Inauguration Day Message

jason

Tuesday, 20th of January 2009 at 11:41:26 AM

I remember thinking in the early 1990s, “Will we ever see a woman President?” Today we are seeing the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack (yes, Hussein) Obama. I’m adding his middle name for all of our ultra- neo- conservatives out there (and also the Fox News junkies). This is a momentous occasion which we should celebrate. WAIT! That last sentence is what I’m supposed to say. Let me go into “Jason speak”… Yeah, it’s great that we have finally, partially gotten past certain prejudices in this country, but c’mon people.

I’m either so depressed that nothing matters to me, still burnt out from the election from hell, or am looking past “pigmentation problems” that I am not getting excited over the color of our new president’s skin. I would feel differently if it were a gay man or lesbian being elected. Certainly I will admit that. I don’t think it is as personal for me because I have not experienced the same sort of struggles that black people have and do. Why is it as personal for a white political commentator on TV as it is for the survivors of the civil rights movements of the 60s and 70s? Should it be? We all have been putting on these masks to make us look less racist which in fact make us more so.

Yesterday I pulled out and watched the seminal movie, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”. While many people may find this movie terrible today, it was really groundbreaking for its treatment of black/white married couples. Many of the principles in the movie I see to this day. The most important message is that skin color shouldn’t matter and doesn’t make people different. I had this instilled in me once I moved out of small town America. To the residents of a lot of these isolated areas, this election means much more. It’s embarrassing that we celebrate our racist history on this momentous occasion.

I am not trying to minimize the importance of the U.S. as a whole seeing past the color of one’s skin today. We are making history in an awkward way. For hundreds of years these prejudices have been at the base of the culture of Americans. Finally, we are starting to break them down. We have a hell of a long way to go and I hope that it happens fast.

Let us celebrate our rehabilitation today. Let us celebrate change from the last eight oppressive years. Let us celebrate our overcoming of racial barriers and stereotypes. Let us celebrate social liberation. Let us celebrate our bright futures. Let us celebrate a man who will influence positive change. Let us celebrate diversity. Let us celebrate a first in America. Let us hope for more.

Thank God or any deity or lack of deity in which you do or do not believe that George W. Bush is out of power.