We've all heard the line: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. " by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Unfortunately watching the reaction to our Nations recent Presidential election this dream is still unrealized despite what the news channels would have you believe. I believe every broadcast I've seen has talked about President Elect Obama being the first African-American President as if the color of his skin will change how he leads. I'm sorry but I disagree, there are far more important differences than any previous president. An example is he's the first president who was born outside the continental US (he was born in Hawaii.) He's also the first President to spend a significant amount of his primary school years in a foreign country.
The first of these two may have very little effect but the second could be huge. I'm not sure if it will be for good or ill since I have a very low opinion of the US education system in general, but wonder if someone educated under a different values system at a very young age can really connect with the majority of Americans moral philosophy at some very core points.
I've never hidden the fact that I supported John McCain in the election not because I was a fan of his but because Barack Obama scares me with his Socialistic tenancies and extremist associates. Who you're friends with says a lot of the content of your character and I for one am going to judge President Obama on his character rather than his color.
OK, so... I agree with you on the fact that people are giving a hell of a lot of attention to his race (which is MIXED, by the way, for those playing at home) and that those other things are interesting and should have attention paid to them.
ReplyDeleteI especially think its interesting that he spent a good deal of time out of the country when he was running against a ticket that included someone who had virtually never left the country (does Canada even count?)
But a different "values system from our country?" What values system is that? I think you'd have a tough job finding two Americans who have the same values system if you delve deep enough that they give you real answers instead of the stock ones fed to them by their parents or church.
And the "values system" that I assume you mean, that of the Judeo-Christian church, is hardly the one I ascribe to. Nor the majority of my friends. (You maverick, you.) I'm not worried about Obama's values.
As to the rest? We'll wait and see.