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Eureka!
by Matthew Shaw
UNC '02
Columbia '05
Yesterday morning, a young Black boy woke up and believed that he could be absolutely anything in the world he wanted to be – even President of the United States of America. And for the first time, no one had to tell him. He could see it for himself. He could see it because the American people chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to realize Martin's dream. He could see it because we voted for Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. as our 44th President.
Overnight a change swept our nation. Perfect strangers stopped to say congratulations. People who had forgotten how to smile proudly wore Cheshire-cat grins. Americans went to work early and stayed late, even though they had promised to stay home on Obama Day because there was work to do. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘what can I do on the ground to help,’ ‘I want to do something more meaningful,’ ‘how can I be the change I voted to see.’ Grandparents openly wept, not at the opportunities unjustly denied them, but at the great promise afforded us. Because of one vote, it was truly "morning in America."
Because of a second vote in California, morning seems like it will never come. Families openly wept, not for the great promise afforded the nation, but at the fundamental rights their fellow voters snatched away from them. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘can we afford to lose your spousal benefits,’ ‘will we ever be able to adopt our foster son,' 'will we ever be able to marry.’ After working late, Americans took to protest in gatherings large and small. Those who had just started smiling again, proudly steeled their resolve to fight on another day. Perfect strangers stopped saying congratulations. Sadly, another change swept our nation.
A change against seeking equality and fair treatment for all, and for second-class citizenship for "others" -- so long as we aren’t the “others”. A change against separate being inherently unequal, and for 'it's the same thing under a different name.' A change against the Church being the beacon of hope and renewal, and for being a herald of hate and intolerance. A change against believing that we are all in this together, and for this is not my problem, but yours. A change we cannot believe in.
Yesterday night, our hero went to sleep and no longer believed that he can be anything in the world he wants to be – certainly not President of the United States of America. And sadly, because he is gay, no one had to tell him. He can see it for himself. He can see it because the people of California chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to crush Martin's dream. He could see it because California voted to selectively revoke the fundamental right to marriage from a minority of its citizens simply because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
But it wasn't just Martin's dream that was crushed. It is Bayard's, César's, Coretta's, Del's, Harvey's, Huey's, Mildred's, Ruth's, and Thurgood's. It is my dream and if you ever truly believed in civil rights it should be yours, too. If you want to do something more meaningful, if you want to be the change you voted to see, embrace the fight against second-class citizenry despite your misgivings and even some discomfort because you know in your heart that the struggle for racial, gender, ethnic, sexual orientation, class, and disability equality is the same, inseparable struggle. For as one of us loses, we all lose.
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