I Can Appreciate The History

I've heard countless people say they never thought an African-American would become president and I've always found that ridiculous. Quite frankly, I always assumed an African-American would become president.

And a woman. And any other American who wanted the job and had the qualifications.

Unfortunately, I do not believe Obama has the qualifications - which will make it difficult for other African-Americans to follow him. I do not mind being proven wrong but I suspect I will be proven correct in this matter. Americans should be proud of themselves on one hand, but fearful on the other that in the rush to make history, they also made a mistake in judgement.

If Obama had won this presidency after emerging from a true crucible of fire/public background check, then I would be far happier than I am. The media gave Obama a pass and now we are getting new revelations about the man, none of which are a surprise to those who read the investigations of Stanley Kurtz and Co.

All that said, I can appreciate the history of this event, as William J. Bennett and John Cribb do in their article called "The Two Januaries" published today in USA Today.

The Emancipation Proclamation is not as eloquent as the Gettysburg Address. It is a legal document, with words such as "whereas" and "aforesaid" and "in witness whereof." Yet it is a piece of writing American to its core, issued in the faith that We the People have the means and responsibility to correct our nation's flaws.

Almost a century and a half after Lincoln's proclamation, our nation prepares to inaugurate its first African-American president. Some may say the achievement was too long in coming. Yet it is an achievement in which all Americans can take great pride.

This is not to say that President-elect Barack Obama will be immune to failure, of course. Nor should he be immune to criticisms of his policies. But we mark the Emancipation Proclamation anniversary with this remarkable fact: For the first time in modern history, the head of state of a major world power will be a black man. It is the sort of accomplishment that makes America the wonder of the world.

"The glory of this land has been its capacity for transcending the moral evils of our past," Ronald Reagan once said. "For example, the long struggle of minority citizens for equal rights, once a source of disunity and civil war, is now a point of pride for all Americans."

A point of pride now more than ever.