Like so many Americans, I was one of those who rejoiced for the election of the ages just a few nights ago. How fast we have had to move on.
Since Tuesday night, with no divisive fighting over the results, we are already seeing the new Obama Administration take shape. I have been a supporter of Obama since this time last year and I feel I have grown in my understanding of America and the world with him as he has sought our nation's highest office. Now, as one who I have been told shares much of Obama's worldview, I must share the vision that as we speak is forming.
It returns to where I think, in a lot of ways, America truely began: the farewell address of President Washington. He said:
"it occurs as matter of serious concern, that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by Geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavour to excite a belief, that there is a real difference of local interests and views. One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, within particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts."
These are the grounds on which our society has tread for now as many as three generations. Now we may begin to see the thawing of our partisan ways.
Once, this country was lead by the best among us. Some were lawyers, some were farmers, one even made his living printing newspapers. These men discussed together the true issues that most pressed the nation. Though they had differences, they never made or spread any assumptions about the other. From this time, they created our Union.
Since the passing of that generation, we as a people fell from that grace. For the greater part of our history, we became mired in calling conservatives "robber-barons" and liberals "communists". Now it is fair to say that as we look back, we can be honest, most labeled such names were named by those who only wanted to win an election.
Obama's vision, as I see it, is to remove those tendencies and actually govern. In short, to return to those days that gave us The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and began our country on its path to greatness.
