The Optimist's Post. (With Caveat.)

[20score]

(Repost with better title.)

The historical aspect of Obama’s victory is very profound and multi-faceted. Jessie Jackson pointed out one of the many meanings this election had, outside of the massive boost the USA has gotten in international goodwill. He pointed out the profound effect Obama’s presidency would have had on the martyrs in the civil rights movement. Of course this does not mean racism in the US is over, but it cannot be denied that this is a giant leap forward. But what hasn’t been covered much is a discussion that was very common in the sixties. Whether to change the system from within, or from without.

The debate on which tactic is more effective in producing change is less prevalent post Vietnam War, but it still goes on. The answer of course is that both pressure from without the system and good people working within the system is the most effective avenue for change. And what we as a world witnessed was those two methods converging with the election of Barack Obama.

The timing was perfect. The anti-war, anti-Bush movement had been in existence for years. Millions of people strong, but the injustices from the government kept coming, deaf to our objections. But, with Obama we now have a leader that will represent the will of this movement, and have the power to do something about it. Symbiosis. Neither side of this equation would have the power to affect change without the other. So it goes. Now that we have this setup, it is our duty to continue to do our part; to pressure, support and correct.

It’s our best chance yet.