Barack Obama Makes History at DNC 2008

On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama secured the Democratic Party's nomination for president. That nomination represents a historic night for America, as the world witnessed Barack Obama become the first American of African descent lead a major U.S. ticket.

During this time of great strides and milestones, many members of the same Party that nominated Barack Obama scramble to hide the middle name of their Party's nominee. In a sad testament to Free speech, many whom claim to champion equal rights for all demonize those that utter the man's name in full.

Most reasonable Americans understand the implications of Obama's full name. Doesn't embracing a man regardless of the color of his skin or the name his parents gave him define equality and unity? Isn't denying a man the freedom to embrace his own name a denial of precious Freedoms? That flies in the face of what Wednesday's historical nomination represents. If jaded individuals choose to judge a man by a label, then shouldn't we resist that instead of cowering to it?

Embrace history folks and champion equality for all; denying the truth will not set you free. More to the point, as last night's nomination was not about a man's name but about a man leading the Democratic ticket to lead this great country of ours into a world of uncertainty and promise. It is also about the importance of historical milestones, which should not be confused as a qualification to lead.

Barack Obama's nomination places him in a very good position to be the next president of the United States. Regardless if the man loses the race to the White House, the implications are tremendous; a continued move forward toward racial unity that we may not fully realize until future generations, but a move forward none-the-less. How often do we quote Martin Luther King today? How often do we celebrate the life of an American icon such as MLK? The civil rights movement during that historical era has done more for racial unity and equality today than in the midst of the movement.

History is usually interesting and always relevant.

We are witnessing and living in times that will earn a significant place in history. Years from today, images of the Democratic National Convention 2008 will be in textbooks. Children and college students will study and write about this historical event that we are blessed to witness.

I won't dwell on how the politicians at the DNC 2008 mired the event, but I will say I had some explaining to do while I watched the show with my 9-year old daughter. Former President Clinton delivered his speech and exploited the event by hyperbolically bashing the GOP. Joe Biden did the same by declaring John McCain to be a good friend and then convincingly threw him under the bus.

I learned something last night, folks. I learned that politics is a rated R viewing; not because of violence or nudity, though salacious behavior is often topical as pols across this nation find themselves in the middle of a scandal. No, I am referring to leaders that say, "Trust me" and then betray a friend for their own selfish advancement. I am referring to former leaders that held positions of greatness in this nation take a strong position and then instantaneously reverse that very position for the sake of partisan politics.

Could not partisan politics take a back seat that evening? The phonies exploited Barack Obama's historical event to slip in a message, "vote for me." Perhaps, they had to do that, perhaps the message was not substantive enough on its own merits.

On Wednesday, August 27, day three of the DNC 2008, a roll call commenced to secure the votes from the delegates in attendance to officially nominate Barack Obama. In a show of Democratic unity, Hillary Rodham Clinton interrupted that roll call to have voices in unison affirm the nomination of Barack Obama.

History is in motion.

Thursday, August 28, 2008, on the anniversary of Martin Luther King's Dream Speech, Barack Obama will accept his Party's nomination at INVESCO Field at Mile High, away from the convention floor.

During the course of upcoming events and the remainder of this election the judgment, character, policy decisions rendered and promised by the candidates will be analyzed and reported.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned a nation where his children will one day live "where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."