LG

     The people have spoken - In January 2009 Senator Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. The eyes of the world are on him and the change that his campaign promised. America's first African American President knows this and the fact that he has captured the hearts, minds, hopes and aspirations of Americans of every race, culture and age. Most noticeably the young - voters under thirty years of age - made their mark on his victory. They now must be assured, as others from his diverse army of supporters, and must now be rewarded. Not with just promises, but real inclusion as members of his administration. President-elect Obama has promised to draw support from across the aisles - reaching out to Republicans for advice, support and participation in his administration. Younger voters must now be brought into the mix - including independents. Obama's great strength - listening attentively - must be turned to them.

    The enthusiasm and symbolism of Obama's victory must be reinforced by the reality of actual empowerment if - and when - the President brings all Americans - Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, non-Hispanic Whites, believers of every faith, the elderly, the disabled and mentally challenged - to the table of power. They stood in lines too long to measure to cast their ballots. Millions waited for hours in some cases to make a statement - "yes, we can...yes, we will." As Obama said most graciously to all of them - "this victory is not about me; it is about you...the United States of America - blue and red..." The journey continues, and President Obama knows the ship he captains will not move forth unless all hands are on board and passionate about their various duties as citizens, not as political partisans...

    Above all, the nation, notably the media, must be patient and not press Obama for answers now to questions he must deal with over time. Media hounds now hunt for stories of every sort - about his children, his wife's clothing, family dog, and his cabinet choices. Worse, far too many talking heads on television criticize him for wanting to openly speak with the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and Russia. For reasons far more psychological and sociological than one can merely dismiss as the constitutional right to bear arms, White American gun owners are cleaning the shelves of ammunition.... Give him time...to think, listen and think some more...beyond the first 100 days of his new administration...Lay to rest the fears...

                                                                                              Lenworth Gunther, Ph.D.      

Dr. Gunther, on the left, listens to an elder at a Black History Month celebration in Newark, NJ in February 2008.