Inauguration 2009

So i really haven't had too much thought about the inauguration and not because i don't realize that it is a monumentally historic event. I think that this day will go in the history books and my grandchildren will one day be taught how the first biracial president, or black if you prefer, was elected and inaugurated into office. My kids will grow up and know that anything is possible and i can rejoice in telling them how lucky they are to be living in this era when anything can happen.

I think that i have not given it much thought because I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I got up at 7 this morning to get Phabian ready for school. After he left for school I turned the usual cartoons to Good Morning America and started to watch them talk about what an amazing day this is.

The day after the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday! The man that we celebrate because he had such a passion to give everyone the rights that were afforded to only a few. Could he have ever foreseen that his prayers and his (and many others) hard work would lead to this amazing event. I wish he could be here to see what he did for this nation.

I remember watching election night when they talked to MLK's daughter and she was so proud and so grateful that her father's dream had been realized. Yes we still have a long way to go but this is an amazing beginning. For the young children who get to watch today and never know life any different and for the older people who thought they would never see this day come. Today is a day that will be remembered.

I have read a lot of blogs and heard a lot of chatter but i think Octamom said it best:

"Whether you voted for him, voted for his opponent, were thrilled at his victory or concerned with his election, today we welcome a new president in our country. Today we as Americans watch again an amazing transition, the highest office in our government peaceably and willingly handed over as the march of democracy ambles on. Today, we watch Barack Obama take the oath of office and take the helm as we ride out the storms of this season."

Today is a day of celebration. Not just because he is the first "black" president or because history is being made. We celebrate today that after 100's of years, our democracy is still going strong. No matter the fighting and controversy that brought us to this point, we will march on.

I am sure President Obama will have trials just as every other president has had and i am sure he will not make everyone happy just as every other president has failed us in one way or another. We are human and none of us are perfect. I am sure he will take his position with the utmost care and humility. He knows that in the bigger plan of things he controls nothing. He is just one of many of God's children and he is just one of billions of plans God has made. He will have good moments and bad as we all do but only time will tell whether his legacy will be wonderful or devastating.

I will watch what i can today before i go to work at 2. I will probably cry at the historic and powerful message we send to not only America but the World. I will take in the speech that President Obama will give and seer it into my mind so i will never forget. And as time passes and my children can ask more questions I will have the answers. I can tell them the before and the after. I can explain to them the historic aspect as well as the proud American tradition.

Today the torch will pass hands again as it does every 4 to 8 years and a new president will have his chance to change the way history is written. And today as i watch and relish in the tradition and historiciness (is that a word?) of the events i will feel good that God has put this country in the hands of a capable person. In his plan this is how it goes because who are to say God is wrong.

(If you want to read what others have to say about the Inauguration you can head over to 5 Minutes for Mom and check out all the links)

A History Lesson

Now i am no history buff so i will try to include all of my links here so that if i am wrong i can direct you to the quote that misinformed me. Today as many of us head out to vote for our next president, our senators, governors, and other elected officials as well as propositions, how many of us actually know how much voting means. How hard did some people work to get the right for us to go out and vote. Outside of wars we fought for our country's freedom do you know when Women were given the right to vote? Do you know when Blacks were given the right to vote? How many of us actually know the truth?

When this country was first founded only white property owners over the age of 21 were aloud to vote. This meant that a lot of white men, all women, and all minorities were denied the chance to participate in the democratic process. They were not aloud to have a say so on how the country was to be directed or who it would be directed by. This is a far stretch from what we see today. During the Civil War most white men could vote but the same could still not be said for minorities and women.

In 1866, the 14th amendment was passed. This changed slaves from 3/5 to whole people, and then in 1869 the 15th amendment allowed the right to vote to black men, but because of the "Black Codes" or state laws (which included restriction of the right to vote). Everything from taxes, hiding the polling places, and physical threats of violence were in these laws causing most black men to not vote.

The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 was where the real fight for women's right to vote began. After a long fight, which was slow during the Civil War, two sides came together and in 1920 via the 19th amendment, women were aloud to vote. If you have never seen the movie Iron Jawed Angels i highly suggest it. It is a tear filled, high emotion, accurate depiction of history that will have you proud to be a woman in America. I also suggest if you have a teenage daughter and you want her to understand why it is our right to vote, and why we should take advantage of it, make her sit and watch this. My guess is she will be moved or at least understand the hardship that women had to go through just to win the right to vote.

In 1924, most Native Americans were given the right to vote. This is sad seeing as this is their land and they were here before the founding father's but that is a whole other topic. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is largely responsible for allowing minorities of all descents to vote. It banned and helped remove the laws that had previously prevented minorities from voting.

(Sources: I Want My Vote, Activote America, History Now)

So all of this history brings me to what i am about to say. I am so proud to be an American. For all the time it took, all the fights, all the wars, all the violence, what other country can you say people fought for there rights and won. Many great people died to give us the right to be free, to vote, to protest, and to live our life as we see fit. This is the only country where we can all stand together, regardless of our different views, and cast a ballot to say who should run our country, and no one is being killed over it. No one got shot today (knock on wood) because they voted for "the other guy". I am a Obama supporter but i respect if you aren't. It is your American right to choose who you want.

I am also proud that for the first time in history a black man is in the running to become president. He is a few hours from possibly making history. On the other side we are moments away from possibly having the first woman vice president. What amazing accomplishments no matter who wins. This election has moved us forward in the world ten fold. I know we still have a long way to go but we are moving and that is what matters.

I will be so proud to tell me mixed kids that one day they can truly be president if they work hard and want it bad enough. I will be able to tell my daughter (if and when i have one) that she can be president if she wants it bad enough. I can tell them that it doesn't matter the color of their skin or their gender they can do anything include run this great country of ours. This means so much to me. It means that my kids will be able to have the same future as any other kid. Yes their will still be those who turn their head and make their nasty comments but gosh darn it my kids can be president and that is a dream come true.

So i am done with my rant about all this mess and i hope that you all got out and exercised your rights today, because a lot of good people fought hard and even died to give you those rights!