Tired, mostly, is my response today to the election yesterday of Barack Obama. Too many late nights in a row watching politics and history unfold.
But mixed with the tiredness is a sense of hope and of pride in being a citizen of the world's oldest democracy.
Yes we can overcome a history of racism -- not in one night, not by the election of one man, but yes, we can overcome.
Listening, today, to responses from people around the world it is clear that the world is looking at us with hope because we have come so far in overcoming our national original sin, and moved one step closer to being a more perfect union.
None of that has anything to do with the issues, the partisan positions or the problems that will come President Obama's way -- and the failures that will no doubt trouble his administration along the way as well.
But it is to say that, a Obama noted, only in America is this story possible.
As I watched it unfold last night, I was particularly moved by an interview with Rep. John Lewis, who recalled standing with Martin Luther King on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
The arc of the moral universe is long, and every once in a great while we get to witness it bend a little closer to justice. Last night, all those who have put their hand to the work of bending that arc with respect to race in America saw the arc bend again. Yes we can!
3 comments:
Here's a question. Who recently wrote this:
"The problem was, they wanted control of the situation rather than putting trust in the sovereign lord of history even and especially when a particular moment in that history feels out of control. The were putting their faith in the creature rather than the creator."?
The same person who wrote that also wrote a post in which the name of God is not mentioned -- even once.
However, this person's post talks of overcoming racism and our national original sin, and it seemed to link the notion of overcoming our history of racism and our national original sin to the recent election of Barack Obama.
I would point out the faith in politics and the political process to achieve justice (which "Christian Wright" mentions in the last paragraph of his post) or to achieve greater morality in people (which "Christian Wright" seems to imply in his last paragraph) is a poor substitute for faith in God.
In an earlier post, "Christian Wright" made fun of some Christians who actually prayed, and suggested that they came close to idolotry because their prayers were given near to a bull on Wall Street.
Let's hope that Christians do not place their hope in a mortal or even in politics. That would, I think, be idolotry.
well done david, I enjoyed your sentiment, I tried to stay away from political, and stay nearer to the lifestyle an involvement with politics creates. I think that you have hit on this as well. we both understand that it is always better to look down the brighter path and follow our hearts
Redeemedbygrace...
oh lighten up!!! You are nit picking... and missing the point. Enjoy and see the positive in messages.
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