, ie community work, school etc.
To say that Barack Obama is, or will be great simply because of the color of his skin is just as racist as saying that he’s a poor President because of the same criteria. Let him lead, let him act and then judge if he’s a great President or not.
As Dr. King said, “judge…by the content of their character.” I hope Mr. Obama the best of luck. I truly do. I disagree with most his opinions on things but I hope that his presidency is successful and that he does leave the country better than when he found it.
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Thanks for putting this post up Steve. I feel similarly, but have not been able to put it as well as you have!
I feel exactly the same way. . .I've been frustrated that I keep hearing the pudits say we should support this man BECAUSE he is the first black president. . . .I would prefer to support a President based on his policies. I, too, can only hope we celebrate his presidency for more reasons than the color of his skin!
First of all Steve. . . you should consider running a spell check on your blog (except BARACK (ONE 'R') Obama is not in the going to be caught yet in the spell check. . . ) Secondly, I think it is important to consider the media's role in everything. No one likes to "blame the media" or "play the media card." Obama has not focused on his race but the media has. In fact what I love reminding people is that his mother IS WHITE. Furthermore, just because you went to Haiti does not give you some special card, or some "get-out-of jail" free card from being a racist. It is like when people say (my grandmother included) "Well I have one black friend. . . " The bottom line and I would be a fool to say that I was ignorant enough to believe always say things like your above post. . . but BLACKS ARE treated differently, THEY DO have less opportunities, THE disparities are still vast. . . so seriously GET OVER IT. If this gives one more black kid the "Hope" that he can "get out" of the hood then so be it. This is not Salt Lake City, Utah- and I know I know you are from Detroit- that also does not give you a the get out jail card either. MLK Jr. Day is really more about the idea of what his "dream" was. . . not so much about the man per se. Washington is Amazing right now. . . I wish you could see the pride here.
Ok, I have a little bit of an issue here :) By pointing out that black people have less opportunities etc... how many studies have been done on truely fair people. No NOT just "White" people... but people that are almost albino, they are so fair... Why aren't their studies one them? Why don't I hear about them?
Yes, I agree that there is a point to doing these studies, but I also beieve that many people use the same studies as a crutch. What difference does a complextion make? And why can't we all just agree that this is what the color of our skin is.... a complexion end of story. Now, unless there is medical reason to know your heritage (or if the person you are talking to is taking an order for make-up etc) I see no reason that anyone should ever ask the color of your skin.
As I heard a young man say once... "I refuse to give racism a POINT. If I don't get a job I don't say 'that employer is racist' I say 'what qualifications did that applicant have that I did not?' and then I go and work on myself to remedy the situation".
Now, don't get me wrong, I believe racism exists in the context that so many like to recognize it. I also believe however that racism is not recognized or condemned so much when it goes the opposite way.
Barack Obama is not only our first "black" president... he is also our 44th "white" president. Half and half people... he is just as much one and the other. I too truely hope that he leaves this nation better than when it was placed into his very patriotic hands.
Thanks for the post Steve :)
Yes you'll have to pardon my spelling...perhaps not the best however "Barrack" was fine in spell check, "Obama" wasn't.
Please don't misunderstand me, I wasn't looking for a "Get out of jail Free Card," because I served my mission in Haiti. I'm simply pointing out the fact that I have seriously special place in my heart for the Haitian people, who happen to be black.
Perhaps they are treated differently. I don't know I've never been Black in the United States of America. I have however been a white man in Haiti, and a Mormon in Detroit (you brought up Detroit, not me). So, in that way yes...I do understand what it's like to be in a minority. The great thing about this country is, you do have opportunity. As much as I disagree with him, Barack Obama proves that, if you want to you can achieve anything, and you don't need some handout minimalizing your accomplishments.
Also I wasn't blaming anything on President-Elect Obama. It was more of a call to the country, the media, Republicans, Democrats, everyone.
You talk about giving one black kid hope in the hood, well I hope that it gives every kid in the hood, white, black, Hispanic, Catholic, Jew, and Gentile hope to get out of the hood.
I just want to know who Gloria is, and what she is doing on the blog...? If you read this, please tell us who you are...
It looks like you guys have a blog stalker. Creepy!
Let's get back to the original focus of this post. We are grateful for a peaceful transfer of power. I am grateful that people are not limited by their skin color or eye color or hair color!
Let's give him a chance to do his best. Let's support him in the things we believe are right and exercise our rights as Americans to fight against his policies that we don't agree with!
We are a truly blessed and amazing nation with a lot of potential!
Yay for peaceful govnernment power transfers!!!! :)
Who is that blogstocker??? It is pretty wierd to leave comments on someone's blog who is not a friend, acquaintance, etc. Those of us who actually know you are proud of your comments and insights. You put into words many of the thoughts that we have!!
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