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FemmeFan Weekly
July 4, 2008
Fourth of July,
Our Independence Day
 Ok,
so this is America, the US of A. I love it. I respect it, I believe in it.
We are on the verge of a
historical moment in the United States. We might elect the first African
American to the most difficult, challenging and powerful position in the world.
How does that make you
feel?
I am awed by the
possibility. I am further awed that a woman came ever so close to also doing
something never done before in the USA, vying for the Presidency of the United
States.
I have seen segregation in the South first hand. I still recall the “Whites
Only” signs. I still remember facing down a Virginia Deputy Sheriff who wanted
to ban our church group from a public beach because we had one “colored” girl
with us. It has been a period of great introspection and revelation for this
nation. Think about that for a moment. It gives me goose bumps.
You know what else gives
me goose bumps? That my grandchildren, Kyle 12 and Rachel who just turned ten,
think that electing a Black man is as normal as listening to their Ipods. That
gives me goose bumps and puts a huge lump in my throat.
I asked them about this possibility, this moment of history in the making.
When I explained to their dad that I was writing this article and wanted to know
if Kyle and Rachel realized how momentous an occasion this was; or if they were
clueless, he told me they were clueless.
Not so dad, read on.
I asked Kyle who is 12:
Do you know who Barack
Obama is?
Yes. He’s running for President.
Do you think he will be
elected as our President?
I think he will because a lot of people like him.
Do you realize that he
is the first Black man to run for President of the United States?
Yes I do, I think he’ll be the first Black President. A lot of kids at my
school like him.
Grandma is he the first one (Black man) to have ever run for President?
Yes Kyle, this is a
moment in history equivalent to George Washington being our first President and
John F. Kennedy being our first Catholic President.
Oh.
I asked Rachel, who is
10:
Do you know anything about the election for President?
No.
Do you know who Barack
Obama is?
I know he is running for President.
Do you think he would
make a good President?
I think he would.
Why?
I don’t know.
Do you know that he is
the first Black man to run for President?
Yes.
Does that matter to you?
No it doesn’t matter; I think he might do good things for the world.
So how proud do you think I am right about now?
But at the same time I
reflect on the fact that women are still being excluded from all men golf clubs
and that talented women are routinely overlooked when they attempt to break into
the sports broadcast booth. I also acknowledge that the “glass ceiling” is still
very sturdy and resistant to change. Just think about how Hilary was chided by
men during her campaign. So although we still have far to travel, we are at
least beginning the journey.
I’m not in the mood to
whine today, to shake my fist at the injustice of it all.
It’s the Fourth of July,
a day to celebrate all that’s good and right about America.
My whining and righteous indignation simply will not prompt historical change.
I see hope in the future of this nation, perhaps because I am a glass half full
person.
In the face of global warming, religious wars and intolerance, racial genocide,
corporate greed, lack of health coverage and our educational system’s decay, I
see the same spirit and optimism our forefathers had when they created this
great nation of ours.
I see it in the glow of my grandchildren’s eyes.
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