Sunday, January 18, 2009

Inauguration

This photo is from Newsday.com

This week is an amazing week to be able to watch! For the first time in our history, a black man will become president of the United States. Yeah, I know, normally I'm not all about the race thing. I really and truly want this world to be like our family, where everything else is seen before the color of your skin. But in this world, skin color is important.
I've been meaning to post something about this and haven't really gotten around to it. Until I saw the above picture. It's just like any number of family pictures that we have. Kid having fun with grandpa. Who really looks nothing like him. But do you see any reservations on the faces of these 2 buddies? Do you honestly think that every time Mr Dunham thought about his grandson, he thought about his skin? But do you imagine that the other people on the beach were thinking about it? You betcha. And they still are.
It means the world to me that now, not only can we read books about families who are made up of a rainbow of people, but my kids can look at pictures of the President's youth and see that.
It means even more that if someone decides to tell my kids that they can't do something because of the color of their skin, they can tell 'em to stick it. After all, Barack Obama made it all the way.
I don't necessarily want my kids to become president. Okay, I really don't want them to at all! But I want them to dream big. I want them to know that they can set a goal and achieve it through hard work and dedication. And what they look like or where they come from has no bearing on that whatsoever.

2 comments:

Shady Lady said...

I started to comment and realized it was actually a blog post more than a comment. So you can you to my blog and see where it went. :) Thanks for the inspiration.

Elle R. said...

I hadn't thought of that, from your persective I mean--that's such a fantastic and moving thing for you guys.