He Had a Dream

In pausing to remember Martin Luther King Jr. and what he stood for, I started thinking about where we are today. We are about to see our first (sorta) black president come into office. Ironic that it is happening the day after MLK Day. The most ridiculous amount of money has and is being spent-during a major recession mind you-to celebrate Obama's taking of office. I will admit that I voted for the other guy. I wasn't a huge fan of his either, but morally, he was a better fit for my beliefs. All through Bush's presidency I said, "people may not like him, but he is our president and for that reason we must get behind him so our nation does not divide." I won't be a hypocrite during Obama's presidency and will extend him the same courtesy so long as he earns it.

This is where today's thoughts have come into play. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech states, " I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." What are we doing with Obama? We're celebrating him simply because he's a darker shade of brown. We're honoring him and pouring out asinine amounts of money that our nation doesn't have on this "great brown hope." We are judging him on the color of his skin and political party he backs. I'm sorry but I judge a man on his content. I'd like to see what Obama does before I celebrate him. I'd like to see that he is someone Martin Luther King Jr. would've voted for because of the content of his character. I am excited to be alive during this time where a "black" man can take the office of President of the United States of America. We've come a long way. I just want him to be the right black man. Not one squeezed into office because the nation was desperate for change and saw the opportunity to be a part of making history. Hitler made history too. No, I'm not comparing the two, I'm just saying.

We will NEVER, EVER, EVER come close to understanding the decisions a president has to make and what decisions President Bush had to make. A president is like a parent. His children (the nation) may not always like him and view him as their friend, but he sees the danger, the bigger picture. His job is to protect and defend, not win a popularity contest. A good president makes the difficult and often unpopular choices to do what's best for the country. Obama is about to learn that leading an entire nation is not black and white-no pun intended. So before I celebrate his very existence, I'd like to see what he's going to do. Right now, he hasn't done anything.

I will honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream in the way I live my life and judge others. I will give a chance (I don't have to be thrilled about it) to the man I did not vote into office. And whatever he does in the next four years, I will judge based on the content of his character and not the color of his skin. I hope he proves worthy of the faith this nation has already placed in him.