There are some people who believe that the election of the first 'Black' President of the United States was a fluke, that Obama did not represent a real change.
The reasoning is this. Obama's predecessor was a 'white' guy born into wealth. Obama's successor was a 'white' guy born into wealth. There was no change.
I'm sorry, but there is this one little flaw in that logic.
Obama is a Democrat.
Obama's predecessor and successor are Republicans.
And we are living in a time of historic divisiveness and huge distance between the two parties.
Expecting one party to follow the precedent of the other right now is rediculous.
The two parties cannot be farther apart, and pretty much regard each other as enemies.
Obviously a change and progress in one will not automatically, immediately result in change in the other.
Getting both parties to go along with the change will take time.
But...
The last time the Democratic Presidential ticket was two 'white' guys was 2004. Four years before Obama.
The next Democratic President after Obama was Obama's own Vice President.
His Vice President was America's first 'Black' Vice President.
And that President hired a historic number of women and minorities to his Cabinet.
That's real change.
It just will take time before it reaches the party of Obama's rivals, who saw Obama as their Enemy Not because he was 'Black' but simply because he was from the party of their rivals.
Remember, they saw John Kerry as their Enemy as well, and John Kerry is as 'white' as a sheet.
There has been real change.
Just think, before Obama, was anyone even talking openly in mainstream America about reparations for slavery?
Even here in California?
There has been real change.
Huge, historic real change.
That does not change the fact that America is traumatized right now- by September 11 and George W. Bush's fears- and right now everyone is suffering from that trauma.
'Black' and 'white'.
But trauma or no trauma, there has been real change.
Immense change.
We are just still suffering from that massive trauma as well.
But we'll get through this.
The trauma will pass.
And the change is part of the fabric of America now, and will continue.
Considering America has been going through such a massive psychological trauma ever since 2001, we have made incredible progress!
The trauma will pass, as it always does!
God loves you! We'll get through this! France and Belgium got through far worse in the World Wars!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson