Never Underestimate The Power Of Hope
From the start, the odds were against him. A virtual unknown. An inexperienced Senator from Illinois. A half black man rumored to be a Muslim. A Christian under the leadership of a black, radical Pastor. A man in America with a very Muslim, foreign sounding name. An American? Indonesian? Kenyan? What's on the birth certificate? Although viewed with some skepticism, he was followed with intrigue.
When Barack H. Obama threw his name into the political ring to compete for the Presidency of the United States, very few took him seriously. After all, he had to go up against some stiff competition--H. Clinton, J. Edwards, J. Biden, C. Dodd, D. Kucinich, and B. Richardson. Surely that guy with the weird name would succumb to the popularity and power of say, Hillary Clinton and Chris Dodd.
But perseverance ruled the day. Barack Obama was neither intimidated or reluctant to press forward in his goal to be America's Commander-in-Chief. He was ridiculed in some ways, mocked in others. Along the way he lost friends and acquaintances. Yet, his focus remained on Pennsylvania Avenue. He trotted along, like that little engine that could, amid death threats, and open hostility. When the field was finally narrowed down to two, Obama and Clinton, a shift began. Barack Obama was now a serious contender for the oval office, and all eyes were on him.
Hillary Clinton supporters were at a loss for words. This was not supposed to happen. She was expected to lock up the nomination and send baby boy Obama packing, with his thumb in his mouth, back to Chicago until he "grew up some more" and matured politically. However, the delegate numbers that he began racking up was a force to be reckoned with and ultimately proved to be too much for the former First Lady.
Once he defeated the popular and well-liked Hillary Clinton, jaws dropped and hearts stopped. He beat Hillary Clinton? Wow. As with the Tea Baggers, the PUMA movement (party unity my a--) used the occasion to rally anti-Obama voters across the nation. Bitter, hateful, divisive, vitriolic feelings peppered the nation. Many Hillary supporters threatened to vote Republican before supporting Barack Obama. Still undeterred, Obama looked forward to his next fight; his next victim. The aging Senator from Arizona and war hero, John McCain.
By now, Mr. Obama had acquired the attention of the entire nation, the world even. Could it be? Could it possibly happen? Could a man of African descent actually defeat his opponent and become leader of the free world? The skeptics remained. They would not be silenced. But in spite of it all, he stayed on course.
His unwillingness to give up or be "punked down" by political heavyweights, strengthened his character and resolve. His "youth," hippiness, and ability to connect to any and every voting bloc and constituent made him an icon of sorts. Young people begin to take notice. Black people began to listen. Whites, Latinos, and Asians began to pay attention. His speeches and mantra of "change" began to instill hope and excitement. Black Americans held their breath while daring to believe; afraid that they would be rudely awakened from a beautiful dream. Hope left the shores of Africa in the belly of slaves. Hope was tossed to and fro during the voyage to America, yet it survived and firmly fastened itself to the spirits of African captives in America. Hope endured the lash. Hope would bend but never break when the sun's heat beamed violently down upon the heads of slaves. Hope would caress the mother who was torn from her children and ripped from her husband during slave trades. Hope would catch the tears that flowed from eyes that could only see bondage as freedom became a fading memory.
And so, Barack Obama stayed the course. Hope's power increased. Obama connected in an unprecedented manner with voters across the land. He used technology to his advantage; reaching millions of unregistered voters. Something new and exciting was sweeping the nation. How could the momentum be stopped? Republicans and others who opposed the fresh, new movement dug up everything but the bones of Judas Iscariot to cripple Obama's candidacy. At times it seemed that they would prevail. Jeremiah Wright became an Achilles heel. Obama's reference to small town citizens clinging to guns and religions became a daily talking point. His wife Michelle's "For the first time in my adult life" statement sent political pundits and commentators into a complete frenzy, not to mention stupor. None were able to derail the plan.
As election night 2008 drew closer, hope increased. With each debate, hope became more bold. And finally, hope transformed herself into victory. Obama's victory was not his alone. No, it wasn't. The victory belonged to those who wanted to see a break from the norm in America. It belonged to those who wanted to see real change come to a nation that operated on deceptive political agendas. It belonged to those who lived under the heavy hand of oppression and intolerance, injustice and inhumane treatments. The election of Barack Obama would be the reparation that would bring equality to a divided states of America. Or would it?
To Be Continued...
AfterThoughts Signing Off...
No comments:
Post a Comment