Can You Believe it?

Really can you believe it? Can you believe that in 2008, that the United States of America has elected their first African-American President?! I can say that I'm not surprised and at the same time shocked. I grew up in an culturally diverse area where I had best friends who were white, Asian, Latino and African American.

In many cases we still encountered many acts of racism, threats, and bias in many situations. Yet we still grew up believing that not everyone feels the same way as those who did these things against us. We believed that "America" was not like that. These people treated us the way they did based solely on our race.

Today I stood in line for over 2 hours in the rain while waiting to vote and I must say that I am proud to see that today my fellow "Americans" have shown that my beliefs as a youth have been shown to be true. That we "Americans" are able to look beyond our skin color and see one another for who we are as people not as different races.

While I don't agree with all of President Elect Barack Obama's view's and policies, I am struck with a thick lump in my throat seeing that an African-American has been elected to the highest office in the country.

I'm proud, in awe, struck with respect, and honored to be an African-American today. I would've never thought that God would've allow me to be alive when we had our first minority president. I"m all over the place with my thoughts and trying to get my words together right now, but I think you all who are reading this can get what I'm trying to say.

Pray for Obama, that he realizes that without guidance and direction from a Sovereign God he can have us in the same situation we have in our country right now (financial crisis, unnecessary war, housing market flop, etc). Pray that everyday, not just in the first few days, months, or years of his term, he is continually reminded of his responsibility and duty to us Americans who voted for him to lead us in this crazy time in our history.

Thomas B. Strong