What does President Obama ‘s election mean? It depends.  I like a lot of what he has to say.  He has some new ideas, which we need after eight years of “staying the course.”  I, also, think that it’s major that the US has elected a multi-cultural man of color.  He is America.  Lastly, I don’t want us to think that all of a sudden our issues regarding race have disappeared.  While Obama’s election is a great thing, defining its significance depends on a lot of things.

First of all, he has some really great ideas.  I know that many Republican leaning people are accusing Obama of wanting “big government” and of trying to give everybody a handout.  I don’t agree with this.  I don’t remember these same people saying anything, when President Bush ran us back into a deficit, after having achieved a surplus.  It’s no surprise that we are passing through some of the worst times in our country’s history.  I look back to the Great Depression, when one of the things that screwed us up was lack of confidence.  We cannot afford to make the same mistake again.  Although we are living in a cynical age, I do feel that Obama, if we get behind him, can be a figure to unite us and keep our heads together.  If we lose that positive direction, then we will repeat many of the same mistakes of the Great Depression.  Let us not forget the words of George Santayana, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Perhaps the biggest thing that people look at is the fact that he is “black,” “African-American” or a “man of color.”  The fact of the matter is that Obama is American. People, I think because so many can identify with him, are willing to use him as their symbol, their spokesperson.  However, Obama is like many Americans that I know in that his background is one that brings together different countries.  I don’t think that I know anybody that is “100%” anything.  So if he is supposed to represent the America that elected him, then why shouldn’t he be like them? While Obama might not “look” like America, it runs through his veins.

Lastly, I think that we need to remember that just because he was elected that there are still people that are prejudiced or even downright racist.  During these politically correct times, such people keep their opinions hidden because it wouldn’t look good to express them.  It’s also remotely possible that such people voted for him not out of the goodness of their hearts, but out of self-interest. Does this mean that they still don’t hold these convictions? The way that any individual votes or the fact that a multi-cultural man was elected does not mean that these people don’t hold these opinions.

So while big, progressive ideas, image and existing prejudice all play into what it means for Obama to be, we are still left with a loaded, complicated question that cannot be successfully resolved in this piece.  Just as with finding something about him that represents you, finding one particular explanation is entirely inadequate.  What does Obama’s election mean? It all depends.

Author: Jose A. Rodriguez (jarodriguez@miestilomag.com)