Obama's Election: Symbolic of America's Reality & Future

By Ann Koppuzha
In his concession speech, John McCain commented that Obama’s election was a historic moment for the African American community. This statement is true but limited; Obama’s election is a victory for both the African-American community and every other American because it is representative of America’s future and the positive attributes of America, that seem to be rarely discussed.

It’s predicted that in the near future, minority communities will be the most dominant component of the U.S. population. Barack Obama’s election is symbolic of the trend toward diversification. Why shouldn’t a multi-ethnic nation be represented by a man of biracial heritage?

Furthermore, Obama’s biography signifies the weakening of the wealthy old-boy network within the United States. Unlike our past president, Obama had no famous father to pull him out of sticky situations nor did he have a cushy trust fund. Rather, Obama is partly a first generation American, and was raised partly by his mother and stepfather abroad, and partly by his grandparents in Hawaii. He earned and paid for his first class education himself and only recently paid off his student loans. Obama’s background is typical of the middle-class and represents the rise of this group, despite the widening income gap between the rich and the middle-class. It demonstrates that while it may be more difficult to become wealthy, fortune is not a pre-requisite to political influence and opportunity. Additionally, in the past America's president has always been a white male and usually a wealthy individual, leaving many nations believing that the American president represented colonist and racist policies. Obama, however, because of his international experience and unique heritage, will hopefully
repersent a more positive image to the world-- one of a less condescending and more aware and cooperative superpower.

This is only the current perception. Reality may be different.