One for the Ages

I wept openly for nearly an hour after the television newscasters announced that Barak Obama had been elected as the 44th President of the United States. As an African-American who grew up in the deep south, I have experienced being told that Blacks just aren't good enough or smart enough to do certain things in American society. Because of this, I never thought that I'd live to see a man who, though biracial, identified himself as Black would be elected President.

The television cameras caught many people, and not just African-Americans, who were weeping. The Obama candidacy has moved us all in various ways, but for all of us it gives us a tremendous feeling of hope. Hope that the current President, George W. Bush, failed to inspire after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Then, Americans were ready to rally around our President, and each other, and forge ahead together as a united people. But the call for unity never came.

President-elect Obama has sounded the call since he first announced his candidacy. And it continued as he accepted the challenge to become the 44th President of the United States with these words:

"And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

"What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

"So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers -- in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people."

My father spoke reverently of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and I don't know that I've ever understood his deep appreciation of the man. To the generation that was born after Dr. King, his name is as important as those of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but elicit little emotional reaction.

However, now we can understand how the generations before us have felt. In the same way that my father speaks about Dr. King, I have someone to speak to my children and grandchildren about -- and his name is Barak Obama.

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I know that this forum is usually about my thoughts on football, but I thought the opening topic too important. Also, I've decided to take my own advice and take Catamount football a lot less seriously. So, with this footnote I'll say that the "fun bunch" finished their season 2-5 with both wins over the Vermont Ravens.

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I want to congratulate the senior class of Champlain Valley Union High School's football team on finishing their 4th year of football. I was lucky enough to be the JV Head Coach at CVU when these young men were freshmen and their graduation will mean that there are no longer any CVU players left that I had the privilege to coach. I wish them all the best on their future endeavors and I want them all to know how proud I am to have coached them!