I finally got hold of my parents and asked the obvious question about the Obama election. What they said was interesting and characteristic of my parents. They felt the Obama election was something good for all Americans, not just for black people. They saw his election as something historic, but they thought of it in perspective, meaning they didn’t assume all the racial ills would change overnight.

I have to admit I got a little caught up in the excitement. I was fielding calls from all over the country, telling people how I felt, what the election meant to me, and I was the one that kept things in a back/white perspective. I tried being inclusive, but I could tell the way I was talking made this a historic event for black people, and people in general, not something that elevated all people. It wasn’t until I had a couple of days to ingest everything that went on did I realize this was something larger than just a black people thing.

Surprisingly, what brought me to this conclusion was The View. I tell you, that show is a bell weather for thought in this country, and we don’t realize it. For months I have been on Elisabeth’s case. I have been angry about the words she said, the views she has had. But I have to hand it to her, when she came back after the election; she said something, like McCain did in his concession speech that all Americans need to hear. She didn’t sound defeated, didn’t sound reserved. She said after hearing the speech by McCain and Obama, realizing that the two men, who had fought hard for the job, were able to be gracious in defeat and victory, allowed her to do the same. She said while she wasn’t in the front of the line with Obama she was in the line to help out and do what she could to make this country better.

That is what we all have to do. We have to put aside the petty politics and realize what the goals really are. I don’t have kids, but listening to the women of The View that have kids, and to pundits and reporters that have kids, I understand. Listening to my parents, who hope for the best for me, I understand. Probably because Obama has young children helps in the link many have for him, but he seems to awaken the parental instinct in a lot of people to hope for something more for their children. They hope to give their children opportunities they didn’t have or didn’t take advantage of.

People look to Obama for hope for the nation. Many have invoked the name Kennedy when speaking of him and I don’t think that’s something just thrown around for a convenient signpost. People are thinking about serving again; be it with public service, helping in the community on their own, or otherwise looking out and giving a handout to their fellow man. That has been the plus of the Obama campaign.

I hope this good will continues well past the glow of the newness of his administration.