Barack Obama
Barack Obama, the son of a father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, was elected the nation's 44th president Tuesday, breaking the ultimate racial barrier to become the first African American to claim the country's highest office.A nation founded by slave owners and seared by civil war and generations of racial strife delivered a smashing electoral college victory to the 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, who forged a broad, multiracial, multiethnic coalition. His victory was a leap in the march toward equality: When Obama was born, people with his skin color could not even vote in parts of America, and many were killed for trying.
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer," Obama told more than 240,000 celebrants gathered along Chicago's waterfront. Many had tears streaking their faces.
"It's been a long time coming," said Obama, who strode on stage with his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Sasha and Malia. "But tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."
posted by Lyon at
5:08 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks for writing on this, Lyon! Your extra effort is very admirable, as is your willingness to go out of the box for a post on US politics!
I do have to correct you on one point though: By 1961, blacks had long had the right to vote (given by the 15th Amendment, granted in 1870). But you are right in saying that they often "could not vote," intimidated out of voting by racist whites, especially in southern states. From 1870 onward, some were, as you mentioned, killed for trying, but by 1961, the year Obama was born, that was rare.
Still, your recognition that the election of an African-American to the highest political office in the USA was a monumental event is well taken; as my daughter said, "America will never be the same."
Maybe that holds true for the entire world!
November 6, 2008 at 5:37 AM
Hi Brad,
Oh yes I was aware of that. I was not referring to the actual legal rights for the blacks to vote, but rather the actual situation back then.
And let's hope that the new America can bring a better tomorrow for the entire world. Despite being a fervent supporter of Obama, I have to say that politicians are supposed to be good with words to begin with. Taiwan's politics is a good living example of that. But for now, the Americans are willing to trust Obama and that in itself is a good start for him. Let's hope that he lives up to the expectations.
November 6, 2008 at 6:41 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home