Thoughts on the Election: Part I

Here are some of my thoughts.

Firstly, while I did not vote for Obama, I am not exactly shaken by the results.  Despite my ideological differences with the president elect, it seems apparent that his election will help make the race related sins of America's past more distant of a memory.  As an institution, the US did support bad policies regarding race for much of its history.  Electing a black president does not erase those mistakes, but it can help mitigate some of the lasting effects.  In addition, it is a good thing that a black person has been elected America's president if only because it puts to bed the myth that white Americans are not ready or willing to vote for a black person.  Yes, there are still overtly racist white people, but racism has never been an exclusively white problem.  As long as the world is imperfect, there will always be racist actions committed by people of every race.  It is unpleasant, but it is true.  However, it is also true that racism is no longer so strong that it can keep non-white people from becoming the President of the United States.  We can move away from that idea once and for all.

This is an opportunity for Conservatives to showcase good behavior in losing (at least better behavior than has been seen in the last eight years).  One piece I read noted that in addition to venomously attacking his policy decisions, President Bush's more vocal and rancorous detractors consistently denied him both the title appropriate to his office and his very humanity itself.  The phrases "President Select" and "not my president" have been common place over the last two terms and have done our nation no good.  On the internet, a sizable number of people in the comments sections of blogs refuse to refer to Bush by name, choosing to call him (rather uncreatively) "Chimp" instead.  A grossly distasteful movie was produced which fantasized about his assassination.  Admittedly, the bar for comparatively decent behavior is set pretty low for Conservatives at the moment.  Lets accept this loss graciously and make every attempt to help cease the festering hatred that has been a hallmark of American politics for the past several years.  

Barack Obama will be the president of every American citizen.  He is a man who in all appearances wants to help our nation overcome some of the challenges it faces.  We owe him and his office respect.  Let us be ready to lend a hand when needed and measured in our criticisms when criticism is necessary.