Celebrate a historic victory (11/10/2008)

To the editor:

What an interesting election cycle. Most everyone I knew had conceded the fact that Barack Obama was going to win the Presidential election. Any glimmer of hope for Senator McCain was taken away in the wake of the current financial crisis. With that in mind, I found myself on election night at Governor Daniel's election headquarters. Given what most all saw as a foregone conclusion at the top of the ticket, we were focused on the Governor's race, the state races and the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

Having celebrated the Governor's victory, we disbursed and headed home. There, we turned on the TV to watch Senator McCain's extremely gracious concession speech. The networks switched over to Grant Park in Chicago where soon to be President-elect Obama was to address the gathered crowd. There was Jesse Jackson starring deeply into space, his face soaked with tears. Oprah was present in stunned euphoria. Every channel's coverage, including of the Indiana state Democrat headquarters, showed thousands of black faces; some excited, some shocked, all completely overcome with joy. We watched Obama's speech and a cell phone rang. It was from the 85 year old, extremely macho, grandfather of a friend I was with. His dad is black, his mom is white. Pops made his first call to his grandson, in tears, verbally communicating his struggle and congratulating my friend. He was handing off the baton from his leg of the race filled with struggle and doubt to his grandson for a race of promise and hope. What I was witnessing slapped me across the face. I was missing it. Sure, my side lost, but this was bigger than that.

This was the equivalent to the day we turned on the TV and could not believe our eyes as the Berlin Wall fell. This is a milestone in American history and in our culture. Many blacks have always felt that, although opportunities now exist that we could have only dreamed of a generation ago, there have been cultural obstacles to true opportunity and acceptance. For many, that obstacle has now been eliminated. The Berlin Wall fell again.

To my generation, civil rights was something we read about in history class. We've all seen the videos of the often violent struggle. However, for the most part, racism tends only to go as far as what we do not understand. It's a cultural difference, a point of view, a different perspective from a different life experience. The fact that a person of color could not or should not be in an elected position, even President, is something most of my generation thinks little about. Obviously, if many did, Barack Obama had no chance. I couldn't be more pleased we have a black President. It's time we shed that burden, I just wish it could have been someone who shares my political point of view. But the race for President is over and we all must take a moment to pause to appreciate what we have witnessed.

As it often is, like with Jackie Robinson and MLB, it takes a special figure to bridge cultural divides. Barack Obama is a special figure. He is incredibly likable, extremely articulate and an insanely eloquent orator. More importantly, he is a genuine idealist. He speaks to broad themes that are based on what most of us agree to be what America represents even though we might not all agree how to get there. He has an enormous following of devotees. You want to like Obama even if you don't agree with any of his policies. He, like President Reagan before him, has the potential opportunity to unite people that are from different points of view but generally agree on many centrists ideals while standing tall for what he believes in. For that, I have tremendous respect and admiration for him and what he has accomplished and what it has meant to our country.

Over the next few months, people of all political points of view have the opportunity to have their voices heard. No matter what the party, when the other side wins, the first reaction of many is "Oh no, he's going to have to answer to all of those (left wing/right wing) wackos he owes favors to and we are headed straight to (socialism/fascism)." That typically has no chance to ever happen, we won't allow it, not even this time. For Democrats, they have the chance to advance their agenda. When the party in charge changes hands, everyone gets out their wish list and goes to work. To counter that, Republicans have an equal opportunity.

The Republican Party needs to regroup. Those who share my point of view in the party included in the libertarian and fiscal conservative camps will certainly try to regain authority. Cultural conservatives will gear up to defend their point of view.

It's an extremely exciting time in a period of great challenges.

We have some tough sledding ahead. We are experiencing a financial crisis that is being followed quickly by an economic slow-down.

Debates over healthcare, Iraq and the general war on terror and certainly taxes will commence immediately.

Whatever the issues, they will be hotly contested and potentially divisive. My hope that we will allow criticism of the new administration without charges of racism, I want to believe we're past that.

We have crossed a divide that many thought they would never see in their lifetime. The elephant has left the living room. Even though my side lost and I am genuinely concerned about the direction we are about to take, I can't help but be proud of my country.

Bryan Alexander

Portland[[In-content Ad]]