“NEVER IN MY LIFETIME”…
By J.M. De Jesus
By now I hope most or all of you have heard that we have a new President and not the least of the grandeur of it all is the fact that he is an African-American.
Barack Obama has done something that I am completely awestruck over in winning this presidential election. This is something that I had given up the thought of ever seeing in my lifetime, a “Black President.” In my mind this country was still too racist and not ready for such a thing.
Today, I can proudly say that I am a Puerto Rican-American who believes in the true meaning of this country’s creed. I find myself overcome with the joy that hope for change can bring. Oh my God! Has
America finally grown up, in my lifetime? Finally, we Americans of all colors and races and our country are ‘walking the walk’ as well as ‘talking the talk’ of opportunity and diversity that it is known for.
With his nearly flawless and Uber-consistent campaign, Obama has united America in an unprecedented manner for any Presidential candidate or commander in chief. The total voter turnout as reported by WINS NY radio as of the writing of this column stands at the second highest level in the history of the United States political process, second only to the 65+% experienced in 1908 before women were allowed the right to vote. That other red states such as Florida would go Democratic was a complete shock to me with its sometimes reactionary Cuban majority. NBC reported that Orlando was a major victory for the Obama campaign. Coincidentally, Orlando is a largely Puerto Rican community. Never before has the vote of each community seemingly meant so much in a Presidential race.
But this is only one of the incredible elements that made this election the most exciting and interesting in my entire life. That educated white voters in Pennsylvania would vote Democratic and vote in large numbers for Obama, is one of the clearest indications of the sentiment and expression of desire for change that has overtaken this country in reaction to eight years of a failed Republican administration.
I know I’m not the only person who is surprised and happy with the outcome. The Obama campaign has galvanized the good will and call to action for millions of Americans of all races and backgrounds.
I for one, am proud of my country on this historic day; more so than about anything or anyone else. At a ripe age of around 400, America has grown up to fulfill the promise created by its founding fathers then; “that this is a government by the people, for the people.” These are not just words my friends: The United States of America IS the greatest nation on earth and we have now proven it to the world. This will no-doubt make the U.S. a shining example to the rest of the globe at a time when our policies around the world make us hated by even some citizens of our ally countries. This is Democracy in action, and this is how it’s done.
JM De Jesus
Publisher, www.HispanicPRNow.blog.com
&
President
QUADRANT TWO PR
Guttenberg, NJ
