The Constitution of the United States begins, “We the People…” and since it was ratified in 1787 this great nation has conducted 55 Presidential Elections (220 years/4). Fifty-five times we’ve voted to either re-elect a standing President, of elect someone completely new. For 220 years our nation has lived on the knowledge that at least every 4 years, we have a chance at making a change.
Since our Constitution was ratified, it’s been amended 27 times, each amendment embracing the themes of the Preamble that we all learned in school, and now sing to the tune from a Saturday morning cartoon show. Our country is founded and has continuously trod down the path of forming a, “more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” Since that time our Constitution has recognized that our citizens have the right to cast a ballot, regardless of race, color, status of servitude or sex. The wisdom, or perhaps just dumb luck, of the founders of this great nation have withstood the test of time, and the United States of America is still the beacon of freedom for the rest of the world.
In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched peacefully into our nation’s captial and delivered a speech. His ‘I have a Dream’ remarks have inspired generations for their clear enuciations of the promises of our country’s founding documents and applying them as ‘promisary notes’ to future generations. Dr. King looked forward to the day where people could, “live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Its wonderful to see that dream played out once more today, as our Nation, in 51 separate elections have elected someone not based on the color of their skin, but on the ideals that he enuciated in his campaign for this country’s highest office.
President Elect Barack Obama has a steep road ahead of him, many challenges face our nation, both domestically and internationally. When Mr. Obama raises his hand on January 21st, 2009 to become our 44th President, even though he did not have my vote, he’ll have my support.
The Congress has also been chosen as well, and for the first time since 1997, the Democratic party hold all the reins of the government. This isn’t a catastrophe, but a challenge. A challenge that the Republican party failed when they had the same opportunity in more recent times. The houses of Congress are responsible, not only to their constituents at home in their states and districts, but also to the country as a whole.
In the past eight years, there have been some horrible things said about our current President. I have no doubt that the ire felt by the fringes for Mr. Bush won’t wane easily, but I’m glad to see that comparisions of our honorable President to that horrible beast that waged war against the world 60 years ago will cease. As Mr. Obama begins his planning for his administration, it is my hope that those that oppose Mr. Obama’s policies and positions will do so with the decorum and respect that the office of the President of the United States deserves.
Regardless, we live in a great Nation, that has and will continue to be blessed by God.
Let freedom ring.
