3 days later: post-election reflections

I've spent the last few days listening to and reading the opinions of various sorts of folks throughout the country.  The responses to Barrack Obama's election victory have ranged from unbridled jubilation to unmitigated bitterness.  I've heard reasonable voices from both sides but I've also come across zealots both for and against Obama.  I don't have any delusions that anything I might share here will be new or original.  However, this event seems so huge that I think I need to comment at least to help myself process.  

I'm not a Republican or a Democrat and in fact I don't hold any sort of political allegiance.  Also, to the horror and disgust of many people, I did not vote in this presidential election.  Long story short, I chose to practice principled abstention because I felt that, while there are several positive things about McCain and Obama, my voting for either of them would ultimately have forced me to vote against my principles, morals, and conscience.  For that reason I was content to let my voice be silent and to accept the decision of my fellow Americans.  I say all this simply to point out that my reflections are not partisan in spirit.  

So, without further ado, and for whatever they're worth, here are some of my thoughts, reflections, observations, and musings on the election this past tuesday:

- First and foremost, I am simply glad it's all over.  I am tired of listening to campaign ads filled with vague promises and attacks based on half-truths.  It seems to me that election seasons tend to bring out the worst in many people.  Hopefully, we can all get over it now and get back to life. 

- We have elected a black man to be our next president!  I don't care if you like Obama or are completely opposed to his policies, you have to appreciate the historic nature of this election.  It was only a couple of generations ago that our country was still practicing segregation.  Not much longer before that slavery was still legal.  As I said above, I'm not an Obama fan, but I am a fan of having a black man in the highest office of the land.  I just wish it could have been Alan Keyes or even Colin Powell.  I digress.  I'm proud that my country has, at least in this moment, risen above the sins of its past.  The most exciting thing for me is what this will mean for the next generation of young black men, particularly those who have bought into false notions of what it means to be "black."  

- I was impressed with both of the speeches made on Tuesday night by McCain and Obama.  I hope Obama holds true to his promises to rebuild relationships and to work together with Republicans, though the choice he's made for his Chief of Staff doesn't look like a step in that direction.  I was a bit saddened by McCain's concession speech.  If he had conducted his campaign with the tone, spirit, and clarity of that speech he may have had a fighting chance. 

- Quite frankly, based on the ugly and vicious attacks made on Obama by the McCain campaign I'm a bit glad he lost.  I think it would have been unfortunate to reward such a negative and inflammatory campaign with victory.  In many ways the allegations and fear-mongering perpetuated by McCain's people are, I think, one of the reasons he lost.  As soon as he was nominated McCain became a Republican monster that did look a lot like the Bush administration.  In defeat I think he reclaimed a bit more of his natural skin.  

- I know everyone is trying to find a scapegoat for McCain's defeat and I think there are many goats which could be "scaped."  Ultimately though, I think time will show that choosing Sarah Palin as a running mate was one of the worst political decisions made in recent history.  All I can say is that I am thrilled she will not be the Vice President and can only hope that she will fade away into political obscurity.  I fear though that she won't.  If you're looking for other scapegoats I think the two best options would have to be Bush and Cheney.

- I hope that Obama retains his apparent humility.  I think one of the major flaws of our last two presidents was their egos.  My hope is that when Obama makes a mistake in office, and he will, he will have the decency and humility to simply admit his mistake without being forced to.

- Speaking of mistakes, Obama will make them.  He is not Superman, he's human.  My fear is that when he does fail those on the Left will ignore or excuse it like many Republicans have done for the past eight years.  My other fear is that when he fails those on the Right will magnify it and blow everything out of proportion.  I would hope that both sides would be able to treat Obama with graceful respect while at the same time holding him accountable for his mistakes.  

- It's funny to me how so many people can talk about president-elect Obama as if he's a messiah and so many others can talk about him as if he's the anti-christ.  The fact is he is neither.  I think he will fail to accomplish both the best and worst expectations people seem to have.  When his presidency is over in 2012 or 2016 I believe many hopes and fears about this man will clearly be seen as unfounded.

- Finally, whether I agree with his policies and ideologies or not, Obama is my president.  As a Christian I am called to love all people but I am also called specifically to honor, pray for, thank God for, and submit to those who are appointed over me whoever they are.  For a well-worded perspective on this click here.  It saddens me deeply that many Christians are reflecting the ugliness of our culture instead of the grace of Christ in the wake of this election.  Seriously, I just want to smack some people.

So what are your thoughts?