[Bob] ABERNETHY: A lot of us have been trying to find words to describe the meaning of Tuesday’s election. What does it mean to you?
[Maryland] Bishop [Eugene] SUTTON: Well, words are difficult to describe significant moments. More than words on our lips, I think we have to see what’s happening on people’s faces and bodies. What it means to me was that I was crying on Tuesday night. My wife and I, sitting there and watching the screen, tears coming down our faces, tears coming down the faces of people such as a woman on my staff who said that she voted this morning, and this older African-American woman just stopped and cried. We see it in the dancing, the crying in that crowd and people all over the world. The words will come later, but right now the meaning of it was something touched deep in their heart after that election.
Ms. [Kim] LAWTON: It seemed to have touched a deep place not just for African Americans but people of many races as well. I mean, have you see that?
Bishop SUTTON: Yes. Yes, it’s a moment in our nation, but also in the world — a moment, I believe, of redemption, and I like to use that word, meaning opening a door for a new possibility rather than closing the doors of what has happened in the past, and we know about the past history of our nation, of oppression, and of closing doors and building walls. So this was a redemptive moment, I think. I think for people in my generation and older, we look at this as a redemption of the past, all of the work that our forefathers and mothers put in to make sure that we could see a day of a truly multiracial society, where barriers of race and gender and misunderstanding are broken down. That was our redemption. But for my sons and daughter, and for people in the younger generation, it’s a redemption, yes, but of the future. They’re looking forward. They’re looking ahead.’
Iowahawk is similarly inspired:
[blockquote]Yes, I know there are probably other African-Americans much better qualified and prepared for the presidency. Much, much better qualified. Hundreds, easily, if not thousands, and without any troubling ties to radical lunatics and Chicago mobsters. Gary Coleman comes to mind. But let’s not let that distract us from the fact that Mr. Obama’s election represents a profound, positive milestone in our country’s struggle to overcome its long legacy of racial divisions and bigotry. It reminds us of how far we’ve come, and it’s something everyone in our nation should celebrate in whatever little time we now have left.[/blockquote]
[url=http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/11/election-analysis-america-can-take-pride-in-this-historic-inspirational-disaster.html]Election Analysis: America Can Take Pride In This Historic, Inspirational Disaster[/url]
“a redepmtive moment” — I think this is true.
In healing prayer ministry we will pray for the healing of memories. We invite Jesus into that painful place in a person’s past, whatever it is and bring Jesus’ redemption to whatever the hurt/sin done to them is. Obama’s election is very much a “healing of memories” for this nation. History is still the same, but the controlling power of it has just been nullified. This allows all the other disordered things that flow from it to now come into order.
Yeah, I was close to crying, too. But not for the same reasons.
Since Obama’s election has happened, I can understand the elation that people of African ancestry feel. Having been alive in the days when this would have been unthinkable I can share their joy.
But after the election night, and after the inauguration day, we all need to put our feet back on the ground. We have elected a man who will have to perform in the office to which he is elected. After the formal occasion, he will no longer be a symbol but the CEO of the national government. Like any other CEO he will need to be evaluated based on results.