The Obama Presidency
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A14
January 29 2009
IN
*
look into the eyes
of my children and
I want to be a bet-
ter father. I look into
the eyes of my wife and
I want to be a better
husband. I look into the
eyes of 6 million lost
souls and I want to be
a better Jew. And I look
into the eyes of Barack
Obama and I want to
be a better American. A
better Jewish American.
Today, I witnessed
history, and it brought
tears to eyes that have seen so much
and have hoped for so much more.
We as a people have come to a point
in our collective history where the
scales of justice have tipped in the
other direc-
tion and the
promise of a
better day has
become stron-
ger and more
vibrant. Words
can beat swords
into plowshares,
when those
words are elo-
quent, thoughtful
and most of all
believed by the
listener. I hope the lessons today
begins to heal the wounds of the
American people and convince the
world that once again it can look
to the American spirit as a guiding
force to embrace, not discard.
I think back to President Obama's
keynote address in 2004, where red
and blue states became the "united
states!' How fitting that many of the
states he embraced were in the past
harbingers of racism and disharmo-
ny. How fitting that today this man,
who has inspired the newest genera-
tion of Americans, cannot only find
a seat on the bus, but also has been
asked to be our driver.
At the Democratic convention,
which my oldest son attended, I wit-
nessed history at every turn, includ-
ing when Sen. Hillary Clinton went
down to the New York delegation
and asked the convention to acclaim
Sen. Obama the party's nominee. I
stood in my kitchen, amazed at the
scene before me, and tears flowed.
My younger son asked why I was
crying. I looked into his eyes, full of
life and innocence, and
said, "because now it
can be you!'
American Jews and
African Americans
have passed through
our country's histori-
cal timeline as kindred
souls. I would never try
to equate the suffering
of African slaves and
the heroes of the Civil
Rights Movement with
the plight of American
Jews (although in
several instances, the
horrors are eerily similar). I would
say that the events leading up to
today are a triumph of the American
people and a wonderful day in
African American history as well
as a tremendous
source of inspiration
for American Jews.
We must celebrate
with the African
American com-
munity and realize
that their gains
reflect our hopes
and dreams. With
unwavering support
for the state of Israel
and Jews around the
world, we, too, can
rejoice in our heritage, thus allowing
us to move forward with one voice,
with one purpose.
I spent election night at a local
Democratic event. When President
Obama was declared the winner, the
hall spontaneously erupted in a chorus
of the Star Spangled Banner. I was
impressed by the fact that people of all
color, creed, and religious background
realized instantaneously that this was
a triumph of the American spirit, and
not just of a particular demographic.
As the melody resonated through the
hall, I heard not only Francis Scott
Key's immortal words of perseverance
and faith, but a little bit of "Hatikvah"
as well.
Who knows — perhaps a future
president is now out there who first
found his or her voice during their
d'var torah. Greatness has to start
somewhere.
Now it can be you. El
And I look into
the eyes of Barack
Obama and I
want to be a better
American. A better
Jewish American.
Dr. David A. Bloom is West Bloomfield
resident. He wrote this piece on
Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.