Amatullah's Books

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America. - Barack Obama 11/4/08

Barack Hussein Obama has been elected the 44^th president of the United States of America. He is an intelligent and intellectual bi-racial American who spent part of his youth studying with Muslims in Indonesia and as an adult traveled to his father’s homeland in Kenya. All Americans of diverse ethnicities, beliefs, class and gender identified with him and cast their vote for change.

The celebrations that followed were sincere and emotional. People took to the streets ecstatic with the realization that their hard work paid off. We survived eight long years of indifference, arrogance, belligerence and total disregard of our concerns and demands. We were terrorized into believing that our government had our best interest at heart when the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan were waged. But little did we know that we were being used to engage in a preemptive war for global domination and imperialism.

Four years ago Barack Obama introduced us to his idea of a unified America. The time had come for corporate greed and special interests to step aside and allow the government that was formed for the people and by the people to function according to the interests of the people.

As an African American I am ecstatic that a person of color finally has the opportunity to seize leadership with dignity and be in a position to set a precedent for the future. Our young African American males have a role model that exemplifies excellence in education and work ethic. Our families have an example of love and commitment between two people that demonstrates mutual respect and support. Since our history is rife with violence from lynching and brutal whippings, to the gangs on the street, Obama has taken a bold step and paralleled the work begun by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and others. He dared to speak truth in the face of death threats. They paid the ultimate price but President elect Obama has taken their legacy and honored them with his insistence that we will bring change to America.

As a Muslim I’ve encouraged others to use this election as a platform to stand with the ranks all Americans and say we too believe in change to transform this nation. We knew that our stake in this election was going to be twofold. We don’t look at Obama as the messiah but we recognize that his victory is an act of God’s will. Our nation’s soul needs healing and we must unite as Americans to nurture her back to a state of vibrancy and well being. Positive reinforcement of the kind Barack Obama infused into this nation during his campaign must continue. But we, the people, must hold him to his word with persuasive rationale. Wars of occupation are like cancer cells. They grow out of control unless there is a cure. Ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and closing Guantanamo are part of the cure to rejuvenate America’s self esteem. Our service men and women will return home and begin their personal healing process. Reversing the executive order that allowed torture during interrogations will heal hearts and restore honor to the American judicial system. Sitting down and talking with our adversaries rather than stepping back and antagonizing them relaxes tension and allows for the possibility of peace and justice to prevail. Accepting Muslims as relevant partners in this process, here and abroad, will reduce intolerance of Islam and encourage much needed dialogue and unity.

"This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” Frederick Douglass spoke those words in 1857 when he pushed for an end to the brutality of slavery in America. These same words are a resounding call to the masses to be a force for change and progress today.

Yes we can combat prejudice and indifference with truth and understanding. Yes we can be a force for true peacekeeping all over the world. Yes we can inspire a new generation to take the responsibility of leadership and revive this republic. Obama spoke the words of change and now we, the people, are obligated to help him enact them. Our only way to manifest our vote is by demanding action. The power to change is in our hands.