“I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.” – Barack Obama
People said of Reagan, after a difficult time, he made us proud to be Americans once again. He offered hope when there seemed little to give, optimism when there seemed little good to dwell on. And so, here we are again. Our generation met its own tabula rasa - blank slate – last night, when we elected Barack Obama the next President of the United States of America. Less than half a century ago, Jim Crow laws disenfranchised African-Americans in the South. In 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. published his first book entitled Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story. Today, we see the result of that stride, now an American story, one we can tell our grandchildren about many years from now. In a time of difficulty, Barack Obama offered hope. We Americans enthusiastically sent him to the White House.
I’ve been guilty of saying this was just another ballgame, that the only difference was the black man, as Huge Chavez would say. For the first time, I genuinely hope I’m wrong, perhaps even believe I was wrong, and for that I have Obama to thank. People say a President has to do more than give a good speech, but those same people laud Reagan as “The Great Communicator.” The truth is, there is value in the ability to inspire, to encourage, to exhilarate and excite. America’s faith in itself must first be restored, before we can begin digging. And we have a lot of digging to do.
America must answer the cries of the uninsured in this country, but she must not go too far. America must end her wars abroad, but she must not go too far. America must regulate her industries, but she must not go too far. America must research new technologies, but she must not go too far. America must do what she can to raise the standard of living for those less fortunate, but she must not go too far. America must protect her interests abroad, but she must not go too far. America must continue to trade openly with the world, but she must not go too far. America must balance her budget, but she must not go too far. America must roll back the Bush tax cuts, but she must not go too far. America desperately needs change, but she must not go too far.
Above all, moderation is key. If you fill the cup to the brim, it will surely overflow. Swing the pendulum, Obama, but please, don’t swing it too far, use your scalpel and not your hatchet, I beg you. And remember, above all, moderation is key. Avoid extremes. Be decisive, yet thoughtful. Be bold, yet restrained. Be confident, yet humble. Be practical, not ideological. In the face of disaster, do what Bush could not, and do what Roosevelt, and Reagan, and Lincoln could. It is good to be conflicted. Contradictions are human. Embrace it. Embrace your humanity. Remember your vulnerabilities.
Do this, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.
I believe strongly that he will heed the call of being a moderate hand over our government. He has the congress to pass sweeping and dramatic reform, but I feel he doesn’t want his legacy to be that. He wants to be a healer, a hero, a true maverick lol.