the race problem

So, I was warned of the following phenomenon last semester by my Sociology professor, and I find it particularly potent now.

The media last night and today have been going on and on about how significant it is that America has elected a president of mixed race.

and yes, it is amazing. Don't misunderstand me. This is huge. It gives hope to the oppressed all over the country and the world. It expands the imaginations of young black children, making anything possible to them. Last night will be written about as an enormous breakthrough in our country's history, 40 years after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

However, I have heard more than one reporter talk about how this is the end to the race problem. Saying that we've beat it, it is no longer a part of us.

This is simply not true. The residues of our country's racial divisions still lurk in every corner. In every interracial interaction, the nuances of racism are there. In media coverage, the music industry, the grocery store, the judgements seep through.

And I'm not pulling for equality in the sense that everyone's culture is integrated and looks the same. But the goal is equal respect for every human being.

in the city of blinding lights

So I saw Barack Obama in person this morning. It was pretty crazy. Granted, he was quite far away, but still, some of our oxygen particles probably exchanged at some point or something.

I'm still not sure who I'm voting for. I would have given McCain a chance if he hadn't chosen Palin. But I don't know if I align enough with Barack. However, there is always that lingering feeling of helplessness if you vote with a third party.

However, in the big picture, it doesn't really matter. My friend Bill who is very smart and eloquent is better at talking about these things than I am. So read his stuff instead.

But the rally was fun. Wandering amid thousands of people, being swiped with a metal-detector-swipey-thing. I bought a $5 button to document the occasion and there were lots of U2 songs playing on the loudspeakers. Then they played some random country song for the two democrats who like that kind of thing.

They also used an audience track to get people excited at certain points in the speech. I think that's kind of cheating, but it made me laugh.

Speaking of making me laugh, the Vice Presidential debate is on tonight...