obama

don't know if you get CNN, but if you watched it tonight, you know what I'm about to talk about... Wow, so Barak Obama has the nomination. It's sort of astonishing that I could write such a name as the potential next leader of the United States.

One of the main reasons my allegiance changed to Obama was the hope that he inspires for minorities. Teaching at Lincoln High, I saw a lot of minority students feel uplifted, that they really could go all the way in America, because of Obama. Granted, people could say that Hillary gives that same message to women, particularly women who are older who have experienced times in America's history when women had significantly less power.

But, on some level, I feel that Obama's candidacy represents a deeper healing. While women were technically "property" when our country was begun, of course African-Americans were slaves. I feel like Obama's candidacy, his leadership, and his tone sets the tone for deeper atonement for our country, if you don't mind my multiple uses or repetitions of the same words. Another thing I like about him is that much of the power of his style comes from rhythms from African American dialect and spiritual tradition. The fact that he uses that rhythm, the tone that has kept former slaves empowered and growing and reaches the widest of the Democratic audience, is empowering to me. Additionally, his tone, in terms of rarely being critical and negative, sets a needed change of tone in politics.

I believe the US could be in a pivotal place right now. While I respect Hillary's accomplishments and commitments, and particularly her allegiances, I think she played the old game of politics too much, and Americans are too disheartened, as is the rest of the world that is so affected by America, to play that game any more.

Regardless, I think Hillary would have made a fine president. But she also made such a fine opponent for Barak, and her competition helped his candidacy raise to a high standard of integrity, I think.

I must confess that I wish Hillary would have conceded tonight now that it is fully impossible for her to win. I feel that her hesitancy to do so was selfish when it is his time to shine and go onward. However, I think Obama was gracious in giving her credit and assuring that she will have a role in winning the fight to bring about universal health care for Americans. I hope that will be true.

I think the country of our birth is headed in a better direction. It has been a disappoint for the last eight years. I look forward, though, to going forward. I hope Obama gets to deliver on his promise because I believe that America's citizens have a lot of promise... I recently showed a movie by a Nebraska filmmaker I know called Proposition 416 about Nebraska's measure to make gay marriage illegal to my SCC students. As a result, a student came out to me, and two students wrote argumentation papers on that topic. Bit by bit. I wish gay rights were higher on Obama's agenda. But I think with this tone we are on our way to full and equal rights for all humans. Sometimes, perhaps, we have to heal some wounds on our way to heal others.