There are some political analysts who say Obama’s biggest challange will not be from the GOP but from Pelosi and Reid and the far left Dems..

We shall see. Have hope. And his election will empower all African-Americans to hold their heads higher, take pride in their being. And with that find out they also have responsibility for their lives to go along with all that. FINALLY King’s message will come through.

Jean

My parents were deeply involved in the pro-life movement but unlike the way such people are often portrayed in the media they and so many others like them truly walked the walk. The first pregnant girl my parents took into their home the summer I graduated high school was a 15 year old African-American girl from West Philly. Her daughter is now 26 years old, married and a college graduate. She might not be here were it not for my parents. When Barack Obama spoke of his grandmother as one of those quiet hidden heroes I thought of my parents and all they have done tirelessly over the years to help those in need. They inspired me to work as a full-time volunteer with Covenant House after college and I worked with many African American girls someof whom were teen mothers. And I know their example influenced us to adopt our daughter as well as for my Bro and SIL to adopt their two children from Korea.

Having myself taught in urban schools I am thrilled for the African American community because of the potential President Obama has to inspire young African American students to treasure education and not view doing well in school as “selling out”. And I feel happy when I see his beautiful little girls and think of what an inspiration this obviously devoted husband and father will be to other men in the African American community to do the right thing and be there for their families. They can see firsthand how his own father abandoned him but be called to immitate this man who has been married for 16 years and cares for the daughters he helped create in wedlock. He had a very cute joke about this at that Al Smith dinner a couple weeks ago if you can catch it on youtube.

My greatest heartache when I taught in a very depressed public school in Philadelphia was that so many of the students seemed to look down on those children who worked hard. I wanted to shake them and make them realize that their enslaved ancestors were forbidden an education and risked death if they attempted to learn to read and write. But as a young white female I felt I could not get through to them. I think President Obama can just by what he and his wife achieved with regard to their own education. And although I voted against him for various reasons I have said all along that would be one of the greatest blessings if he won.

I have heard him tell parents to turn off the TV and help their children with their homework. I pray now for a softening of his heart on the life issues when unlike his gorgeous daughters over 50% of African American babies’ lives end before they are born. He has the power, respect and mandate among his people to be able to exhort them to stop using abortion as if it were birth control and to take responsibility for the children they have brought into the world.

I hope and pray we can stop this partisan polarization and truly reach out to each other with differing views to find solutions. My political views may differ from yours OM but you always bring such a thoughtful perspective to your posts. We should all be sending our good wishes, thoughts, prayers, positive vibes to our new president especially with regard to his safety. Given our country’s history he is indeed courageous to step forward to take on this job and I pray that he have a long and healthy life and see his grandchildren someday should he have any.

I feel hopeful and I didn’t even vote the same as you.
So cheer up!And get under a sun lamp. I truly admire you for I know I could not handle the weather conditions where you are-our 3 days of cold November rain this week is depressing enough for me.

And I agree with journeywoman about inspiring each of us to help out more. I was so preoccupied the past few years taking care of my parents but now I am determined to get more involved in the community. I am hoping to use my talents to go to the home for mothers in need my parents helped start and offer to teach them cake decorating or pottery classes and bring some brightness into their lives and possibly a new skill at that. Bothing much but something fun for them and good for their self esteem.
I worked for a ceramics gallery that goes into schools in Philadelphia to teach clay classes. I’d like to do the same in depressed areas outside the city that this existing program does not cover. We can all do something. And every little bit helps. So I look forward to Jan 20th with hope.

I think that one of the things he will do is use his community organizing experience to allow us, normal citizens to get involved in the process. Or at least I hope he will.

It’s kinda like when you have a kid who is a very picky eater and you get the kid involved in cooking dinner…then they try some stuff cause they helped.

I’m worried, I’m jubilant, And I…I just HOPE.

Unk