Published January 7, 2008
I had no idea that the results of the Iowa primary would affect my outlook on things. It's been less than 50 years since the Voting Rights Act, the marches from Selma to Montgomery and Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech." So the significance of Sen. Barack Obama becoming the first person of African ancestry to win an American presidential primary is invaluable.
I'm not campaigning for Obama, not saying he's the best candidate. I haven't made that decision yet. But I am left with the impression that people are honestly ready for a change and making those changes happen.
In 2006, voters said they wanted something different; not sure we really got it, but it was said nonetheless. I always stress the importance of voting and voter education but it was never clearer to me than in 2004 why people might feel their vote doesn't matter.
Election Day of 2004 was dark, gloomy and rainy. I saw people who obviously didn't get out that often but found voting an important cause. I was excited because so many people were voting, many just to change our administration. I went to bed — with hope — before knowing the results.
After learning Bush had been "re-elected" I felt like I'd misled people. I thought about how hard it was to get people to see their vote was important and that it would be almost impossible to have them see it after that.
But people didn't give up and Thursday's primary is proof.In a world where America has taken on the task of being the "enforcer of democracy," it's nice to actually see change on the horizon in the U.S.
Many people — both near and many nations away — have died, and continue to die, for the right to vote and elect their leadership.
It's refreshing to think that we actually may be forming the "almost all citizens have a voice" approach to a democratic republic that we're known for having.
When a man who wouldn't have been able to vote 50 years ago wins a primary, I take it as a sign of things to come.
Katrina L. Rogers is a member of The Times Community Board. Send comments to shreveportopinion@gannett.com.
