Sun editorial:

A call for unity

President-elect Obama will represent America’s true self as a diverse nation

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008 | 2:08 a.m.

President-elect Barack Obama understands the dynamics of an inclusive society as well as anybody. It was evident in the Democrat’s ground game, which aggressively pursued a broad-based constituency that represents the true face of America rather than the “Joe the Plumber” cliche embraced by Republican opponent John McCain.

It bore fruit in Obama’s rejection of blue state-red state divisiveness, as reflected in his victories in former Republican strongholds Virginia and Ohio.

And it was obvious in his quest to return the United States to its rightful place on the world stage as a respected global leader willing to work with other nations through diplomacy. It was no surprise, then, that celebrations broke out worldwide when Obama was declared the winner Tuesday night.

That spirit of inclusiveness should also benefit Nevada, which delivered its five electoral votes to Obama. Nevada has been treated like an unwanted stepchild by President Bush, whose administration has been trying to ram the nation’s high-level nuclear waste down our throats. That won’t be the case with Obama, who opposes a dump because of concerns about its safety and the potential hazards of transporting the waste by rail.

In an eloquent victory speech delivered before a crowd of more than 100,000 people in Chicago’s Grant Park — a crowd that represented the diversity of this nation — Obama spoke of the election results as the answer to people who question whether America is a place where all things are possible.

“It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled,” Obama said. “Americans ... sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America.”

Even Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a Bush loyalist who is black, was moved by Obama’s transformational victory, calling it an “extraordinary step forward” for the nation.

That a black man has finally won the presidency also speaks volumes about how far this country has grown from the ugly roots of slavery, poll taxes and segregated schools, buses and lunch counters to embrace the philosophy of inclusiveness, where everyone can feel that they belong in this country and that the country belongs to them.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By KDR81

11/6/08 at 7:36 a.m.

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Now that a black man has won the highest office in the country will racial preferencing laws be abolished?

If you asked someone 50 years ago "when there would be racial equality" they would probably say:

When blacks and whites can live and work together normally.

When blacks and whites can intermarry.

When a black man can seriously be considered for president of the United States.

The time for the racist racial preference laws to end is now.
By azsk8fan

11/6/08 at 8:09 a.m.

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You're just about spot on - with one exception - it was a BI-RACIAL man who won - that's a tad different than being 100% Caucasion or 100% African-American.......I know it's hard to remember because neither the press nor Obama himself wants to make the correction whenever he's reported to be a 'black man'. But other than that I totally agree.......
By JohnF

11/6/08 at 8:15 a.m.

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azsk8fan,

You remind me of Groucho Marx's story about the time he was told he couldn't go into a swimming pool at a country club because he was Jewish. Groucho looked at the guy telling him this and said, "My wife's only half Jewish. Can she go in up to her waist?"

Imagine if, forty-five years ago, Obama had said, "I'm only half black. May I drink from the white fountain?" What do you think the response would have been?
By KDR81

11/6/08 at 8:52 a.m.

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A half a cup of water only.
By redferret

11/6/08 at 9:36 a.m.

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Stewie Griffin or rather his slave version as son of Nate Griffin opined of his bi-racial status, "Oh, I'm half black and half white. Both of them should be accepting of me right?"
Also what is the threshold for being black? Do you have to be 100%, 90%, 75%?
Maybe Obama identifies as black because that's how he's been treated.
By thebs

11/6/08 at 10:37 a.m.

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KDR81, the ascent of one man to the highest office in the land does not magically erase racism. Lest you forget that wacky old McCain supporter who told us all about how she read Obama was a Muslim on the interwebs. (Hilariously parodied by Kristen Wiig, btw http://tinyurl.com/5oprc6)

If anything, the absurdity of the arguments being flung at Obama served to HIGHLIGHT how much progress we have yet to make in our nation's race relations.

Those who would try to sully this historic milestone in American history only need to remember the numerous pictures of African Americans, their faces streaked with tears of joy. Why don't you go tell them that Obama's only "half-black."
By jfnance32

11/6/08 at 10:59 a.m.

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Obama does have an opportunity.

He can educate people that the USA did not generate AIDs to kill black people.

He can educate people that the USA does not give drugs to black people.

He can educate people that the Israeli government is not the most evil thing on the planet.

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