by Ginger Voight

Created on: November 06, 2008

All Things are Possible.

"IF there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." - President-Elect Barack Obama.

The first time I saw Barack Obama he gave the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. As I listened to his impassioned but eloquent speech on unity and the ideals of America, I knew in an instant that he would become our first African American president.

Four years have passed and his message hasn't changed.

"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America."

The message is that we are all one people, despite our differences. Though we are individual we do not have to be separate. A very sacred document created by those who wanted "a more perfect union" endows us all with these "certain inalienable rights" because there is no one more deserving in this chain than any other.

Though those brave pioneers had this vision, our country had yet to fulfill its promise. For hundreds of years, citizens across this nation have been oppressed for a variety of reasons. It could be because of the color of their skin, the religion they practice or who they happen to love; but the right to be equal - although granted at birth as an American - has been hard won (and still rages) in this country.

That's why last night was so important, and we were all extremely blessed to be a part of it and witness to it, no matter how we voted.

Two hundred years ago, a man of mixed race who happened to appear black would likely have been the property of another man. He would labor and toil for the wealth of the privileged but never understand what it meant to make his own fortune for himself and his children.

In some cases, he would have been beaten for even thinking of an education, or aspiring to the great office of becoming President of the United States.

Such thoughts were "uppity". Even those people who saw slavery as an abomination and spent blood, sweat and tears to abolish its practice would likely never have imagined it as a remote possibility.

Black men were not even considered whole humans by law

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