Optimism and the Inauguration of Barack Obama

In her article, "At Long Last, Ready for the Real Deal", Maya Angelous speaks of the optimism she witnessed as she introduced President elect Barack Obama's wife Michelle Obama to a Greensboro, North Carolina crowd.  She describes her amazement at how far the south and specifically North Carolina have come from being under the thumb of past Senator Jesse Helms to embracing Michelle Obama.  Her overarching message, however, is that America is optimistic about what Obama stands for, in terms of many things other than, but also including, racial equality.

I certainly agree that Barack Obama is a man of great character, intelligent, and very articulate; and although I personally may not agree with all of his political policies and tendencies, I do believe that he is the result of a great leap America has taken in recent decades.  And America should be at least as optimistic as we are about that.  But there is one other reason America should be optimistic about every election, and that is the fact that at least every 8 years,  America makes a smooth and peaceful transition in our most powerful political office, the presidency.  And also that at least that often a transition is made in the majority parties of the House and Senate.  Such political changes are very often unheard of in other nations, and when they do occur are often violent and destructive.

The Civil Rights Movement stands out as one era of some violence in American politics, but I am proud to say I am a part of a nation that has made such significant steps past those times.  As optimistic as America should be, and is, about our future.  We should be at least that grateful about our peaceful political transitions of the past, and the less obvious but very important moments of the present which show our nation's true colors.