I swore that I would never do this again
The world awaits the results of this night with baited breath. Many are sitting on the edge of their seats with the remote in one hand, beverage of choice in the other, waiting for the moment that they can jump and shout about the inevitable. Millions upon millions waited for hour upon hour so that their voice could be heard. Citizens were ever vigilant, always looking for any mere hint of impropriety, cell phones at the ready and lawyers on speed dial. In a mere 12 hours, we will know without a shadow of a doubt that Barack Obama has become the first African-American president in U. S. History. It will not take 12 hours for the celebration to begin, but I can't help but wonder how, as a people, we will mark this momentous occasion.
Will we honor his achievement with solemn revelry? Our people have traditionally celebrated anything important to us with reckless abandon. There is the segment of us that feel that disturbing the peace is appropriate -- dancing in the middle of the main thoroughfares, clogging traffic, preventing people from reaching their destinations. Then, there is the segment that behave like overly-tanned rednecks, taking our pistols and firing them off in the air oblivious to the fact that what goes up must eventually come down. Sadly, more often than we would like to think, such activity ends in tragedy -- a stray bullet enters a home and takes a life. We will get drunk, and we will get high, and we will get loud, and we will get wild, and we will get crazy. And I will sit in my basement in silent shame that we, as a people cannot celebrate this momentous occasion more appropriately.
I understand the mentality. It has been said that this is an indication that our struggle has been justified over all these years. I agree with that sentiment. However, people are celebrating like we have won the war. I saw no one celebrating when the first bomb was dropped on Iraq, so why are we so happy to begin this war? I think it is because none of my people realize the responsibility that is now thrust upon their shoulders. I have news for them. Barack Obama is not the magical cure-all to what ails our community. Our people will not magically stop glorifying the gangster lifestyle. Street gangs will not suddenly form a truce, reorganize, and perform a lifetime of community service to make up for the atrocities they've committed in our communities. Drug dealers will not seek more noble pursuits. Pimps will not stop recruiting, abusing, and exploiting our young women. People that are struggling to pay their mortgage, rent, utilities, and childcare will not wake up tomorrow morning and find an annuity in their bank accounts to assist with their tribulations. They will not wake up tomorrow and find absolution for financial sins of their past. I wish that for only one night, Mr. Obama (Mr. President?) could be granted the omnipotent eye of God so that he could see how we react to his victory. I want him to see how so many of us shame his legacy with ignorant behavior.
I wonder what the reaction in our community will be when our people realize that change will not be created FOR them, but that the responsibility of change has been thrust upon them and they must actively participate in order to make it happen. Will attitudes and perceptions change? Will we finally work for the world we want instead of expecting it to be handed down to us on a silver platter? Change comes with time and effort. One man can't do it alone.
In the Bible, it states "Faith without works is dead." You can believe in change all you'd like. If you don't work with Barack toward that change, then his victory tonight is a pyrrhic one. I will work with you, Mr. Obama. I cannot let this night be in vain.
Will we honor his achievement with solemn revelry? Our people have traditionally celebrated anything important to us with reckless abandon. There is the segment of us that feel that disturbing the peace is appropriate -- dancing in the middle of the main thoroughfares, clogging traffic, preventing people from reaching their destinations. Then, there is the segment that behave like overly-tanned rednecks, taking our pistols and firing them off in the air oblivious to the fact that what goes up must eventually come down. Sadly, more often than we would like to think, such activity ends in tragedy -- a stray bullet enters a home and takes a life. We will get drunk, and we will get high, and we will get loud, and we will get wild, and we will get crazy. And I will sit in my basement in silent shame that we, as a people cannot celebrate this momentous occasion more appropriately.
I understand the mentality. It has been said that this is an indication that our struggle has been justified over all these years. I agree with that sentiment. However, people are celebrating like we have won the war. I saw no one celebrating when the first bomb was dropped on Iraq, so why are we so happy to begin this war? I think it is because none of my people realize the responsibility that is now thrust upon their shoulders. I have news for them. Barack Obama is not the magical cure-all to what ails our community. Our people will not magically stop glorifying the gangster lifestyle. Street gangs will not suddenly form a truce, reorganize, and perform a lifetime of community service to make up for the atrocities they've committed in our communities. Drug dealers will not seek more noble pursuits. Pimps will not stop recruiting, abusing, and exploiting our young women. People that are struggling to pay their mortgage, rent, utilities, and childcare will not wake up tomorrow morning and find an annuity in their bank accounts to assist with their tribulations. They will not wake up tomorrow and find absolution for financial sins of their past. I wish that for only one night, Mr. Obama (Mr. President?) could be granted the omnipotent eye of God so that he could see how we react to his victory. I want him to see how so many of us shame his legacy with ignorant behavior.
I wonder what the reaction in our community will be when our people realize that change will not be created FOR them, but that the responsibility of change has been thrust upon them and they must actively participate in order to make it happen. Will attitudes and perceptions change? Will we finally work for the world we want instead of expecting it to be handed down to us on a silver platter? Change comes with time and effort. One man can't do it alone.
In the Bible, it states "Faith without works is dead." You can believe in change all you'd like. If you don't work with Barack toward that change, then his victory tonight is a pyrrhic one. I will work with you, Mr. Obama. I cannot let this night be in vain.