Change Has Come

Barack Obama’s critics have long been skeptical of his main campaign slogan, “change you can believe in.” They have tried to render the idea of change as meaningless, claiming Obama’s promise is vague and unsubstantial. Instead, they have made vague and unsubstantial attempts to paint him as a posturing neophyte, or worse, a danger to America.

           Now, with the election of the Senator from Illinois as President, America will finally know what change means.

            The most important change brought about by Obama’s victory is the end of the conservative Republican era. It dates back to Ronald’s Reagan’s ascension to power in 1980, an election that was also seen as groundbreaking. This Republican hegemony culminated in the disastrous presidency of George W. Bush, one that brought about a tragically unnecessary war, the destruction of the middle class, and the deterioration of America’s standing in the world.

             Obama’s victory, as well as the increased Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, are a clear mandate that repudiates the Republican policies of reckless militarism and the redistribution of wealth from the majority of middle and lower-class Americans to a small, wealthy elite.

             Voters have expressed a desire to change foreign and domestic policies so that wars are not entered into cavalierly, government spending does not wind up in the pockets of political cronies. They also want the next administration to prioritize education, health, and environmental issues.

            Another change that Obama’s election brings is equally important. Despite the Senator’s own campaign’s minimizing of the importance of his race, the election of a black president is a change that this country has long needed.

             Since the Civil Rights movement of the ‘60s resulted in the elimination of overt discrimination against blacks, Americans have often disagreed over whether the problem of racial prejudice has been resolved. Much has been accomplished, and people of color have made great strides. But the continued impoverishment of the majority of black people, as well as an atmosphere of inflammatory racially tinged attacks on Obama demonstrate the persistence of racism in our country.

                Barack Obama’s election goes a long way to address this issue.

               He seems uniquely qualified to speak from the perspective of a black American, while at the same time he has a direct connection to the white majority. And while it may not happen during his lifetime, he can play the most important role in helping this country deal with the transition to a multicultural, multiracial society.

                 In a significant way, Obama’s unorthodox background as a biracial man from Hawaii is a refutation of the conventional wisdom that has dominated America’s historical narrative. When someone who is not “apparently” American becomes this country’s most powerful leader, the entire idea of America changes, and in a way, we begin a new American era with a clean slate.

                As Obama prepares to take office, many progressives will wonder whether the candidate who won in part due to massive corporate campaign contributions will stay true to his lofty idealism and be a true president for the people. But for this moment, we can afford to keep our hopes high that a real change has finally come.