Making It Count

In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. He dreamed that his children would "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." He envisioned not only freedom and equality and racial tolerance, but of racial harmony as well. He fought to the last of his 39 years of life to see that dream come true.

In 1776 the founders of our nation had a dream. They anticipated a government "instituted among Men, deriving ... just powers from the consent of the governed". The fought an impossible war against the most powerful of adversaries in defense of their dream.

Now, 232 years after our forefathers declared us to be free, and 45 years after Dr. King pronounced his dream, people are hailing the election of Senator Barack Obama as the realization of that dream. There are many who believe that as President, Barack Obama will unify a nation of people who have vigorously celebrated their differences for so long, they may not remember how to appreciate their own similarities. There are some who believe that Barack Obama can single-handedly bring change to a government that does not always remember its root as, in the words of President Lincoln, "of the people, by the people, for the people."

An Historic Election

It was an historic election. 42 other men have held the august office of President of the United States of America, and in this sense yesterday's election is not outstanding. However, record 131 million people voted in 2008, around 64 percent of all eligible voters, and in this fact we may have something truly historic. 131 million people came together for the sole purpose of electing the next President, but whether one holds the belief in one man as the Symbol of Racial Equality or simply the conviction that "change starts at the top", the President is the wrong man for the job, as is any other single human being, be that person black or white, man or woman, young or old. Perhaps change does start from the top, but it is best effected from the foundation. We, the voters, the public, the constituents, the people are the foundation. We can change our government for the better.

Let us not look at this election as a defeat, nor next year's inauguration as a victory. Instead, let us view this changing-of-the-guard as an opportunity - an opportunity for "Government of the people, by the people, for the people."