Hope against all Hope

For a African American father of 5, descended of slaves, victim of blatant and hidden racism, this year, this important time in history implores me to hope against all hope. To believe that there is something better in life that I currently see. Perhaps Senator Barack Obama is the cause,perhaps it is the energy, the passion I have seen while working on the Senator's bid for the Presidency. Or maybe just maybe it is the lingering tones, lyrics of songs once sung by my ancestors, through long sweltering days in the cotton fields, songs hummed while holding hands standing steadfast against a fire hoses bone rattling blast. Maybe its the hope against all hope that maybe just maybe one day my great, great grandfather would have the right to be free, or the right to vote, or is it the strength of character of my ancestors bleeding through America's tightly woven fabric of disenfranchisement,discrimination,racism,and sexism. What ever the reason, there is something fundamentally good happening in this country. Blacks, Whites,Latinos everyday American citizens coming to together in the face of the improbable to embrace hope. People embracing the fundamental American value that "I will leave this society better than I found it". A grass roots movement to take back our country from the neoconservatives, the wealthy,the lobbyist and the political hacks in Washington that have taken our vote, made promises and delivered nothing. Now is not the time to let up. We all have a tendency to take our eyes off the ball after an election. History has shown us that if we are not vigilant in the defense of our civil liberties, social and economic prosperity those that wish to exploit us will. Now is the time for us all to remain civic minded, to focus on not just this election, but the ones to follow. We can not afford to not watch what our government is doing. None of us would hire a contractor to work on our homes and then turn a blind eye to the quality of work that contractor is performing. The same principal applies to our government. Yes the time is to hope against all hope, but it is not the time to let hope and blind faith be a guiding light into our children's future. We owe our ancestors, a more purposeful eye to protect their legacy.