Play Dates at the White House

President Obama. How long have we waited to utter those two words? I know I've waited for what seems like a hundred years. And then, in a surreal series of events on January 20, it happened. We wept, we cheered, we silently emoted, and we were thankful that this time had come. 

I grew up attending a racially balanced school in Cincinnati. The first boy I ever kissed was African-American. Because it was an arts school, our principal ensured that the leads of our plays were racially mixed: one white girl opposite one African-American boy, and vice-versa. And then I went to college. Whoo, boy. The real world wasn't quite as balanced. Not by a long shot.

I thought of my racist and fearful family members as I watched Mr. Obama take the oath of office. I wondered what they would say were they still with us to witness this historic event. Some of them are still with me, fortunately, but I don't relish the comments I'm bound to hear when I see them next. But you know what? It's our turn. It's time for this country to breathe again, to feel hope, to feel represented. So it's OK if a few grumps need to make snide remarks. This is better than Christmas: I'll be grinning like a fool for a good long time. 

Last night, as I was tucking in my son, he asked, wholly innocently, if he could have a play date with the Obama girls. Son, you let me know when that invitation comes...Mommy will be more than happy to drive you to their house. I hear they even have their own movie theater. 

Palin Is Dangerous

Sarah Palin has been scaring me ever since she accepted the invitation to be John McCain's running mate. Her deer-in-headlights look and hot temper indicate to me that she is a woman who knows she's in over her head but her ego refuses to allow her to step aside for one more qualified. Up to now, I've trusted that she would dig her own grave with thinking people, but today's news is so desperately alarming, I must write about it here. Every person in the world needs to know this before they go to the polls. 

From today's New York Times (which cited a recent Washington Post story): At a recent rally in Florida, Sarah Palin was speaking to a crowd of supporters when someone in the crowd yelled "Kill him!" as Palin mentioned Obama in her speech. Others shouted epithets at an African-American member of a TV news crew. Palin did nothing to stop the hateful shouts. She never stopped her speech to admonish those spouting hate. So, by not doing anything, she endorsed what they were saying and doing. 

If she professes to love Americans, does that include only white Americans? We already know how she feels about our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Was she secretly in agreement with what those racists were spewing, and that's why she didn't respond? That's what I take away from this item. I urge you to share this with your friends and family members that may be voting for McCain and Palin. This woman is dangerous. As a woman who has struggled to find the right words (i.e., answers to direct questions) at the right time, her actions are doing the talking for her now.