Finally...A Good Change

So we come out with another victory. A new chance and a change from the past 8 years. There were a lot of shocking and of course the not so shocking parts to this election. But in the end, it was good and it was exactly what I’d hoped for because the most important part about President Obama’s message was the change he’s promised.

I think more than anything, the hope he promises, is what I loved most about him. He’s a change, a breath of fresh air, a million other things that I could go on and on about but I’ll spare you the details because I really could go on for a while.

What surprised me, and in fact shocked me the most about the election was the fact that an African American was elected President was even an issue. It seriously angers me how race and gender were even an issue in a country that is so smart, so knowledgeable and such a melting pot of just about everything, could really care about race. It was great being part of a historical election, and honestly it was great that we actually were able to put race aside for an instant and elect someone on their qualifications. But honestly, throughout the election, every once in a while I couldn’t help but think “Really? Is his race really still an issue?”

I guess I’ve just been spoilt and have been around a diverse & accepting community to an extent that maybe I’ve been sheltered from the rest of the country. Somehow I think I have just created an image in my head and have ignored what the rest of the country might be thinking. Again I guess it brings me back to this fantasy world I have created for myself.

I mean, yes, I can live in a place where people have different ideas and political beliefs, after all most places I’ve grown up in are the more conservative cities. But I’m hoping its more conservative because of their beliefs in taxes and the economy and has nothing to do about race. Here’s what bothered me about the race factor…that it was a factor in some people’s minds. Am I supposed to feel comfortable being in a country where the color of my skin would really be a larger issue than what and who I am. In this sense I am glad I live in Madison because atleast people here are accepting of my ethnicity. But what about the rest of the country? Should I always just be afraid of driving through small towns and limiting myself to the big and liberal cities?

Luckily I don’t really have to be that afraid since I know most people in look beyond the color of a person’s skin or where they come from. I don’t think a handful of people should really cause negative reactions from the rest of the country or the world in fact. So I guess I just wait for the next four years to happen and hopefully, the next four years will bring a decline in hate crimes and race will hopefully not be an issue anymore.