I loved this article from Time Magazine!
http://www.time.com/...
Joe Klein's article, "Why Barack Obama is Winning" in Time Magazine, an account of Obama meeting with Gen. Patraeus and illustrates what I've suspected of Obama--but hardly hoped to see in action before election. In his discussion with Gen. Patraeus, Obama exhibits the honest, diplomatic and careful consideration necessary for a head of state--the kind of man we should always want leading our country regardless of race, religion or a full head of hair.
Remember the film with Sidney Poitier, Guess Who is coming to Dinner? Critics pointed out Poitier's character was about a guy who outstripped the average man, black or white. It was a valid observation.
Color is an issue regardless of how you personally might feel. America has had to look in the mirror. Fortunately my parents raised me to respect all races, and spoke passionately about civil rights during the height of desegregation. But when I brought up in college that I was going to date a fellow student who happened to be Black, my parents "rebelled." This election has children challenging their parents and grandparents, the way many of us challenged ours in the 60’s. Labor Unions, recognizing that it is an issue within their membership, have sought to address it. For a long time, I have heard from numerous white folk that racism was all but disappeared in this country. Not so from Black folk. As a Latina, some people feel free to let me know how they feel about people of African descent. Possibly they know some of my relatives, who unabashedly proclaim that they would never vote for Obama because of his color.
We know that a perfect idiot can be elected to the highest office in the country—if he is well connected, male and white—frustratingly preferred over intelligent, qualified men from the same demographic. It occurs to me that in order for a Black man, even a half white and half black man to get to the White House, he would have to demonstrate extraordinary qualities.
Klein's article demonstrates Obama's capacity for capable leadership. He has almost made us forget his skin color—except that we keep hearing in various blatant, and not so blatant terms fear of him because of his race. He has inspired us in a way that we have been yearning to be inspired. He has given great courage and hope to American Blacks, and people round the world. I celebrate the man, his humanity, his character, his intelligence and his use of it. America needs this man, not simply because is the right man for the job, but also because he is Black.
It is time overdue, and without doing any research into this, I am guessing that he will, if elected, be the first of his race to lead a country where Africans were imported for forced labor.
And although I am not ready to dance on Main Street until the last vote is counted and Obama is in the White House, I am celebrating this moment in American history.