"These are extreme, extreme days." - TobyMacLast night, along with millions of others glued to their television sets, I watched history in the making. The United States of America elected it's first African-American president. After weeks of watching the financial structure of this country crumble, and years of watching wars waged on foreign soil and social unrest thrive in our own backyards, citizens from coast to coast breathed a collective sigh of relief. Everyone smiling ear-to-ear, erupting in excited cheers and quiet tears of joy, clutching their paper campaign signs calling out for "CHANGE." It was a memorable and undeniably meaningful event for Americans.
Recently, Jon and I have been playing this horribly politically incorrect game we like to call, "At least you're not..." Usually it takes place in attempt to make ourselves feel better after commiserating about our finances or the daily stresses in our family. We stop to think about people we've heard of who face serious and severe challenges. And one of us will turn to the other and say, "At least you're not (insert name of down-and-out individual here)." Though he is far from down-and-out and though he is celebrating a monumental victory, today I can wholeheartedly say, "At least I'm not Barack Obama."
Last night I listened to our "fair and objective" media refer to President-Elect Obama as a "savior" and the "high-priest of change." I listened to people say that their hope is now restored. That is an awful lot for one man to live up to. A man who has said a lot of pretty words and been endorsed by a lot of pretty people, but who is at the heart of the matter still just one man who has a lot to prove.
I wish that this election meant as much positivity for our country as people give it credit for. I wish having our first African-American president meant that racism is being diminished. I wish the average American were as willing to face accountability for their own actions and contribute their own "calloused hands" to the cause of making this country better, as Obama indicated is necessary. But the fact is racism is still alive and well. We have our first African-American president not out of decreased bigotry but out of increased desperation. As far as I can tell anyone who was NOT Bush (i.e. NOT Republican) would have been all the change this country was seeking. Sure it helps that Obama is young and poised and eloquent. But God help the man who has now taken the reigns of a country of citizens that are quick to relinquish all personal responsibility and are relying on him to take this jumbled mess and fix it.
I'm gonna raise a lot of eyebrows with this entry. Especially from friends whose mouths will drop open and say, "She didn't vote for Obama????" No, I didn't vote for Obama. But at the same time, I want him to succeed. I want him to be a strong president and make decisions that will guide America to a brighter tomorrow, which if I'm not mistaken, is the same thing that everyone else wants. I will pray for him and his family as they head to the White House and face the next four years. And I will lend my hands and heart wherever I can to making this country a safe and strong place for my son and future generations. I commit myself to being a good citizen and supporting my president.
But as far as my hopes and faith, those remain where they've always been. With the One who created us all. The One who was and is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Yes my fellow American, these are extreme days. And maybe it's time we present the boldness of our beliefs in extreme ways.
May God keep His hand over us all.
