Obama Signals a Change in America

I am proud to say that I have witnessed a hallmark in American history with the advent of our first black president.

But--and this is the more important part of this accomplishment--the real importance of this event signals a change in the way America thinks. We are now moving toward being ONE America, MORE united, MORE at peace with ourselves, MORE aligned as a people into ONE force that works together to make our country great again.

My eyes tear as I realize that in my lifetime I saw this monumental rift between us move toward oneness in a way that many thought would never happen.

For Obama represents far more than just a black president--he represents our recognition that we truly can be "one nation, under God, INDIVISIBLE, with liberty and justice for ALL."

I grew up, like many Americans, in a more or less racist family where there were good blacks and bad blacks, but they were all blacks.

But, over time, we have finally achieved what I have longed for my entire lifetime: a hallmark signal that we can finally start to put color behind us. That a good man is a good man, regardless of his color, nationality, religion or anything else.

It is with pride that I see my nation finally come to its senses and give acknowledgment that we can rise above our old petty grievances and hatred, and move forward into history as a united people.

And it is the young among us who fostered this change. The young who realized that we have dealt a heavy hand far too long to those who might look different. The young who saw and rejected a senseless sin of racial suppression that has unfairly shackled an entire segment of our population. The young, who understood that we are all people, all unique, all worthy of our status as productive and respectable humans, regardless of what we look like.

Obama has a hard job. It won't be easy. But he's bright, young, educated, and now he has the support of a nation behind him.

It's doable. We must all get ready for some hard times, but knowing that if we work together, all things truly are possible.

Hail to the new chief, who ushers in a new era for our nation!