Supposedly, the new messiah has arrived. His name is Obama, the 44th president elect of the United States of America. We should be at the edge of our wheelchair seats in anticipation of the man who claims that change is coming to America.
Why aren’t I jumping on the Obama wagon?
I don’t think anyone has asked me to drink the Kool Aid!
The biggest thorn on my side when it comes to this particular president elect is that he was chosen more for the color of his skin than by what he could actually give to our country.
I hope that no one is that mentally blind that this statement would seem outrageous. It’s not.
Jumping around, telling the world, that there is a hope and change doesn’t necessarily mean that the person jumping around stating this is the one best qualified to give this change.
If anything, it takes away from the excuse that the color of a person’s skin is somehow connected to the level of a person’s success.
Did America vote for someone because they thought the person was experienced, qualified and prepared enough to lead the nation out of its deep black hole?
Or did they see the opportunity to make history by electing a black president?
What if we, as a community of people with physical disabilities, based our choice for president on a person’s disability? Would that seem reasonable? Logical? Or even responsible?
Forget that the disabled candidate had little experience in comparison to the other candidates. Would that be acceptable to the world? To us?
I should hope not. Physical traits should never come into play when it comes to choosing a leader for the United States of America.
Unfortunately, it had a large impact in this presidential election.
I don’t know if Barack Obama will be a great president. I am not saying that he will be a terrible president. I don’t feel that he was elected for the right reasons.
And wouldn’t we as a people of disabilities want to be hired, promoted and acknowledged based on our accomplishments and not our physical attributions?
To m any minorities, including the people with dis
abilities, a black president is a major step towards equality. This is the OH MY GOODNESS moment!
President elect Barack Obama knew this and played it to the end. He was kind enough to include in his speeches the disabled community. But somehow the disabled are not included in the celebration of his victory based on the premise of change.
According to AmericanPowerBlog.com, tomorrow’s inaugural ceremony is not accessible for people with physical disabilities.
So what should I tell my friend who went from being a Hillary Clinton supporter to a Barack Obama supporter? He uses a scooter and spent most of his time working to get Obama elected.
He couldn’t ever give me a strong valid argument to vote for Obama based on experience as a criteria yet, he remains loyal to him.
Need I say his racial background? I don’t think so.
He even wanted to go Washington D.C. to be at the ceremony. It’s a good thing he will be doing what the director of the ceremony advised other people with disabilities to do on that day: stay home.
It contradicts my friend’s statements about how Obama wants to make our country more accessible for the disabled. Shouldn’t he start with his own victory party? It’s only the most expensive inauguration in the history of our nation. What’s a few more millions to help ensure that everyone, even the physically disabled get to be a part of this CHANGE?
I guess I will have to stay home and see what happens.
Until then, keep reading Audacity and keep believing in Obama’s hope for change!
Send your questions and comments to nathasha@audacitymagazine.com .