On Nov. 4, 2008, we all witnessed history. Barack Obama was elected president of the United States of America. The first biracial president. The first president in 19 years who isn’t a Bush or a Clinton. The first president from Hawaii.
But what’s most important is the political enthusiasm that Obama’s campaign generated. He offered hope, change, and something new in politics. He, unlike John McCain, denied taxpayers’ money to fund his campaign. This is another historical landmark; our nation has come a long way.
However, while perusing MySpace and Facebook yesterday, I was shocked to read some of my friends’ blogs and statuses. They accuse Obama of being a terrorist, a Muslim, and a non-U.S. citizen. Their concerns have been fueled by McCain’s campaign, which misled millions of voters and focused all of its energy on negativity.
Racism is still alive and well in our nation. Sometimes I wonder, am I really living in the 21st century? Because the racism I have witnessed and heard seems like something from the 1800s. Haven’t we come far enough to disregard someone’s skin color, the pigmentation of their skin? Obama’s race should not matter. His policies and performance matter. I hope Obama’s leadership and performance in office will change people’s minds.
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