OK, I'm ready for the incoming........but

[Madam Mossfern]

I am kind of tired of the elation that we elected a "Black guy" president. I voted for the best candidate and yes, his skin happens to be dark.....he has kinda big ears too, but that didn't influence my vote either.

I was at a meeting last night where people were so happy that a black person could be elected. They said that now we need a woman, a Jew, a Muslim etc. to be elected. This bothers the hell out of me.

We have not arrived folks. We are still a bit away if we are reveling that a person who is a minority won. There are still those who wouldn't vote for him because of the color of his skin.

I am ecstatic that a reasonable, smart, caring and pragmatic person will finally be at the helm of our nation.

[Why Syzygy]

1. Disagree.

You're complaining about people who want to see diversity in the power structure. :eyes:

Read some of the threads about how other DUers are being treated at work and in their homes.
THEN complain about your friends.

[Madam Mossfern]

3. I disagree with your disagreeing

Of course it's great to see diversity in the power structure, but that should be as a course of 'color blindness' not as an aim. The aim should be to get the best person for the position in place even if they happen to be a white male Christian.

I know how people who are different get treated. I am a minority in my town, and a minority at work, and a minority in my political leanings in my office.

[No Elephants]

2. I voted for Obama bc I thought him the best candidate And I revel that we

elected an African American President. Nothing inconsistent with the two. You can buy a great outfit simply bc it's the best one in town, but, if it comes with a free diamond ring, you're not going to be happy about the ring? We have not arrived? Of course not. He's the FIRST. If we had arrived, he'd be the 20th. Tell me again why no one should be happy about electing the first though?

[Madam Mossfern]

4. I don't agree with your analogy.

Yes we should be happy that a minority could win, that is a big step. But that should not be the main reason for the joy IMHO. Are you comparing a person's ethnicity to a diamond ring? I'd say rather that one would be excited that you bought the best outfit in town and you are elated because it fits you perfectly.

[No Elephants]

5. No, I am not comparing a person's ethnicity to a diamond ring. I don't even

know where you got that. And I can be elated over more than one thing at a time. Best outfit in town, great fit, etc. etc. ad infinitum And the free diamond.

Point is: I voted for the best candidate, not for an African American candidate. The fact that voting for the best candidate also happened to mean that someone other than a white male got elected is a huge bonus, though. It came free with voting for the best candidate. No reason on earth that I should not be happy about both things.

Would it be better if the color barrier had been broken ten or 15 Presidents ago, so that it would not be an isse this time? Sure. But it didn't. So, Obama is the first.

[auburngrad82]

8. It wasn't the main reason

Obama won because he was the better candidate. If the GOP had had a decent candidate it would have been much harder to win because they would have been able to bring more voters to the polls.

I'm happy that we as a country could see beyond the color of his skin to elect him. But keep this in mind: Since the Civil Rights Act passed we have only elected two other Democratic Presidents and they were elected because of the high African American turnout. Had they not come out to support our candidates we could have had 40 uninterrupted years of Republican Presidents.

So I say thank you to the black Americans who helped get Barack Obama elected. I also say thanks to the middle aged white guys like me who voted for Obama not for the color of his skin but because of who he is as a person.

[blondeatlast]

16. Did you really say what I think you said? That DUers are celebrating that a black man won--only?

Not that a savvy progressive who knows how to get the job done, who represents everything the last 8 miserale years don't, who has PROVEN in no uncertain terms that our government belongs to us, not we to it, won?

Have you even READ DU in the past six months?

GEEXUZ.

[liberal N proud]

6. If you interpret what they were saying a little differently...

Obama being elected our President opens the door for more diversity in our leaders allowing the possibility of a woman, Jew or even a Hispanic president.
It breaks the crusty old white guy image that so many thought the President had to be.

I hope that is what they truly meant and just didn't know how to put in words that projected that interpretation.

[Curtland1015]

7. The fact that Barack Obama is black is a big deal.

Do you think Jesse Jackson was crying on November 4th because Obama is a pretty good politician?

Certainly that's not why most of us voted for him. We voted for him because he was a Democrat and the best person for the job. But I think it's trying to sweep WAY too much under the rug to pretend that it's not a huge deal that we have our first "non-white" President in the history of our country.

It is, and it represents a lot. Struggles and sacrifices made worth while, hope for millions. Something to look towards with pride. Things like this shouldn't be glossed over.

Is it unfair to Barack Obama? Probably. All the great things he does over the next four (hopefully eight) years could well be a side note to the fact that he was our first black President. After all, Jackie Robinson was a great player, but he's not known for that as much as he is for being the first black Major Leaguer.

So I see what you are saying, judge the man by his actions and not by his skin color. But I think it isn't something that should be ignored or overlooked.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. I sympathize...

One of the downfalls of being a media junkie is that you have to listen to the media narrative repeated ad nauseum and the media narrative is not exactly subtle.

That being said, this is the most important moment in African American history since the Emancipation Proclamation. It genuinely IS a very big deal.

[secondwind]

10. I do not agree entirely.......... we celebrate that a black man had the courage

to run.

We celebrate that he had the steely strength to endure a vicious primary with grace.

And a general campaign with a dignity and resolve that amazed even his competition, despite the smears.

There are a lot of qualified white people who could have run. And won.

But a black man won this time.

[mtnsnake]

11. If you're getting tired of that kind of elation then maybe you don't fathom just how big this was?

Not only was this victory great for you and me because Obama was the best candidate, but it was extra special because of the historical significance that a black man got elected. It's wonderful for us that he got the win, but it's especially wonderful for black people and all people of color, and I don't need to begin to mention the reasons why. People SHOULD be elated and for a very long time over this.

[jsmirman]

12. I'm sorry, but it is part of the miracle of this election

We ELECTED A BLACK MAN PRESIDENT

in a country where racism is still a huge issue. It makes this a tremendous accomplishment. It's a wonderful thing that changes the way a lot of children can look at their own lives. It's a wonderful thing that is going to force a lot of people who are teetering on racist/not-racist to get over it.

You can brace for incoming all you want, but there is such a thing as being contrarian in the face of overwhelming reality.

If you want to pretend like Barack's skin color doesn't make this accomplishment unbelievable and unprecedented, and historical, go ahead. But you're flying straight into the propeller blades of everything that says this election will never be forgotten, it DID change the face of American politics, and it is a huge step forward for a country with an unquestionably troubled racial history in its past and a present that is still rife with racial issues.

[jsmirman]

13. Oh - and btw, I think the world is pretty impressed

we just took a big step beyond just paying lip service towards who we like to think that we can be.

[blondeatlast]

18. From my own experience, I can tell you that the fact he even won the nom

was very, very big, happy news overseas.

I went to Malaysia over the summer--every cabbie, evey waiter, every CEO, everyone who spoke to this American wanted to know more about Barack Obama. They were THRILLED to hear that my family was supporting him and actively working to get him elected.

It made me work even harder when I returned home. The entire world celebrated--I don't think they were celebrating "the black man." they were celebrating the best man. Period.

[jsmirman]

20. I have to say, and I apologize for being stubborn here, but I don't think it's "period"

Believe me, after the crap we've had the last eight years, the world is thrilled to have someone sane, reasonable, and rationale at the helm of the US.

But I think they are also impressed that we elected a black man with Muslim ancestors. I just think leaving that out misses the full picture of the truth.

[1corona4u]

15. As long as it doesn't become the sole focus of his candidacy..

then all is good. I don't think most people went into this thinking; 'hey, I'm going to vote for the black man'...we voted for the best candidate, who just happens to be black. I say, celebrate it all you want, but let's not forget the other important issues on the table.

[lady raven]

14. I can see where you're coming from, but...

I don't care what color Barack Obama's skin is. He's the best man for the job. He inspires and I believe him when he says what he is going to do. My vote and my volunteering had nothing to do with his being a black man.

However, you cannot deny that it is a big deal that a person of color has FINALLY made it this far. It should have happened a long time ago!

[Sparkly]

17. I've argued the opposite point of view for a long time now. I think it matters.

The idea seems to be that if we act as though there is no racism or sexism, it will disappear. We just aren't there. It's not coincidence that we've had nothing but white Christian men as presidents all this time.

The prejudice that has excluded others is still here. To champion a minority or a woman is not the same thing at all. It matters to everyone in the country -- it means that the "men" in "all men are created equal" really is inclusive (of women, too -- still wish it said "men and women" but oh well). It matters to our national thinking on many levels.

Of course this doesn't mean Barack Obama isn't otherwise superbly qualified! But anytime a glass ceiling is broken, it's something to celebrate. It matters.

[blondeatlast]

19. Someone said in another thread that the opportunities to celebrate the achievements of

people of color are becoming fewer and fewer--and that is indeed a good thing. But until we're there--and I submit that complete freedom from that prejudice is more than decades away, I fully intend to celebrate that the absolute best man won after defeating a pretty remarkable field for the honor to even compete.

Have another; I'm buying this round!