I was led to write this because someone very special in my life said somethings that got me thinking about the future of America.
November 1, 2008. It’s three days before the “most important election in American and world history.” An African- American has a chance, and a pretty strong one, to be the President of the most powerful nation on Earth…. Wow! That statement alone gives many Americans chills. It gives some chills of fear, worry, and anger, while it gives others chills filled with hope, inspiration, and optimism.
Barack Hussein Obama, a 47 year old man, born in Hawaii to a White mother and an African father, is on his way to becoming the next President of the United States of America. He is running against a 71 year old war “hero” named John McCain.
The world has been on the edge of its seat for the last two years and they’re about to fall off. America has the opportunity to change the course of history, impact the world, spill barrels of excitement into the oceans that connect “US” to the rest of the world. How will America do it? With democracy. With a single vote dropped into a box. With a finger touching a screen. With long lines. With agonizing waiting periods. With the largest display of human freedom on the face of the Earth. In three days America will vote.
Then, the chills return. This time chills of negativity creep into the hearts and minds of the public.
“Is he ready?” “Is he too old?” “Does he have the experience?” “Is he going to keep us in Iraq?” “Is the economy going to get worse?”
Despite the record turn-out for early voting and the throngs of people attending record-breaking rallies, there are still those who have fears about an Obama Administration. There are also those who have fears about a McCain Administration. (More fear of the Obama Administration) The question always comes up, perched in the minds of Americans, young and old, “Is he ready to lead on day one?” There’s no gauge to see if he’s ready. There’s not a test that the candidates can take that determines who fits best in the Oval Office. There isn’t a giant cut-out of the Oval Office where the candidates can stick their heads in and whoever “looks” the best wins the Presidency. (You know, like the one’s at the mall where you take a picture with your favorite athlete) So, that question that burns in the minds of Americans, “Is he ready to lead on day one?” can’t be answered.
That is the reason why people have fears, on November 1, 2008, of an Obama Administration or a McCain Administration. Simply because one question can not and will not be answered until January 20, 2009.
Now, we all know the outcome. Obama wins. YAY!
The rap songs were made, “My President is Black.” There was dancing in the streets. Seasoned African-Americans cried. Young People of all races, creeds, and ethnicities celebrated. Chants were engraved in our minds forever, “Yes We Can!” And President- elect Obama gave his speech, “Change has come to America.”
Yet the chills of negativity remain. The fears of, “will the world test him?” remain. That same ol’ question is not answered yet, “Is he ready to lead on day one?”
So, let me tell you what’s happened. In a nutshell, Barack Obama has surrounded himself with the most capable, most tested, and most reliable professionals that this country has to offer. Some may call it a “Cabinet of Enemies”. Either way, if Barack doesn’t know the answer, he is surrounded by people who can either tell him or show him where to find the answer. Now, don’t get me wrong, the man has a mind of his own. We definitely saw that on display during the election season.
My advice to the American people who still have fears of an Obama Administration: Chill, we will be okay. I honestly believe Barack Obama, Joseph Biden, and Hillary Clinton are all ready to lead this country down a path to greatness. Just keep in mind, there is a lot of work to do. Unfortunately, George Walker Bush has done some significant damage, not only to our military and our economy, but to our global image. It’s time that we repair that image. And as we saw from Barack’s trip abroad, we are well on our way to redemption.
So, from the shores of America all we can see are the expectant faces of the Africans, the watchful eyes of the Europeans, the emotionally scarred visages of the Middle Easterners, and the outstretched hands of the Asians. It’s time for America to come back. We’re on the right track. Step one is complete. We’re putting a plan in place. Now, all we have to do is execute.
