I think for those of us fairly young who have not seen the struggles of the past we tend to forget how recent many changes have occured. We just take the current environment for granted. Why would a woman or a person with a skin color other than white not have the right to vote? Makes no sense, right? While watching the election with some friends we discussed this and it turns out, not too long ago the women did not even drive themselves, it was more then men driving them around. Crazy world, and we forget how recent things were changed.
It’s a bit like imagining a world without iPod’s and iPhone’s and without the Internet (what were people doing all day?). Technological advantage is one thing though, while cultural change usually needs more time to really get beyond the “accepted” or “tolerated” stage into the truly “normal”. So, my personal judgement is we have not reached the normal stage here, indicated by a rate of only 41% of white voters who voted for Obama.
On the ride home the other day I listened to NPR’s Fresh Air program and PBS’s Bill Moyers commented on the election and the society today. I have to say, even with just 41%, we have come a long way. It’s time to reflect and enjoy this moment and not rush to fast into the daily business. Who knows if this would have been possible in Western Europe. While they are all cheering now that the Bush era is over, are they all ready to vote for “their own Obama” in their country?
