How to Appreciate Barack Obama

The election is over. Obama won with 53% of the popular vote, and by inauguration day the press reported a 75% approval rating. Regardless of politics, there are reasons to appreciate America's first African American president. Children of all races have a reason to believe that they can be anything they set their minds to.

Write something somewhere about what Barack Obama's election means to you . It will be valuable to look back on later. If you did not support Obama in the election, you may be pleasantly surprised as his presidency proves not to be the disaster you imagined during the campaign. If you did support Obama in the election, you may be disappointed if he fails to keep the promises he made during the campaign. Either way making a record of your current ideas will help you appreciate President Obama.

Read something of African American history . There was a time when African Americans were property. They were counted as 3/5ths of a person during the census. It was unlawful to teach them to read. It was unlawful for them to marry. They were not permitted the vote. They were not permitted to run for office. They were not permitted to serve on juries.

Read something of other African Americans who tried to become president Reading about any of the following candidates and their campaigns can help the reader appreciate the president Obama.

• 1972: Shirley Chisholm lost the Democratic nomination to George Wallace.
• 1984: Jesse Jackson lost the Democratic nomination to Walter Mondale.
• 1988: Jesse Jackson lost the Democratic nomination to Michael Dukakis.
• 1988: Dr. Lenora Fulani won the nomination from the New Alliance Party and became the first African American candidate to be listed on the ballot in all fifty states.
• 1992: Dr. Lenora Fulani won the nomination from the New Alliance Party.
• 1996: Alan Keyes lost the Republican nomination to Bob Dole.
• 2000: Alan Keyes lost the Republican nomination to George W. Bush.
• 2004: Al Sharpton, Jr. lost the Democratic nomination to John Kerry.
• 2004: Carol Moseley Braun lost the Democratic nomination to John Kerry.

Tips

• Look him up on Wikipedia for more info.
• Remember: change has come to America.
• The past is the past, and so now give him a chance to prove himself on the national stage.

Warnings

• Issues surrounding Barack Obama can fluctuate and become controversial. When reading and discussing them realize that opinions and emotions can run strong. Some of the these issues include these concerns.
  
  
  
  
  • Economic Success may be quite eventful for the administration leading up to the next congressional campaigns in 2010 and 2012--plus the 2012 presidential election campaigning, as well.
  • Environmental Concerns and the Green Economy are declared to be very important by the administration at high costs as investments which are planned for cleaning up the environment while also promising future new energy and jobs.
    
    
    • Even so, a majority (51%) say in 2009 that the general economy is even more important than the environment--for the first time in the 25 years that such a question has been asked. http://www.Gallup.com
  • Abortion Rights matters are usually controversial and along with several other social issues may lead to court decisions and public drama that can negatively affect the calm and the unity for which President Obama seems to yearn.
  • Foreign Policy is an area of concern that even his Vice President Joseph Biden predicted would bring challenges to test the new administration from nations in several problem regions of the world.
  • Military Engagements are potentially very critical for the Obama administration and to the national future in several ways: affecting the economy, availability of oil, and foreign policy negotiations and decisions for instance.