Historic yes but still the same old, same old

Yesterday I joined close to 140 million other Americans and voted. I walked into the both, pulled the curtain and pushed the lever. In one way the election is historic - An African-American is now President elect. I am so proud that this crazy experiment called democracy once again proved it works. President-elect Obama's victory also validated my belief that you can go as far as your dreams, hard work and faith can take you.

On January 20, 2009 we will witness the start of a new beginning for the United States. Not only for it's citizens but also how we are perceived in the international community. For too long our place in the world has been viewed as elitist and imperialistic. I believe that with the election of Senator Obama the international community will no longer see us as the bully on the playground but simply as just another kid on the monkey bars.

Still, as historic as last night's results were, this morning I wake up to the same old, same old. FOX is already stating that taxes will go up, Government will grow and McCain was the better choice. The Mass Media, both CNN and FOX are concentrating on the race issue or non-issue as it affected this election and how it will effect the Obama Presidency. 

Two bulletins greeted me on my MySpace account this morning. One stating that Obama is not black but half white and half Muslim. I wasn't aware that religion was an ethnicity or race. That same logic makes Bush and McCain half white and half Christian.

The second bulletin aligns Obama with the Anti-Christ. It references The Book of Revelation as it's proof of this. And points to this as the beginning of the End of Days. The bulletin claims again that the President elect is Muslim and states that the Anti-Christ will be Muslim. In fact, nowhere in the Book of Revelation does it mention the geographical area where the Beast and Dragon are spawned from. In fact, the term Anti-Christ is not mentioned anywhere in the Book of Revelation. It is only mentioned in First and Second John and then only in reference to those people who do not accept Jesus as the Christ.

In addition, there were amendments being voted on in three states that would Constitutionally define what marriage is. In Arizona, California, and Florida the measures all received over 50% of a YES vote. In Florida, Amendment 2 is now law gaining the requisite 60% agreement. In Arkansas Initiative 1, which bans gay couples from adopting children or becoming foster parents also received over 50% of a YES vote.

I hope that those that voted for these additions to their state constitutions read the propositions. Nearly all of these propositions did not single out same sex unions, but instead defined a broader group of people. Unmarried people. Civil Unions. The passing of these propositions will not only take away rights from same sex couples, which I believed the were designed to do. But also will take away rights from couples that are together but not married. Common-law marriages are a thing of the past in these states.

If you do not believe in the institution of marriage but are in a committed relationship. Too bad, so sad. Out of luck.

If you are seniors who choose to live together for companionship but not get married because it would affect your Social Security benefits. Oh well ...

This is not only about tax benefits. It also affects health benefits as well as information that can be granted. Under the HIPAA laws, doctors may not talk to your life partner about your health issues without your permission.

While the results of the Presidential election show this country is starting to grow and reach it's promise. The problems of racism and prejudice and "morally right" are still present in our society.

They will not go away overnight. But we are moving in the right direction.