Its a Celebration!

I'm watching the Democrat National Convention, and regardless of political affiliation, one has to admit that tonight is a historic moment in the history of the United States. It is the first time that someone that is not a white Caucasian male is being nominated by a major political party.

America has a hundred faults, a million faults even. Economic disparity is a huge problem. Our own children are falling behind the rest of the world in science and general education. Our government seems too ready to flex our military might to solve any problem that faces the world. Our credibility has soured over the past decade, and a vast majority of Americans do not feel that our country is headed in the right direction.

However, one must admit that what has been happening in the Democratic primaries in the past year is something that America should be proud of regardless of philosophical and political beliefs. A woman and a minority African-American were the top two candidates and only through tough campaigning and due process has a nominee been selected. The ideal of meritocracy will reign supreme. It is a uniquely American story that someone from an ethnic minority group can become so popular and respected.

Growing up as a ethnic minority in the United States is a funny thing. No one on TV looked like me or my friends. Most of my heroes in literature and entertainment have been white. It was sobering to find out that all of the past presidents have all been of the same race despite the promise of equality that is a cornerstone of the US. I always wondered if I would be able to tell my future children that they would not be able to become president because of the color of our skin. Obviously, I am not black, I am not African-American. However, the candidacy of Barack Obama gives me hope and instills with me a dream that my own children will be judged by the content of their character and not what they look like or who their father was. This candidacy regardless of the outcome tells me that that day will be here in my own lifetime. My cynicism and negativity has been blown apart by this very thought.

There is no doubt (and highly obvious if you know me) that Obama has been my pick for President for a long time (though I did support Edwards in the very beginning of the primary season). It is very simple in that he most closely represents my own beliefs. He isn't perfect and I don't really want him to be. I don't agree with his vote in regards to FISA, and I am not sure how he can repair the economy. Though, I wonder how much a president can even repair an economy by itself. He is my pick and I hope that he wins.

Jesse Jackson, as divisive and ridiculously as he can be, can really capture the moment in a single sentence. When referring to the civil rights marches over 40 years ago with Martin Luther King Jr, he said that the contrast is astounding...40 years ago it was a warzone of protests and animosity, but today it is a celebration.