Reflections on the 2008 Election

In the great fires of life's travails, tragedies and tribulations many of us are consumed by the flames --- our inability to cope, our hate and our frustrationswith these forces of darkness that seem to overcome us, yet there's others of us, who are forged like steel, and somehow can see light through the smoke --- and with their new strength can pick themselves up, ignore the evils they are powerless to change, and concentrate on the scraps of "good" that can be found --- build upon it and rise seed-like as healthy plants in a pile of dung. Out of the decayed matter, of the past, can be found the nutrients to feed new life.

To those who were partially consumed in the fire of their hatred, and were stunted in their growth, Reverend Jeremiah Wright was their leader --- an anachronism --- and among those who rose from the fire, strode forward toward the light, maybe some forgiveness for the past --- but mainly a steely concentration towards the future, and attention to the task at hand, and Barack Obama is their new symbol of hope.

Let us all hope and pray that he has the strength, fortitude, and good sense to turn this great country around,and set it back on the path our forefathers started it on.

In a monumental election, the American people, in one grand gesture gave black people a gift, much more generous than monetary restitution for the sins of slavery --- more healing than empty words --- in one stroke, a bold attempt to wipe the slate clean and hopefully prepare us all to face the struggle as one people. `