It should be pretty clear to just about anyone who knows me that I’m more than a little disappointed by the outcome of the presidential election. I’m not surprised, of course, but still, it’s hard for me to be excited about the American political system when so many of my fellow Americans are eager to elect a leader that has a questionable past and has shown himself to be a far left-leaning liberal. It’s difficult for me to be hopeful about the future when our country is fast headed toward becoming a welfare state. The greatness of America is tied up in the idea of working hard, perseverance, and creating a better life for yourself and the generations that follow. I’m afraid that this election shows that we’ve hit the peak in that mindset, and are now slipping further into becoming a country that prefers the helping hand of Big Brother rather than the working hand of oneself.
Still, I’m not nearly as bitter as some might imagine. Do I think John McCain would have made an excellent president? Absolutely. Do I think Barack Obama will lead the country in the right direction? No, I don’t. But to be honest, the amount of “hope” he’s brought to so many people – many of my friends and loved ones included – has me to the point where I really do hope he can make a difference. Otherwise, there are going to be throngs of disappointed Americans milling about. And with the nature of our country the way it is right now, disappointment and lack of hope on that scale could be a devastating blow.
I thought all day about what I wanted to say about the outcome of the election, and there’s a lot I can spout off about. I don’t think our country is particularly smart as a whole. I don’t like the direction it’s going. And the cynical part of me thinks that the excitement surrounding such a radical liberal leader is a sign that we’re entering into – if not already in – the beginning of the end of the era where America stands out amongst a world of nations.
But the optimist in me says that maybe Obama will attempt to work across party lines for the betterment of our country. Maybe he will be able to hold true on some of his promises. Now exactly how he’s going to fund educations, healthcare, social programs, and new initiatives while lowering taxes remains to be seen. (Here’s a hint: It’s not possible! Welcome to Economics 101, Barack, sweetie). But maybe he’ll be able to pull something off. We’ll see.
And like I told a friend earlier today, I really don’t want to see him fall flat on his face. I think there’s a chance that will happen, but if it does, that spells bad news for my country. And despite the cheesy factor of it, I really do love my country. I do hope that people soon realize that Obama is just a man who managed to raise enough money to buy his way into the White House. He’s not alone in this … every president in modern history, Republican, Democrat, or otherwise has bought his way into the White House. It’s how our system works. But he’s not a God, or the God, or a superhero. He’s a career politician, and an inexperienced, arrogant one at that. I think that will shine through soon enough.
I’m also displeased with how quickly Sarah Palin has become a scapegoat for the McCain campaign. Now, if you don’t know already, I’m immensely cynical and bitter about the mainstream media and, yes, the not-at-all-subtle liberal bias. And I fully believe that the immediate finger of blame for McCain’s loss to Palin is designed to dent her career and minimize any immediate talk of a 2012 campaign run. The thing is, Palin did wonders for the Republican party. Yes, her social conservatism and inexperience (which somewhat matches our President Elect’s) did probably turn away some more moderate independents. But her appearance onto the national scene also added much needed rejuvenation to the Republican party. Where McCain’s rally would draw several thousand, Palin’s would draw tens of thousands. I have to believe those supporters were coming out for more than a look at her glasses. Palin and her family took a beating throughout this campaign, and I hate that they’re continuing to take it now that it’s over. I don’t agree with every policy Palin supports, but I’ve been increasingly impressed by her tenacity and her gracious response to the barrage of attacks that she’s been subjected to, and I really do hope to see more of her on a national scale in the coming years.
My other annoyance out of this election has been the issue of race. It’s always irked me, but I realize that it was pivotal to this election. The moment I heard Obama refer to his late grandmother – the woman who raised him – as a “typical white woman,” I knew the race factor was going to be key to the election. And following last night’s results, the historic nature of our first African American president has proven to capture the attention of folks worldwide. (As a side note and gentle reminder, Obama’s biracial. He’s as much white as he is black. No one seems to remember that fact).
But here’s something interesting – on the news today, a lot of talk about the long road from Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights activism that began in the 1960s was going on. And the world is celebrating what is a monumental moment in our history, as well we should be. And I’ve heard Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech quoted numerous times today. But I have one concern, especially when I hear the “judged not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character” line from Dr. King’s speech mentioned. I’m concerned that we focused far too much on the color of our president elect’s skin, and not nearly enough on the content of his character. And I have to wonder, is that really what the Rev. King had in mind? Are we really making the strides we seem to think we’ve made, or are we compensating and further creating racial tension with our out-of-focus focus?
I really don’t know. All we can do now is have faith and, according to the months of campaign slogans & promises, “hope” for the future.
