That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.
-Thomas Jefferson
If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance.
-Abraham Lincoln
I have a dream that my four little children will 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.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
– Barack Obama
I whooped it up with the rest of the people who voted for Obama last night, because I believe that his spirit of optimism, his call to service for all Americans, and his ability to inspire people are all going to make a difference in how the rest of the world views America and we as Americans view ourselves as a people. But until I watched Obama’s acceptance speech, the full impact of what it means that a man of African-American descent has been elected to the highest office in our country didn’t really sink in.
It hit me when I saw Jesse Jackson weeping:
Barack Obama’s win is proof that devoting one’s life to the cause of equal rights has made a difference in our country. Jesse Jackson hasn’t always been popular, and sure he’s made some mistakes, and maybe he wasn’t the right guy for the job when he ran for the Democratic nomination a few decades ago…but even if I can’t understand personally what it’s like to be African-American, or have first-hand knowledge of how the civil rights movement changed our country back in the 60s, I could see from the tears of joy on his face that it was literally his dream come true to see enough change in his lifetime that Barack Obama could be elected President.
Not because he’s African-American…but simply because he’s the right guy for the job.
MY COOL JOB 
I actually consider him bi-racial.
jimsmuse sez: You’re right about that, Hayden. And considering that the circumstances that would result in a bi-racial child were punishable by law in many states until recently in the history of our country that’s an extremely important point! The face of the civil rights movement may have been African-American to most people, but the results of that struggle are important for ALL of us.
“Not because he’s African-American…but simply because he’s the right guy for the job.”
Absolutely. I wish my grandparents were alive to see this day. Who would have guessed this could happen when only recently people were fighting for the rights of minorities to vote in this country?
Dania
Now I wish we could someday turn into a society where people weren’t classified by “race”.
jimsmus sez: I completely agree!
Just about everyone in this country is multiracial to some degree. 😐 People need to open there eyes and more importantly their minds, and except that fact. 😉
jimsmuse sez: Well said! I think there is a long way for all of us to go, and a lot more uncomfortable conversations to be had before race is no longer an issue. Being willing to have those uncomfortable conversations is part of the process.
Jesse is sad because his days of extortion and “shake downs” are over with…
That may sound cynical, but Obama and Jesse have nothing in common OTHER than the color of their skin…or we are all in trouble.
jimsmuse sez: Yes, what you’ve said sounds a little cynical, but you’ve pretty much reinforced my point about race not being the main issue by commenting as someone who makes a personal judgment about someone’s character based on his or her actions and not on skin color. There are some people who would call them both heroes because they are black, and others who’d dismiss them both completely for the same reason. I prefer to be in a third category with you and take each person on an individual case by case basis.
History was made last night indeed – but the best thing is to see hope in people’s eyes again…
jimsmuse sez: Well said!
What! He hasn’t had time fill in a questionaire like all the other cool jobsters?
I never considered the American Presidency a cool job, but hopefully it will become one.
note: planetross isn’t political, but well done Mr. Obama, well done.
jimsmuse sez: I can’t very well have him fill out a questionnaire for a job he hasn’t started doing yet! However, since he was kind enough to send back “Flat Stanley” letters to a few second graders recently (click HERE for more details), I can only hope that some time next year when I send him an interview request he’ll be appearing here soon after on My Cool Job!
I agree w/ MTAE 100%.
jimsmuse sez: I can only hope that someday the type of tactics that Jesse Jackson has become infamous for will no longer be necessary, or even tolerated.