Long live whitey

As inauguration day draws nearer, we're hearing reports of how the Secret Service and the government are preparing for the big day - primarily against any kind of attempt on the life of our President-elect. While I'm sure such measures are always taken on Inauguration Day, this time it's even more important as this will be our very first black President.

The fear is that white supremacists will be looking to prevent Obama from taking office. Ever since election night, there has been a spike of chatter among these groups and while no formal plan seems to yet exist to assassinate Obama, who knows what may be lurking under the radar?

I find it absolutely amazing that white supremacy still exists in this country. Sure, I know that there is racism and prejudice, but at such a level where you are planning to fly the American flag upside down on Inauguration Day seems like a scene from the 1950s. Do these people really exist? And how could they live in our society, work in our businesses and hold these beliefs? The mainstream America seems to be past extreme hatred and racism, so how can you live in this American culture and still hold on to a such terrible and antiquidated belief system?

Reminds me of an old Tupac song:

I see no changes all I see is racist faces
misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under I wonder what it takes to make this one better place, let's erase the wasted
Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right
'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonight
and only time we chill is when we kill each other
it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other
And although it seems heaven sent
We ain't ready, to see a black President...

I think we are ready. And maybe having a black President will cause these fringe groups to see the truth about us as an American people and a human race. I really hope that, if this presidency does nothing else, it eliminates whatever racism that exists in this country that I just fail to comprehend.

A new chapter

Regardless of who won last night, our country was turning a page and starting anew. But with Obama's win, we're also starting a new chapter. I'm excited to see what this new president will bring (God knows I wouldn't want his job right now) and how he will guide us through all our current troubles. And I'm also excited to see how the election of an African-American to the presidency will speed up the elimination (or, at least, the suppression) of racism in our country.

I thought McCain had a very eloquent concession speech and did a great job of bringing closure to the campaign while encouraging his supporters to support the new president:

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited...

I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.

And Obama did his fair share, trying to unite the country. Both speeches moved me to tears.

The one reservation I have is that our government-elect is now made up of the majority Democrats. As a moderate, I like to see balance, and I'm nervous that the pendulum is going to swing the other way without temperance or hesitation. This isn't just for four years - this new government will make several Supreme Court Justice decisions, whose rulings will affect us for decades to come. I just hope that Obama and the Congress keep some moderation in their decision-making and remember that while the Democrats have won in the elections, the make-up of the country is much more evenly split.

So here's to a new president, a new chapter in our nation's history. May our leaders be guided by faith and temperance and may the next four years bring success and happiness to America.

Shattered Ceilings

As we Americans prepare to enter a political sprint until the November 2008 elections, I can't help but look forward to the 2012 elections. This year, we have seen some historic events, with the first African-American presidential nominee and second female vice-presidential nominee. Either way, come November 2008, our country will have made a historic decision - either the first African-American will become president or the first female will become vice-president.

What will this mean for 2012? Will the political scene change forever because of this race? Will we see fewer white faces, fewer men take charge? I wonder if that glass ceiling will be shattered forever and future elections will ever be the same.

While part of me is excited about the potential change in mindset when it comes to the leaders of our country, part of me is also indifferent. And maybe this is the greatest testament to where we, as Americans, are today. It doesn't seem that odd or strange that an African-American or woman is running for president. And while I know that our country - like most countries in this world - still has a lot of ground to cover to forever bash the prejudice and discrimination that continues to live in this country, I think it says a lot that our generation barely seemed to notice that something historic was in the making. That our generation doesn't see what the big deal is that an African-American may be president; that a female may be vice-president.

And if that's the case, then anyone, truly, can be president of this country. I wonder if 2008 will have forever changed the old-school mindset and if 2012 will be more representative of who and what this country was founded for.

Let the mud-slinging begin

Now that there are unofficially two candidates running for president, I'm a much happier person. I haven't decided for whom I'm voting - that's what the next several months of debates and speeches are for. But knowing that there is plenty of time for candidates to make their case is a good thing - we, as a nation, will have the ability and time to research and make up our own minds.

Every morning, I go to CNN to check out the goings-on in the world. And, as much as I'm sick of the presidential campaign, I will occassionally click on the Politics page to get a quick synopsis. This morning, I did just that and found this page:

Now, I understand that the ad on this page is paid for by Obama. And I also understand that Obama is all up in the news right now because of the recent primaries. (Every link on the page is about Obama, along with the ad about Obama. Only one link mentions McCain...in respect to Obama). However, I also believe it is the responsibility of a new organization to watch its content and ensure that no wrong perceptions are made. When I was business manager of the student newspaper at Wake Forest, we constantly checked to make sure ads were placed correctly and that the overall look of the page didn't portray an unintended message.

When I clicked on this page, the unintended message was the CNN had placed its vote - for Obama. Of course, being who CNN is, I'm absolutely sure who they want to win this election. But as a reputable news organization, they need to make sure that their content, advertising and layout doesn't give away their intentions - explicity or implicitly. This isn't the first time I've found some biased reporting on this site, but the first time it struck me enough to get upset about it.

I don't know who I'm voting for in November, and I want to make an informed and educated decision based on my values and where I'd like to see this country go in the next four, eight, twenty years. I get especially stubborn and upset when I feel someone else is trying to make that decision for me.

Voting Time

In just a few short days, North Carolina will be heading to the polls to cast its vote for a democrat presidential candidate. When news first broke that it may be North Carolina and Indiana - two states thought to be voting too late in the process to make a difference - who may determine the candidate, everyone here was all a tither.

But then it became the only thing we ever heard about. Now, I feel like North Carolinians are haggard and war-torn, tired of the pandering and ready for this whole thing to be over with. I concur. I'm ready for just two candidates.

Next Friday, North Carolina will also be holding other primaries other than the presidential one. Based on the signs I've seen at intersections, there's School Board, County Commissioner, Governor and State Senate. What exactly is a County Commissioner, anyway? And does anyone really care?

And the signs! I feel like we're running for high school Student Body President again. Colorful signs at every intersection shouting "Vote for me! Vote for me!" There are so many, I can't even remember who's running. It's all just a popularity contest, especially when no one even knows what your office does.

I'll be so glad when all this is over and the real fun begins!