Go Seminoles!

Last weekend Brad, Mom, Dad and I packed up and headed to Atlanta to watch the Florida State Seminoles play Georgia Tech. If you know Brad even a little, you know he's a major FSU fan and every year that we've been together he's been able to make a trip to see the Seminoles play.

I equate his excitement about watching FSU in person to a child's excitement about a trip to Disney World. The Seminoles are his Mickey and Minnie. Despite FSU's loss, we had a fantastic weekend filled with fun and tons of incredible food. I love opportunities to get away and it was awesome to be able to spend some time with Mom and Dad. Let's hope the rest of the FSU season is filled with victories (translating to even happier Saturdays at our house)!

It's all about perspective...

There has been some confusion about my last post and I think it's important to clarify. However, I think it's equally important to point out that I don't write to argue or offend anyone. This blog is totally for my venting and not for much else. Until this week, I thought that only my close friends and family read it...surprise!

First, I'm not by any means saying that electing Obama wasn't historic, it obviously was. Firsts are always a big deal. Whether we elected our first African American president or our first female VP, it was clearly a milestone. Our country continues to progress and that is encouraging. I understand how far we've come and I'm grateful for that, which is why I am discouraged by all of the racial issues surrounding this election.

My point in my last post was that it bothers me that the color of someone's skin, or someone's gender for that matter, is a qualification for office. It's not. I think it is sad if people chose to vote for Obama because they "wanted to be a part of history" and it would have been equally sad for those people that chose McCain-Palin based on Palin's sex. That's selfish, that's not putting your country or others first, that's not what our country is about.

I firmly believe that it is our duty to educate ourselves and cast our vote for the person who we believe is the most qualified to lead our great country. "Qualified" can incorporate many things (religion, policy, records, experience, character, etc.) but things such as race, sex, or age shouldn't be factors in the decision. However, I'm not so naive to believe they aren't for some people. No matter how you factor it in, it's silly. People define "qualified" differently and that's okay, I understand that, but that's not what people are arguing. That's why I'm frustrated.

The bottom line is this, we are privileged to have the opportunity to cast our vote for the person that we want to be our leader. A lot should go into that decision and while I'm glad people showed up in record numbers to vote I would be more encouraged about the progress our country is making if there were more headlines about people's faith in Obama's economic policies, or health care plans, or whatever issue is important to you, than those talking about the history being made and the racial divides. History is important and I'm thankful that I live in a country that allows anyone, regardless of race or gender, to hold the highest offices, but what's more important than that is the history that Obama chooses to make himself, history that doesn't involve skin color, history that includes our national security and our economic strength. Sure, he's the first African American president, but was he the best choice to lead our country? Only time will tell on that one, either way the election went there is clearly a lot to be proven and we'll undoubtedly see history unfold over the next four years.

Our country is at a crucial crossroad and we have a lot of ground to make up. People around the world, including me and my family, are lined up waiting to see what happens next. I truly hope that our new president finds a way to meet in the middle, for the benefit of liberals and conservatives alike, and that he is able to unite our country once again. Here's hoping that the next few years hold many unexpected pleasant surprises.

As for political rants, thank goodness election season is over--back to Oliver and the family!

Here We Go...

Well, we've done it. Call it history, call it cracks in the glass ceiling, call it whatever you want, but one thing we can all agree on is--it's over. It's time to move on--pray, hold on to you wallet with all your might and prepare to somehow support the "change" so many have asked for (that's right, I'm trying to be supportive).

Obviously, I'm not pumped about the election results, but there is something that is bothering me even more than that and multiple stories in today's Birmingham News further my point.

For example, a headline (on the front page, nonetheless) reads: "State vote shows racial divide and Obama inroads" the article goes on and on saying things like "Black voters cast ballots in the presidential race in enormous numbers for Barack Obama, while whites voted overwhelmingly for Republican John McCain." Then it thoroughly describes how Obama overwhelmingly won the vote in all majority black polling places and McCain won 4/5 of majority white polling places (wait... doesn't that contradict the point?). Then on the front page of the local section we have: "Davis: A black candidate can win Alabama: Experts say statewide numbers are not a positive sign." Despite the confusing headline the article talks about how Obama might have broken the "biggest glass ceiling," but in Alabama that ceiling is still in place for black candidates. Really? How so? I give ole Artur some credit here, he disagrees with the "experts" on this one, but the paper goes on and on about racial disparities in Alabama and how difficult they are to overcome. We go to great lengths to show racism, when an educated African American himself is saying the "experts" are wrong. What's the logic? Let's be glad we've moved on, why don't we celebrate that?

My point, in citing these articles, is how disheartening it is that this election (which was supposed to unite the country) has somehow even further divided us. We're bringing up all sorts of old racial hostilities and somewhere along the lines phrases like "black power" have become politically correct again. I'm confused.

Why is it that if someone chose to vote for McCain instead of Obama, they're racist and it's assumed they don't want a black president? The numbers show the opposite )and personally I don't consider physical appearance a factor in my choice for Commander in Chief). More African American people voted straight for Obama (based on the color of his skin, perhaps?) whereas plenty of white people chose Obama too. Wouldn't that show reverse racism? We don't talk about that. It's okay for a black person to vote for Obama simply because he's black, but if a white person chooses not to vote for him it must be because he/she is a racist? It makes no sense and I'm truly sick of the argument. If anything, I hope this "historic" election puts some of this nonsense to bed. Let's move on. Let's talk about the things that matter--what's the next step? You've got your history, now lets see some results.

I'm frustrated that this election has become more about historic moments than what is best for our country. If you think Obama is the most qualified leader, then fine, I'm okay with that, but if you're rejoicing in the streets simply because our next President is black... you make me sad.

Pray for our country, pray for our current President and our President-elect. Here we go!