America Has Spoken

I really never intended to be overtly political on this blog, but I did intend to speak what's on my mind which is this: America has its first African-American president.  I am simultaneously elated and nauseated.  I am elated because, seriously... it's about damn time.  In this county, the land of opportunity, the gates of accomplishment are to be wide open to all people.  Barack Obama has pushed his way through those gates that despite the forces of tradition and bigotry that set their shoulders against him.  Which leads me to address my nausea: how is it possible that we've waited this long to see a black family in the White House?  It speaks volumes to me that a black president indicates a turn of the tides - we have not come so far as we think.  My chief hope for the Obama presidency is that it serves to bring us many steps closer to a right understanding of equality in which Dr. King's vision is realized: that our president may be judged by the content of his character rather than the color of his skin.  I have hope.