A New Dawn in America

Originally Posted on November 5, 2008

Today, I have faith in my country again.

The election of the junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, reigns in a new era for this nation. One that will transition this country from an era of dubious leadership and agendas to one that is proactive and engaging with its citizens and the world. There is a lot of work to do and the Obama administration knows what lies ahead with a potential recession and continuing military actions in the Middle East. We need to give this administration time as it goes through the motions of setting forth a new agenda for this country.

In the meantime, I do have a few things to ask the new government to consider.

For Congress and the President to restore key civil liberties taken away in the guise of the Patriot Act and other statutes created in the name of “defense against terrorism.”

For Congress and the President to pass and execute an amended Federal Civil Rights Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that includes GLBT people in its language. Also, let's make it legal for GLBT people to serve in our armed forces with pride and honor.

For Congress and the President to restore confidence in its government, our economy and our place in the global community.

Some of these are specific in terms of what this new government can do. Yet, there are concepts that will take hashing out to accomplish an end.

Still, there will be those that will not welcome the new government. There will be those that will not be satisfied with that was accomplished or not in the Obama administration. If there is progress, we should welcome the administration and Congress’ efforts towards that end.

Understand that with progress there will be mistakes. We hope these mistakes would not put us in a critical state as with the outgoing administration. I have confidence that the Obama administration will be mature owning its mistakes instead of defending them as a matter of falsely defined policy.

This is the dawn of a new morning in America. I can only hope for the best for the Obama administration. This country needs change and it will arrive soon enough. We just need to be patient, but insistent to give the new government input as to how we want to see change happen in this country.