All Americans witnessed history in the making last night. Some of us were thrilled by the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, while others were, to be polite, less than thrilled. Regardless of your political stripe, America broke through barriers of all kinds. This man is not just an African American. He has the middle name Hussein. In post-9/11 America, the second fact may be more meaningful than the first. After all, 9/11arguably shifted the focus of the fears of white America away from the black community toward others, namely Middle Easterners. Barack Obama’s name was virtually his only legacy from his father, who was apparently a non-practicing Muslim.
For those of us who grew up in the segregated South, the election of an African American represents a true revolution. This day was inevitable, but many of us thought we would never see it in our lifetime. The realm of the possible is boundless in America, and this election is dramatic evidence of the greatness of our country and our people.
People will be writing about this day for years to come. Many will be drawn to the task of analyzing and celebrating or bemoaning the Obama win. The vast majority of us, however, are now left with the same country we had on November 3. Our economy is a mess, our foreign policy fragmented, and we are embroiled in two wars. We may have loved or hated the President-Elect’s victory speech, but speeches do not solve problems. It is now time for our new government to roll up its sleeves and get to work.
In the truest spirit of patriotism, Senator McCain offered his support for our new President. This is a familiar loser’s refrain, but in McCain’s case it sounded genuine. Hopefully, his offer will be accepted. Regardless of how far off center his message veered during the campaign, John McCain has demonstrated a willingness to work across the aisle. Personally, I hope he is offered a position in the new administration, such as Secretary of Defense.
The work ahead is not just for our politicians. President-Elect Obama called upon all of us to engage in a new spirit of service and sacrifice. I think he means it. We should expect opportunities to participate in the rebuilding of our economy and the pursuit of a new energy policy. Whether we are asked to turn our thermostats up in summer (or down in winter), drive more fuel-efficient cars, or participate in community activities, we should all be prepared to be called upon. When the call comes, we can have but one response: Yes we can.
Steve Waldman – swaldman@gwlawyers.com
