History unfolds

I'm watching some world history unfold tonight. It's been election season in North America this past month... first another (waste of time) election here in Canada and the exact same result as the last... a minority government again.

That's not really the history part.

In our neighbours to the south, the most important election for president is unfolding. Either way, history will be made with either the first Black president or the first female vice-president. It's 10pm right now and although nothing has been officially called... it very much looks like Barack Obama will be America's first Black/African-American president. Turnout for voting is the highest in history, which speaks to how important this election is.

Obama is a mesmerizing figure. Charismatic, extremely well-spoken, the man just has presence. He's like Bill Clinton but with added significance. He's campaigned on a platform of "Change"... millions come out to hear him speak. There hasn't been a lightening-rod type figure like this since JFK. It's not my country... but even I get filled with hope about what this guy could do. The economy is in bad shape, morale is low and palpable... it's the perfect conditions for a 'hero' to come in and just by doing so, could turn things to an upswing.

Zach is 14.5 months right now. He's walking/running pretty much everywhere, opening and closing doors, drawers, pulling himself up onto the couch and often heard to say "Hi!". He has no idea of what this moment could mean... he just wants to explore everything, take Joey the bear with him, and if he can, put something in his hand into his mouth.

Years from now, I really do hope he asks me "why wasn't there a black president before?" I really hope that he is completely mystified as to why this would have been an issue at all.

Zach - today shows progress in the USA and the world. Maybe they're growing up. Someday, maybe Canada will jump the race divide... we've had a black Governor-General, hopefully a PM oneday. Hopefully, we'll all get to the state where it's the person that matters, not what they look like.