It’s Classy to Congratulate the Winner

Congratulations to Obama.

I am disappointed at McCain’s loss. I voted for him for several reasons. But Obama is not evil personified and it is only classy to congratulate his win and to recognize the positive elements in it.

There are reasons to celebrate his win. His story line was “hope.” It’s a good story line; the more he lives up to it the better for us all.

More poignant, this nation sinned, and sinned greatly, by slavery. This involved kidnap, splitting families apart, physical and mental abuse, oppression, denying personhood to black people. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech is a powerful speech. One of my favorite lines is

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

America wrote a bad check for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to black people. Today things are getting better. I rejoice with African-Americans that they can tell their children, “You, too, could be president some day.” It is a powerful and meaningful image and it is right they have a chance to share it.

McCain’s concession speech was classy. It has a great line: “This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.”

Congratulations, Mr. Obama. I wish you well and will be praying for you.