Tag: politics

Just another historic day

Tuesday was a busy day for me. Up early, I drove into Boston to catch a flight to Dallas. Traffic was heavy the first day after the Martin Luther King holiday, and I wondered if I would miss my flight. Thanks to a sparse line going through security, I arrived at the gate with some time to spare. We were airborne shortly after 9:00 am, landed around 11:30 am Central (12:30 pm Eastern), and the rest of my day was filled with business.

When I left Boston, George Bush was President of the United States. When I landed in Dallas, Barack Obama was — the first African American President.

That we have transcended the color of a person’s skin is truly remarkable, a milestone in human dignity to be celebrated. That the transfer of power was routine, number 43 to number 44, reflects the stability of our system of government and calls for deep gratitude. That I live in a country where such a historic occasion can be just another day gives me hope for the world.

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Presidential race

Following two weeks of political conventions, I’m struck by this eventful, historic, and entertaining moment in American politics:

Barack Obama becomes the first black candidate for U.S. President. John McCain selects Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate and the first woman candidate for Vice President nominated by the Republicans.  As many have pointed out, whoever wins will make history.

The next two months of campaigning should be interesting – and I hope just as serious. May the political debate focus on the candidates’ visions and solutions to the serious issues facing the country and not degenerate into baseless attack ads preying upon America’s innermost fears.

Considering even our worst election moments, we should be grateful for the process that has governed this country since its formation.  The recent  horror of the Zimbabwe presidential election and corrupted runoff are unfortunate reminders of how bad  it could be.

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