Obama’s night for the ages

If Barak Obama loses his bid for the presidency it will not diminish one iota the extraordinary accomplishments his candidacy represents. Even if he loses in a landslide, the nation is changed forever.

Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention tonight was powerful, eloquent, focused and I believe he accomplished his stated purpose of laying his positions and his story out for all to hear and clearly understand.  But his most important speech to date was the one he delivered in Philadelphia on race in America. It was a seminal speech and I believe will have a lasting impact for generations to come. I think of it as being on a par with the Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, Kennedy’s Inaugural address where he implored the nation to ”ask what you can do for your country” and King’s ”I Had A Dream” speech.  Still, tonight was really MUST SEE TV and an historic moment for the nation.

I am not convinced that Obama/Biden can win. I find it difficult to believe that this country elects a black man as its President. Obama said all the right things and I believe he was ‘presidential’ in his manner and his words. But even now, as I listen to American’s calling into CSPAN to comment on Obama and the speech, it is obvious that people just, as Obama said of his opponent, “don’t get it.” I have traveled all over this country, talked to people from coast to coast, and argued the issues with friends and strangers and I just don’t think he can carry the nation.

The Conventions are gigantic Infomercials, nothing more. The election process is drawn out and a bore. But Obama was right on one important point: this election is not about Barak Obama – it is about US. And We are still getting the shaft. But change is in the air and not just in the rhetoric of the Democrats.

Obama’s run for the White House is a big step in our cultural evolution. Back in 1970, Charles Reich in The Greening of America, talked about how change would come about gradually but when it did it would overtake us like a deluge. This is one of those times when the floodgates are open.