a smile on my face

Throughout my life, I have retained the vivid memory of one little, informal debate that ocurred in my junior high social studies class:

Who would Americans elect as president first--

an African American Man,
or a White Woman?

Looking back, I find it interesting that we did not include some other ethnicity for the female, or include someone with a homosexual preference. It seemed that even as young teens, we had our fingers on the pulses of our parents and the rest of the country...as if we knew it would all play out as it has. My classmates and I never resolved the debate. I remember asking my mom later as an older teen--"Black man, or Woman?"

Believe it or not, I said it would be an African American Man. I knew our country was ready to make that statement first, and that Women in politics were not ready. There were not enough of them yet who could really take on the job with enough class and know-how--during this election, we have had two very good eamples (Clinton and Palin) who have demonstrated this point beautifully. Does it make sense to say that I think on the whole American women feel polerized? (help me out, here, Michelle) There has to be a happy homoginization of the agressive zealots and the hockey moms.

I'm working toward that future--not the future when the media will buzz that a person of a certain color or gender has been elected for president, but a future where "We, the People" don't even notice.

...and yes, I did vote for Barack Obama, and this morning, I do have a smile on my face.

:)