FROM WHERE I STAND: More to Obama than his hue
M. Antonio Silas
Managing Editor
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: Forum
Having a black president-elect has already caused an influx of ignorance in the African American community.
This is not doubting Sen. Barack Obama's competency or ability to lead, but it is regarding the fascination over his skin color.
The historical significance of this election simply cannot be ignored. For the first time in the history of the United States, Americans will have a minority as a president.
While the announcement was only made days ago, millions of fingers have been pointed at the obvious: Sen. Obama's ethnicity.
It is rather ironic that many people in this nation are afraid of change, the very thing Obama stands for.
There have not been many instances where the content of Sen. Obama's character was brought up. His policies have not received much attention either, especially not in the African American community.
So many people bring up the fact that he is black and do not even realize what he stands for; "change."
Known for having a support system, the black community wants to know what they can do to help Sen. Obama: the first step should be to inform themselves about his ideologies.
What are his thoughts on foreign policy? What is his stance on trade? How does he feel about issues that are relevant to you? If the typical TSU student were asked, he or she probably would not be able to respond.
While it is great to have an African American in office, his race should not encompass his being. It should not define who he is as a person and as this country's next leader.
It is great to have pride in your race, but it is unnecessary to boast over a notable achievement.
Millions of people voted for Obama because of his ideology and plans for the war and economy, not because he looked like them.
In the same breath however, that is why many people did vote for him.
What if Obama had an ideology that mirrored Bush's? Would the African American community sill show support in volumes and vote for him?
What if he went around preaching change, but in essence, he was not the right candidate for the job? We would be stuck in four or even eight more years of the same turmoil.
This is not saying that Obama is not capable of being a great leader; he has proven time and time again that he is capable of making sound decisions and has policies in order that the country cares about.
This is saying that people should not take everything at face value though. Do not spend so much time on race that you miss the things that are truly important.•
This is not doubting Sen. Barack Obama's competency or ability to lead, but it is regarding the fascination over his skin color.
The historical significance of this election simply cannot be ignored. For the first time in the history of the United States, Americans will have a minority as a president.
While the announcement was only made days ago, millions of fingers have been pointed at the obvious: Sen. Obama's ethnicity.
It is rather ironic that many people in this nation are afraid of change, the very thing Obama stands for.
There have not been many instances where the content of Sen. Obama's character was brought up. His policies have not received much attention either, especially not in the African American community.
So many people bring up the fact that he is black and do not even realize what he stands for; "change."
Known for having a support system, the black community wants to know what they can do to help Sen. Obama: the first step should be to inform themselves about his ideologies.
What are his thoughts on foreign policy? What is his stance on trade? How does he feel about issues that are relevant to you? If the typical TSU student were asked, he or she probably would not be able to respond.
While it is great to have an African American in office, his race should not encompass his being. It should not define who he is as a person and as this country's next leader.
It is great to have pride in your race, but it is unnecessary to boast over a notable achievement.
Millions of people voted for Obama because of his ideology and plans for the war and economy, not because he looked like them.
In the same breath however, that is why many people did vote for him.
What if Obama had an ideology that mirrored Bush's? Would the African American community sill show support in volumes and vote for him?
What if he went around preaching change, but in essence, he was not the right candidate for the job? We would be stuck in four or even eight more years of the same turmoil.
This is not saying that Obama is not capable of being a great leader; he has proven time and time again that he is capable of making sound decisions and has policies in order that the country cares about.
This is saying that people should not take everything at face value though. Do not spend so much time on race that you miss the things that are truly important.•
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