Inauguration day is almost over. I’m excited and very ready for change. After the current administration put us trillions of dollars in debt. Allowed us to hit the worst unemployment rate in modern history. And confused the hell out of most Americans by going to war with Iraq after Afghanistan attacked us.
I’m looking forward to a new look at education and healthcare. And basically a first-ever focus on civil rights, urban policy and the environment. But there’s one other thing I’d like to change.
I’m ready to stop talking about Barack Obama’s color.
It took us long enough to elect a person of color to the very-White House. Let’s not set ourselves back a few decades by dwelling on it. A truly color-blind nation would look so beautiful.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe this is a very historic time. And I celebrate what it means for African Americans. But I also celebrate what it means for Irish Americans, Mexican Americans, Arab Americans, German Americans. You see where I’m going with this.
If a gay person had just been sworn in, I would certainly be excited for them. And for the gay community as a whole. But then I’d also be ready to move on. It’s the reason I came out a few years ago – my sexuality doesn’t define me. Nor should it. I also love how young and energetic our president is. But I don’t think that means older folks aren’t a part of change.
I think what I’m really trying to say is I hope this administration can help groups stop feeling so isolated. And more important, stop building the walls up from the inside.
Please keep in mind, I’ve never been all that political. But I certainly can’t remember a presidential campaign whose platform was hope. What is it about that word? You’d think by now, it would have become pedestrian and ineffective. But it’s not. It’s still incredibly powerful. Even the sound of it is so different from words like foreign policy. Warfare. Recession. W.
I believe we can all benefit from change. And using the mantra, “Yes we can”, we can all truly affect it.
Unscripted 