Barack Obama stands for change; however the transformation he stands for is not change from the recent faults in the White House, or the decline of the American Economy, instead wants to change over 200 years of patriarchal rule. Since the founding of America this country has been run by the white males, and 8 years into the 21st century, we may get that change, I as a white male am saying it is about time! The opportunity for Barack Obama to duel with the past 200 years of a biased standstill excites students of history, students of equality, students of hope, students who will see with their own eyes a new America. John F. Kennedy said, “the New Frontier is here whether we seek it or not.” It may have taken a vast amount of infighting but today is the day that Kennedy spoke of, today the New Frontier is finally upon us, and I say it is not an option to “seek it or not” we must seek change, we must seek a change in the “tradition” of America, we must seek a new leader who will guide America into a healthier, less discriminating nation.
September 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed into order the Emancipation Proclamation, essentially freeing the slaves of this country. Slavery was officially declared against the law in all American states in 1865. However these acts did not end the suffering of African Americans, racial discrimination continued. Almost 100 years later following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, Robert Kennedy pushed the Civil Rights Bill upon the new President Lyndon Johnson, arguing it would be considered John’s greatest contribution to society. In 1964 President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Bill. However this bill did not end racial discrimination in American society. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy both major architects in the ‘64 bill, were slain in 1968. The repercussions of these killings were felt in America for decades. Though white and black seemed to have blended, over time; events like the Rodney King beating and the obvious color lines in the OJ Simpson trial have shown us an extremely divided America.
Indeed we have made giant leaps and bounds towards more equality in the past 40 years since the assassination of King and Robert Kennedy. America today is extremely diverse. Despite the fact that we in America are told about this great melting pot, about this place where people can come and have the chance at greatness, with equal opportunity. The examples that prove this statement as false is overwhelming. Great change has not been seen in society, and even less change has been seen in American politics. Barack Obama pleads to Americans not to look at this election as a black issue versus a white issue; but rather that this is an issue of change. This election is far beyond black and white, it is about America giving an equal chance to all who pursue it. It is about America practicing what they preach.
There will be people will fight Obama becoming our next president until the end. When all the votes are tallied you will see the showing for people who are too afraid of this change. Rallies and groups will stand against what they will call a Black America. In the end those same students of change, hope and equality, as well as every America citizen should hope that the principals and ideals that founded this nation that will prevail. It will be democratic process that will prevail. It is our voice, our vote, our chance to create a new path, and to join the rest of the world in the 21st century. America is for the people and by the people; and the people are ready for change.
