America Grows Up!!!

America, we have finally grown up! We have come a long way from being skeptical in 1960 of a Catholic President, to the election 48 years later of a Black American. It's time to do away with this business of hyphenated anything ; African-American, Hispanic-American, Japanese-American, or any other mongeralization .

I may not have it exactly correct, but we are at that point where those prophetic words of Dr. martin Luther King Junior have come true: "The time will come when men are judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin."

We have been hindered in our quest for being the best we can be by denying to some the opportunity to be part of that greatness as individuals and a nation. I am optimistic that we have finally gained the momentum to make that happen, and we can be called "An equal opportunity Nation".

Although I had good feelings about the results of this Presidential Election, I was pleased by the reassurances that were given Sunday evening on CBS TV's "Sixty Minutes" by our new President and first lady. I have read some criticism of the dress and demeanor of the new first lady, but bear in mind she is not a clone of the President, but is her own person. You only have to look back to Eleanor Roosevelt to see the different personalities that first Lady's have brought to The White House. I certainly hope that Michelle Obama is not forced into a mould not of her own making, and she will be able to withstand the controversy and criticism that surrounds people in public life

Especially amusing and informative were the little exchanges between husband and wife, instead of a President and first lady. There was an air of honesty about these exchanges, and not some phony attempt to show that they are just ordinary people. Face it, ordinary people are not elected to the Presidency, but they need to be able to empathize with all people, and have an understanding of who and what they are. Some of our Presidents have come from humble backgrounds, and they should not forget that, and at the same time it shouldn't hinder them from doing the duties of the office they have chosen and to which they were elected.

For the past sixteen years, we have had divisive elements and controversy surrounding our Presidents. We have seen a people being divided by similar events that divided us during the Vietnam era. It was one ideology against another - so called Conservatives against So called Liberals. What ever happened to the "loyal opposition", and going along to get along? the words negotiation and compromise were removed form our language. Everything should be open to negotiation and compromise.

Religious and moral differences have reared their ugly head. We have had, and still do, religious groups that are trying to push their agenda, that their form of religion and dogma is the only way. It is almost as if religious war has broken out. Islam is not the enemy, but other Christians with differing beliefs. These groups have, in effect, made their God very small, narrow, and one way. Is there no longer room in this country as our Founding Fathers envisioned it, for all religions to be able to worship without fear, and with freedom?

No, it is not God that has narrowed His view, but it is we the people, who have let our narrow, bigoted, prejudices govern us instead of being tolerant and understanding of the religions of others. If you claim Christianity, as many Americans do, you were told by the founder of Christianity to take His message to all the world, but not to force it on them. As a matter of fact, Christ said that if they would not accept His message, to move on and present it to those that would.