Presidential Thoughts on Respect and Fairness (November 2008)

It seemed fitting to begin this blog with a reflection on our country's newly elected president. I was one of the group who was overjoyed by Obama's election. And while I realize that everyone does not share my views, I thought you might be interested in some of my perspectives. Given our country's economic crisis, I, of course, wanted to vote for change. But Obama's election brings possibilities for change far larger than economic change and the ethical/character changes necessary for fixing our economic situation. Barack's election signals that America is willing to take a stand for fairness to all people, for respect for everyone, regardless of the color of their skin. As one email I recently read stated, "Finally, we are winning the Civil War," or what was begun by ending slavery. As another said, "Harriett Tubman escaped so that Rosa could sit. Rosa sat so that Martin could stand. Martin stood so that Barack could run."

But my enthusiasm is far larger than a celebration of fairness and respect for people of different races. You see, if "we the people" are willing to respect people who are Black, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, or Native American, I see us as have reached a place of accepting, and perhaps even celebrating, other differences as well. It seems to me that Obama's election (and Hilary Clinton being in the running) also signals greater respect and acceptance of women, and gays, and the poor, and immigrants, and the many other groups who have been discriminated against throughout history.

Character and/or ethics includes respect for all people and fair distribution of goods. It means that everyone has access to goods - products, jobs, salaries, benefits, raises, promotions, housing, quality schooling -- and that any differences in distribution have to be justified (by such differences as qualifications, education, working more hours, etc).

America used to be considered a "melting pot." Well, a better analogy is a "salad." You see, in a melting pot, all differences are melted together into a common "mush" that we call "American." A "salad," instead, celebrates difference - all of the colors, the textures, the sizes of the ingredients contribute to the richness of the salad, and, for many of us, to its desireability. Even those who are not fond of salad have begun to realize that the best answers for our society come from the participation of many. The more differing perspectives are heard the better the chance of developing solutions that include all of the possibilities. The better the chance of ensuring that some groups of people are not hurt, and in fact, that more of us prosper.