Hope. Change. Faith.

Sit back and enjoy it, folks. In this moment, we have elected a new President for our country, and changed history. I find myself, among many things, excited, and uplifted. Actually, I'm overwhelmed at the idea and prospect. Do we know what we've done? Do we understand the ramifications? To put it in perspective for myself, with 3 children (2 boys, and a girl in the middle) to raise, I, NOW, do not have to flinch when I look them in the eye and tell them that they can be absolutely ANYTHING they want in life... Hell, being 27 years old, myself, I feel inspired to reach for things that I never dreamed possible. Being a black man, and FINALLY feeling the burden of oppression, second best-ness, and not good enough being thrust from our backs and shoulders after almost 500 years in this country... Wow. I drove my kids to school this morning, and it seemed surreal... Indiana in November is usually a really gray, cold, bland city. But, November 5th, 2008, saw the sun smiling down on a vibrant, happier, colorful city happily embracing the change the IT'S people helped bring about. Historically a "Red" state in Presidential elections, this time, WE got it right. We bitched and moaned about the direction that our country was heading in under Bush's leadership, we bitched and moaned about change, and we answered our OWN call. A co-worker of mine voted for the first time in this election and when I asked him how he voted, he said the most profound thing I've heard this entire election season. He said, "I voted, but I didn't vote a straight ticket... I wanted to make sure that I PERSONALLY filled in the oval next to his (Barack Obama's) name. I wanted to be able to tell my kids that I VOTED for HIM!"...


Funny. This is what we've waited for for so many years, but the greater question at hand is what will we do with this opportunity? This is one of the greatest question posed to us at this juncture. No longer can we rest on our laurels complaining about how hard it is to get ahead. No longer can we accept mediocrity from our children OR ourselves. This country has has built numerous industries on the basis of it's people's lack of motivation, or for lack of a better term, laziness. People, we've talked a great game, lately. We've ALL been motivated, empowered, jubilant, and so much more from this experience. But this can't be our ONLY footprint left in the world. We can't subject our legacy to obscurity bevause we failed to (in the words of OUR President, borrowed from Martin Luther King, Jr), "...Act on the urgency of now." We've crossed the bridge, climbed the mountain, and see the Promised Land... But what will we build on that land? What fruit will that land bear?


All in all, for this occasion, we've earned it. We've earned the celebrations. We've earned the high fives, dancing, shouting, tears of joy, etc. But, let us not get caught up in the moment and forget why we've been given this chance. Let us not leave this country solely in the hands of one man and expect miracles from him (despite what the jokes imply, he's NOT the Messiah...). This country has been before, and can be great, again. But, it takes ALL of us to see that vision. It takes parents being better parents, it takes government changing outdated, immoral, racist laws and making better choices for it's people. But more than anything, it takes an effort, from every willing, able-bodied, person to put this country back on track.

*"This ain't a diss song, it's a real song"* --Jay-Z

Peace and God Bless

Double Ii