This Moment In History

As I have watched the Democratic Convention in Denver I have been both exhilarated and bored. However in spite of the slow moments it is amazing to see all of these people some of them having great power and substance preparing to coronate a black man as their nominee to carry the Party standard. Regardless of your Party affiliation or personal feelings concerning Senator Obama one thing is unmistakable a line has been crossed in America. A color barrier that has withstood generation after generation of onslaught has finally been assailed. This however is only the first step. The journey will not be complete until we see Senator Obama in the White House.

From the streets of Philadelphia where Frederick Douglas rose to prominence to the bridge at Selma, from the underground railroad that wound through the deep south to the promenade in front of the Lincoln Memorial, from the streets of renaissance Harlem to the sun drenched beaches of southern California a blow has been sounded for freedom in America. We as Americans should be rejoicing together not as black and white but as one nation willing to overcome the tragic history of our original sin. This is a milestone that we all can celebrate and find some measure of pride.

As expected Senator Obama did not disappoint in his acceptance of the Democrats nomination to lead his Party to victory in November. This night he delivered one of the most powerful political speeches I can ever remember hearing. What made the speech most memorable to me is how Senator Obama was able to weave the grim realities of what Bush has left for us and McCain wants to continue with the possibilities of what could be. He allowed us to look beyond the politics of the past to a post Bush future full of opportunity and hard work. He reminded us that we can not accomplish what needs to be accomplished without sacrifice without responsibility.

Since I am not running for first lady I can say this, I have never been prouder of our nation than I am tonight. The only thing that can top this would be on January 20th, 2009 to see Senator Obama taking the oath of office for the Presidency of this nation. This moment doesn’t all of a sudden magically catapult us into some new world free of hate, racism, and fear, but what it does do is show us the possibilities of a world if we are willing to realize that we share more in common than those things that separate us.

I will not try to convince anyone that Senator Obama should or shouldn’t be President, that is a decision that each one of us has to decide what I will say is this if you could hear the speech he gave tonight and walk away unchanged then you are about to miss one of the most defining moments in the history of America. Regardless of whether he wins or not (I personally think it isn’t even going to be close) we have reached a milestone as a nation. In the words of Senator Obama, we can not go backwards from here. We must march forward as a nation, no longer in mistrust and fear but with courage and confidence that we can achieve all we set out to do.

As an American that happens to be black, I am proud of Senator Obama for being the first black man to be nominated by a major Party to run for President, but more than that I am proud of him as a man. A man who is going to run, win, and govern as a man of principal and a man that can unite this nation. It’s been a long time coming, but for those of us who were able to endure the wait was worth it.