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President Barack Obama

Submitted by Jon Henke on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 14:10
in

In years past, I have posted something I think appropriate to post and expand upon today.

It's been 232 years since our Founding Fathers — a motley collection of intelligent, passionate and courageous men — signed the Declaration of Independence, declaring that...

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

As noble an ideal as that was, the Founders ultimately failed to follow through on the promise of equality under the law, and our nation fought a horrific civil war to reverse the worst consequences of their failure.

That failure was not wholly rectified until well into the 20th century when — "in the course of human events" — another intelligent, passionate and courageous man once again held those truths to be self-evident.

Like our Founding Fathers, Martin Luther King, Jr pledged his life, his fortune and his sacred honor. And, though he gave his life, he succeeded where the Founding Fathers had failed; that last measure of equality under the law was finally secured for Americans.

For that reason, Martin Luther King, Jr. stands on the same hallowed ground as the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the Last Founding Father.

Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed, fought for and secured the dream.  Today, Barack Obama realized it, becoming the 44th President of the United States.

If Martin Luther King, Jr. is the Last Founding Father, then Barack Obama is his George Washington, embodying the profound moral and social change that happened before they were ever elected.  As a symbol of our achievement, this is a genuinely great day for America.

Because of people like Martin Luther King, Jr., we have a political process that works even better today than it did 220 years ago when George Washington was elected. Today is not a day to debate policy, but to celebrate the process that our original founding fathers fought to establish and our last founding father fought to perfect. 

But today is also a day to celebrate George Washington and Barack Obama, the Presidents who symbolize the dreams of our founding fathers.

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Comments

Don't Deify Martin!

Submitted by RisingTide on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 14:15.

Oh, and btw, if you guys want to reach out to black folk, you might try a movement to get Malcolm X a federal holiday.

 

Just saying. ...

something like that would show that you "get it" when it comes to black culture.

NO

Submitted by WoodbridgeVa on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 14:37.

The fact is that by and large we don't get it when it comes to black culture and we should not insult the black community by trying to fake it.  The reverse is also true.  Most blacks do not "get it" when it comes to white culture.  Read "Dreams From My Father" and that fact practically jumps off the page at you.

Nevertheless, we can recognize there is an American identity that transends ethnic cultures and, while having room for all of them, demands a deeper loyalty.  As a center right Republican, I sincerely wish the first black president had been one of ours and still hope the first female president will be.  As an American, I am pleased and proud we have finally elected a black president. 

you don't live in white america

Submitted by RisingTide on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 14:41.

and not get it. getting it is a safety thing.

Just like you don't live in a Christian america, without getting that polygamy is not considered eheh kosher.

Meh, mayhaps you're right. But I think an honest and engaging dialogue on culture can be fascinating, even if it's probably not what you want from political parties ;-)

There are levels of understanding

Submitted by WoodbridgeVa on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 15:09.

I agree that anyone living in a society dominated by another culture will naturally learn enough about that culture to survive.  That does not mean they truly understand it.  Obama's book is full of references to his inability to understand white culture, most notably when he describes traveling through Europe prior to his trip to Kenya and finding nothing that related in any way to who and what he was or who he was becoming (one wonders how his mother and grandmother felt when they read the passage; but that is another discussion). 

Yes, an honest and engaging discussion on culture can be fascinating.  I just get tired of constantly being asked to appologize for mine.   And no that discussion is not appropriate for political parties.

Eventually though, we need to get beyond our cultural differences and focus on our human commanalities.

what?

Submitted by someone on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 16:11.

Most blacks do not "get it" when it comes to white culture.  Read "Dreams From My Father" and that fact practically jumps off the page at you.

 

Obama was raised by white people.  How can you say he doesn't "get it"?

 

 

Could you be a bit more specific....

 

 

 

 

Yeah .....

Submitted by WoodbridgeVa on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 16:19.

most notably when he describes traveling through Europe prior to his trip to Kenya and finding nothing that related in any way to who and what he was or who he was becoming

 

An amazing achievement for a majority of us.

Submitted by birdmojo on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 14:57.

Now loyal and principled opposition just needs to not go insane.

I suspect that Obama is pretty g-darn smart and knows how to play the game much, much better than the Republicans have grown used to playing it. Looking down at the list of grievances and looking at the tone and general categories of what was said about Bush and doing some tweaking won't work to change the balance of power...

But, there I go. Falling into the trap of talking about power when, at least today, it should be about nodding in agreement about how far we've come as a country. We have come far. That's something to be proud of even if you're a Boston Tea voter.

We have indeed come far. Harder road ahead

Submitted by RisingTide on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 15:18.

things look rocky, but I think we're surefooted enough to make it.

Jon, my thanks

Submitted by Jim Dandy to th... on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 15:01.

for your gracious and inspiring message.

 

Well written.

I think that Dr. King is turning over in his grave.

Submitted by Xasteius on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 16:57.

He said something about the character counting more than the color of skin.  I severely doubt that BHO could pass the background checks to become employed at a government agency.  Apparrently politics has a much lower bar.

yah, character counts

Submitted by RisingTide on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 16:59.

Barack is what we call a mensch.

You? you're a credulous, gullible fool.

MMMM

Submitted by Jim Dandy to th... on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 21:48.

He passed enough background checks to be named Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Relations, which gave him access to tons of eyes-only, double-dog-dare top secrets.

Idiot.

Nice post.

Submitted by Mediauras on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 18:59.

Today really is a triumph of a political system, which you so nicely articulated.  

Thanks Jon

Submitted by johnson springs on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 19:13.

Very good post. Thanks again.