Years ago I posted the following diary bemoaning the fact that there were only two years left for the Obama Presidency. I was reminded of it today.
NOT SO FAST 2016
Saturday July 12, 2014 · 1:01 AM CDT
A black man was elected to the presidency, and the dogs began to salivate.
On the sidelines, an entire world was watching a trial in real time. We were the jury. We would judge.
The dogs pounced hoping to keep the man at bay because...he was black. They had never faced this before, but were cunning enough to realize that the circumstance could work in their favor. If they were careful, they could manipulate him into becoming stereotypical, without anyone being the wiser. After all, he was black. How difficult could it be? Everyone knew that.
They began to whistle Whistles, they believed, that only the pack could hear. Dog whistles. The pack roared. Unfortunately for them, everyone else had become attuned to the frequency.
And the man retaliated. Know what he did? He placed a Welcome Mat at the door. He fed and watered them. He would have petted them, but they would never allow that. Certainly not in public.
For four years they tracked back and forth across the welcoming mat trying desperately to dine on the man's carcass. But he never cracked. Never went off the deep end. He maintained his dignity while those about him lost theirs.
By now, by he had passed ACA, exited Iraq, located and destroyed Bin Laden. On and on and on until the dogs were so lathered up that they began to snarl and attack one another. For the man had outlasted them. He had been the soul of tact. Had offered himself as a partner to any who would honestly attempt to help. He remained the man and the pack, although they couldn’t care less, became the stereotype.
And the jury watched.
In the year 2012, the man was re-elected President of the United States of America.
And the pack? They howled in agony and returned to the man's house only to discover that the Welcome Mat they had trampled on all those years was gone.
Of course, so much more happened than portrayed in this story. It is only a part of a greater whole. Yet, these events were unique in our history.
One thing that was accomplished is that American's from all walks of life will never again have the luxury of arrogantly stating, "They're all that way," without a well documented challenge. If anyone ever says that to me, I'm going to reply, "What? They're all as ingenious as Barack Obama?!"
Do I believe the president is that cunning? Others might disagree, but I do. What would be non credible would be to say that all that he did had somehow come about through pure serendipity. They probably will. But he had thought about this long and hard and deep into the night. I don't think that can be denied. When he came in he knew what to expect, in general. He was ready and light on his feet, and they never laid a glove on him.
I will continue to watch with fascination. Truth be known, the next two years are going to fly by much too swiftly for my druthers. It's rare to live in the time of a Washington or Lincoln, when monumental firsts occur. It should be savored.
Hopefully, another is just around the corner.
Today
As we all so painfully know, another was not around the corner.
But as I watched the unveiling of Barack and Michelle Obama’s official portraits, I was momentarily transported back. Back to a world of sanity, of genuine humor, and, above all, goodness.
I remember, Camelot. I consider myself lucky to have had the chance to experience it twice.
I’ve embedded the video of the unveiling for those that haven’t watched, yet. Enjoy.