This week’s election was historic on several fronts.  It was an election
with the highest turnout in history, as Americans went to the polls in
record numbers.  In terms of percent turnout, it was the highest – about
64 percent – in over a century.
For years, the general comment during elections was that there was a lack
of interest and low voter turnout.  Knowing that the country’s population
is well over 200 million, Americans felt their single vote just didn’t
matter, lost in a sea of population.
This year all that was washed away.  Even the youth vote, notorious for
their apathy, came to vote.
And all that is good news.

But the most important thing, the biggest achievement of all, is that an
African-American was elected to the nation’s highest office.
Sure, Obama says he will deliver a better economy and restore the
country’s dignity throughout the world.  Grand views, all which would lead
to a better country.  If he’s successful then his election will be
significant based on those accomplishments.
But that remains to be seen.
What is certain is that he won southern states like Virginia and North
Carolina and was competitive in others in the Deep South.
And that’s where history was made.
 It’s widely known that the signing of the equal rights amendment resulted
in the Democrats losing the South.  For more than forty years that has
been the case.
No more.  Perhaps the old scars of racism are healing.  Even if it’s just
a little, it’s significant and a clear sign the country is maturing.
In all of American history, our nation’s biggest crimes are those of
slavery and the destruction of  Native American culture.
 Those crimes left deep scars that have lasted for generations.  Maybe
now, the healing has finally become visible.
During this election it was disturbing to see some television coverage
show Southern people say there’d be no way they’d ever vote for a black
man.  How sad, how wrong and how ignorant.
Thankfully, it seems as if today’s young voters can’t even understand this
bigotry.  They’re too far removed from it.  They didn’t grow up with race
riots and street demonstrations.
Yes, if anything, Obama’s win marks a new day in this country, a day where
America finally grew up and started judging people on their merit and
nothing else.